Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
John nodded. “But you stuck with it until you uncovered the truth.”
“Part of the truth,” Aiden said. “And that came at too heavy a cost.” Ingrid had gone missing after one of their meetings and a short time later, Aiden had been sent a picture of her body before she’d been discovered days later, with no evidence leading to the culprit.
Scrawled on the back of the photo had been a simple demand.
STOP DIGGING.
His stomach churned at the memory.
Knowing he’d come to a dead end, he’d spoken to John, and they agreed he should leave the country. But Aiden refused to sit on the information. He had a duty as a journalist to share the facts with the world. Not to mention failing to report on the corruption would make Ingrid’s sacrifice for nothing.
But the threats didn’t stop when he returned home. “I got a note this week,” he said, leaning forward and lowering his voice again. “It was put in my luggage, which tells me these people have access at high levels.”
John frowned. “What did it say?”
“Kill the story. Or else.” Aiden ran a hand through his hair as John muttered a curse. “I recognized the handwriting. It was the same bastards who killed Ingrid. She was easy prey, but they’ve made it clear they’ll come for me, too, if we run the story.”
John reset his glasses on his nose. “Are you saying you want me to pull it?”
Aiden shook his head. “No. But this is it for me. I’m ready to move on to something new.” He didn’t think working corporate at the family business was his calling for the future, but he had time to figure out his next steps.
“I get it. I did the traveling thing for a few years in my early days too, and it’s rough. Add in some unhinged bastard sending you threats, and I can’t blame you for taking a step back.” John took a sip of his coffee. “Just know you always have a job with us.”
Aiden smiled. “Thank you.”
“As for the threat, I’d say report it if you want to—”
“No. We need the article to run first and expose the bastards.” Besides, going to the police seemed pointless when the threat was vague; he had no proof who was responsible for Ingrid’s death, which had happened on foreign soil. “All I can do right now is stay vigilant and hope the danger passes once the article runs. I can’t see the police here being able to do much about something that happened so far away.”
John inclined his head. “Fine. Then be on the lookout for trouble and be careful. But I don’t think they’ll come for you here in the U.S. If the story triggers an investigation into the corruption, whoever is after you will have much bigger problems than a reporter who pissed them off.”
“I wish I was that confident,” Aiden muttered, a shudder rushing through him.
They finished their drinks, talking about some of his best articles. John told him about his upcoming plans for the magazine, and Aiden sensed he was still trying to tempt him to return.
It wasn’t going to work.
Chapter Eight
“Who is the cutest baby in the whole wide world?” Brooke cooed as she lifted Fallon’s chubby one-month-old baby into her arms. They sat in Fallon’s bright white kitchen, each on chairs at the table.
Girls abounded in the Sterling family and Fallon was no different. Gabriella, Gabbi for short, stared up at her with big, blue eyes. She hadn’t started smiling yet, which made her seem like such a serious little girl.
Grasping for Brooke’s face, the baby tried to reach for her nose and missed.
Fallon laughed.
“I warned you,” Fallon said, opening a bottle of water and taking a long sip. “She’s trying to touch anything she can get her hands on.”
“Gabbi is just curious, aren’t you, baby girl?” Brooke ran her finger down the infant’s soft cheek. She’d come to Fallon’s new house after work, wanting to check on her and see her bundle of joy.
Her best friend had given birth a month ago, but she looked great. Of course she had dark circles under her eyes, courtesy of sleepless nights, but Fallon was thrilled to have her baby here at last.
“How are you doing?” Brooke asked, reaching out to grab a cookie from the white cardboard box on the kitchen table. Knowing Fallon had a sweet tooth, Brooke had brought an assortment of treats from her favorite bakery.
“I’m good,” Fallon said, smiling fondly at Gabbi. “It’s just amazing how tired I am, considering that all this lovebug does is eat and sleep.”
Brooke laughed. “How often does she wake up?”
“Every couple of hours. Noah tries to help with her as much as possible, but he can’t help with the feedings, and that’s what keeps me up at night.”