Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 100853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d flirted with a woman. Not as easily as I did with Paige. The way she smiled, the flush on her cheeks when she was embarrassed, went straight to my head. For a few minutes, I’d thought that maybe… And then she was facedown on the pavement under Finn’s Jeep, hoping she didn’t get shot. I wanted to kiss her, to laugh with her, and instead I almost got her killed.
Finn slowed to a stop in front of the Manor, putting his Jeep in park with deliberate effort. All of us moved slowly as we got out, bodies aching from hitting the pavement. Griffen swung open the heavy door before I could reach for the handle, his sharp eyes scanning us, one by one. I could tell he’d settled into his professional badass mode, checking us for signs of shock.
“My office,” he barked, turning and leading us down the hall. He didn’t say another word until we were inside.
Hawk was already there, waiting for us. West, who had been enjoying a rare day off with Avery, followed us in, closing Griffen’s office door behind us.
“Everybody okay?” Griffen asked.
“We’re fine,” Finn said quickly, sliding a wary glance my way. I didn’t blame him. It wasn’t the first time I’d let my little brother get hurt. It was going to be the last.
“We’re fine,” Paige echoed, her eyes on me, less wary and more concerned—as if I needed another reminder that I had no business anywhere near her. The scrapes on her forearms were proof enough. Paige McKenna had never rolled under a Jeep in a parking lot for safety before. The memory of her terrified eyes burned deep inside me.
“We were lucky,” I said quietly, trying not to think about Paige and Finn wedged behind the tires as I did everything I could to stay alive and keep the attacker off them.
“Ford took the brunt of it,” Finn said.
“I can see that,” Griffen agreed.
“I should leave Sawyers Bend,” I said. It was the only thing that made sense. I had brought this into my family’s life. Finn and Paige could have been killed. And what about the last time the guy had come after me? He’d come at us with a knife, leaving Avery in the hospital. “This is the second time we got lucky,” I said. “At this point, we’re pushing it. If I leave—”
“Finn, Paige, could you excuse us?” Griffen interrupted.
Finn looked from Griffen to me and nodded. On his way out, he closed his hand over my upper arm, giving me a quick shake. I forced myself to meet his eyes, expecting accusation. Instead, I saw only pity. Better, but it still made my gut twist. I didn’t want to be pitied, but this was my life. I’d gotten myself here, and now I had to figure out how to get us all out.
“Wasn’t your fault, man,” Finn said with another shake before he let go and walked out, Paige trailing after him in silence.
The door shut behind her, and Griffen spoke into the quiet. “You’re not leaving Sawyers Bend.”
“Whoever he is, this guy is after me. If I go, he follows. The rest of you will be safe.” I crossed my arms over my chest, resolved.
“First of all,” Hawk cut in, “you don’t know that leaving will make anyone any safer.”
“Cole said—” I began, but Hawk cut me off with a quick shake of his head.
“You can’t believe a fucking thing Cole Haywood says. He sent this guy after you—that, I buy. But the idea that he’s going to leave the Sawyers alone because you’re out of the picture?” Hawk shook his head again. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Griffen doing the same.
“This guy,” West said dryly, “is a shit assassin. I hate that he got a knife on Ford and Avery back in October, but that was mostly luck.”
“You’re sure it’s the same guy?” Griffen cut in.
“Yes,” I answered. “No question. Same height, same build.” I shrugged, not sure how to articulate what my gut told me. “He moved the same.”
West continued. “I’m sorry he got a blade on you two, and I’m sorry he roughed you up today. But his job was to kill you, and he struck out twice. I don’t know where Haywood found him, but he’s not exactly top-notch.”
“Agreed,” Hawk said. “Trap?”
West nodded. “If it was anyone else, I’d say I didn’t want to endanger a civilian. But I’m assuming setting a trap would be preferable to being locked in the attic until we catch this guy.”
“Or taking off and abandoning your family,” Griffen added.
“A trap.” The idea bloomed in my mind. There were few people I trusted to keep me alive more than Hawk, my brother, and West—though all of them had reasons I wasn’t their favorite person. But they were some of the best men I knew, and they wouldn’t let personal feelings get in the way of keeping me safe.