Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75414 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
“I don’t want to answer questions. But… but what about insurance and—”
“We will tell them to bill you,” Ariah cut her off. “And you don’t need to worry about the money.”
“But—”
“It’s handled, babe,” I assured her.
She didn’t have it in her to fight me on it.
Once I checked her over to make sure there was no blood on her, and Ariah grabbed her keys and pulled her dogs back inside, Lolly followed her outside.
“I will take care of Edith, don’t worry,” I assured Lolly. “And I am one call away if you decide you want me to come and sit with you, okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed, seeming to come out of her shock a bit. “Can I come back to the clubhouse after?”
“Absolutely. I’ll have some treats and a fuzzy blanket waiting.”
I leaned into the car, pressing a kiss to her cheek, then closed the door.
“Hey,” Ariah said, nodding at me.
“Thanks for this, Ria.”
“Don’t mention it. But don’t bring her back to the damn clubhouse. Not after a night like this. Get her a fancy room in a nice motel. A dog-friendly one,” she clarified.
That I could do.
I watched the two of them drive off before going to get Edith while making a call to Fallon and Brooks, giving them a clipped explanation of the events.
After that, I checked on Dezi and Kit. The latter of the two had put on mucking boots and was helping Dezi dig a hole—in her nightgown still.
Satisfied they had it handled, I walked back down toward the clearing, smelling the burning clothes in the fire pit as I went into Lolly’s motorhome to grab some of her things, then righted my bike, before taking Edith toward the crossover.
“You were a hero tonight, you know that?” I asked Edith. “Your mother is alive and free because of you.”
With that, I drove to the nicest hotel in the area, lucking out to find the presidential suite was available, and booked it for Lolly.
Without anything else to do, I sat on my phone, ordering snacks, fuzzy socks, a new blanket, and some other comfort items—as well as a bag of treats for Edith.
Then I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I was about to grab the sleeping Edith and drive to the hospital when my phone finally beeped with a text from Ariah.
We’re on our way.
It was nearing dawn when I met the car out front of the hotel.
“Broken, huh?” I asked when I opened Lolly’s door to find a light pink cast on her wrist.
“Unfortunately. I’m in this thing for eight weeks.”
“Nah,” I said, looking at the bulky thing. “I’ll get you in with the ortho next week. We’ll get you a 3D-printed cast instead. They’re not as heavy or bulky, and you don’t have to worry about getting it wet.”
“That sounds expensive.”
“And that doesn’t sound like a you problem,” I shot back.
She was too worn out to argue with me.
“I’m going to get back home to check on my dogs,” Ria said. “You take care of our girl.”
“I will. Thanks for everything, Ria. Give Kit another thank you from me too.”
“Will do,” she said before driving off.
Lolly was silent as we made our way up to our floor.
But as soon as the door opened and she saw Edith sitting up on the couch waiting for us, she flew at her, cooing and thanking the dog for saving her.
Seeing her dog seemed to shake the rest of the shock away.
I tossed Edith her treat then led Lolly through the suite to the massive bedroom, where I helped her out of her borrowed clothes and into her more comfortable ones, socks included.
We curled up against the headboard afterward, her turned in against my chest, her legs over mine.
“How are you really?” I asked.
“A little in shock,” she admitted. “That was like something from a movie. Especially Kit.”
“Kit has always been capable of taking care of herself and everyone she cares about. Ria too, if she’d been there.”
“I want to be like that one day.”
“Well, once your wrist heals up and after the baby comes, you can totally start self-defense classes. Though, you won’t ever have to worry about using them against Ben again.”
“It’s hard to believe he’s gone. Even though I’d been there. I’d seen it all… happen.”
“About that,” I said, watching her tense. “Nothing bad. Just something that needs to happen now that Ben’s gone.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
“I am going to grab my friend, Junior, in the coming few days. And we are going to go to the glass house.”
“Why?” she asked, jerking back to look at me.
“To delete any traces of you from the place.”
“Oh,” she said, nodding. “Because someone is eventually going to notice he’s missing.”
“Exactly. And we want all digital traces of you gone. As well as any possible DNA around the house.”
“That makes sense. I mean… no one could link me there except Ben. And you and Dezi.”