Total pages in book: 202
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 968(@200wpm)___ 774(@250wpm)___ 645(@300wpm)
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispers.
And I know she means it. But it’s obvious that she’s not given up hope on Jase yet, that she’s still feeling all the feelings associated with the argument last night and with the worry that comes with him having left town today.
“Things were pretty bad when fate struck and showed him who I am supposed to be to him. My life changed in a heartbeat for the better. For the absolute so much better. So don’t lose heart, Bailey, okay?”
“I’ll try,” she says softly, giving me a watery smile.
I think about the fact that beyond her being the librarian, she told me she’s working on a genealogy project and talked about the shifter archives. I’m wondering if I can get some information from her about records regarding my pack, my mother. I need to think on the best way to approaching opening what could be a very ugly can of worms.
Grey’s phone rings. Bailey perks up, seeing it plugged in on the counter beside the fridge. Feeling a spike of panic, I stretch my neck and see it reads that it’s Jase calling and Grey isn’t in the room. I think he’s outside, but Bailey bolts and grabs it from the counter.
It happens so fast, I must react because she shoots me an apologetic look as she says, “Hello?”
I watch her expression.
“He’s here,” she says, “Let me go find him. But Jason… while I do that, I’m… last night wasn’t–”
She stops talking and her expression drops.
I can hear Jase’s voice on the other side and though I can’t make out what he says, it doesn’t sound friendly.
Grey is coming into the kitchen, extending his hand toward Bailey, looking irritated that she has his phone. Joel is directly behind him.
“Mornin’ Stacy,” Joel greets.
“Hi, you want coffee?” I ask.
“Naw, I’m good, thanks,” he says and all our gazes pivot to Grey who now has the phone to his ear.
“I’m gonna go,” Bailey says to me, jerking her thumb toward the driveway.
She looks like she’s about to cry.
I give her a look laced with concern. She leans over and hugs me quickly, saying, “Thanks for breakfast. And the chat.”
“Any time,” I say sincerely and watch her hurry out ahead of Grey and Joel who have left the room while Grey talks on the phone.
32
Grey
“Jase,” I greet before leaving the room, Joel following me. We move down a level to the garage.
“Grey,” he says. “Listen… I think we need to go in.”
“Joel’s here, I’m puttin’ you on speaker. Go in?”
“You’re on speaker, too.” Jase advises. “Got Linc and Jared here. I say we knock a panel of fence down, get in there and see what the fuck is what. Don’t like what we’re smelling, Jared ‘n me. But Linc’s even less happy. Linc got one whiff of this place and started puking his guts up.”
There’s a downside of having the strongest nose in our pack.
“Linc?” I call.
“Hey,” Linc grits out. “There’s death in there. Death, sickness, and fuckin’ despair, brother. I smell dozens of ‘em. Men but mostly women, kids, and old folks. Place reeks and there’s something here I’ve smelled before on a case that might mean this motherfucker is poisoning his people.”
“Fuck,” I snap.
“It’s worse,” Jase puts in. “It’s lookin’ completely locked down from the outside. Brother, they’re all locked in.”
“Fuck!” I clip louder. “Right. I’m heading that way and we’ll go in together,” I say. “I’ll bring some guys with me. Some resources, maybe.”
“Yeah, bro. Thinkin’ resources will be necessary,” Jase adds.
“I’m texting Cat to tell her what I think this is, so she’ll know what meds they’ll need,” Linc adds.
“I’ll see if I can bring Cat.”
“Do that,” Linc returns.
“Right, so I’ll get organized here and be fast. People might be scared. Bringing Stacy and Luke to soften that.”
“Blakely still there?” Linc asks.
“Dunno,” I respond, but Joel pipes up.
“Saw him at Roxy’s not ten minutes ago and he’d just ordered his breakfast when I was headin’ out.”
“Know he’s pissed us off with what went down with Rye, but I think you’d better bring him,” Linc says.
“Not sure Riley’d be okay with him being further entrenched in pack matters,” Jase weighs in.
“True,” I say, “Though we’re on SCC radar with this already based on what happened last night and if my mate’s brother has more crimes to answer for, best we do things by the book instead of being hauled before a tribunal. Meadows won’t have a leg to stand on based on everything that’s happened so far and if Mitch sees the state of Silver Hills himself that should further be the nail in this clown’s coffin.”
“Good point,” Joel says. “Way he was when I saw him, the doc’s lookin’ to mend fences before he goes. And if these Silver Hills folks are sick, this is who Cat’s gonna confer with.”