Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
My life was over. All my hard work was for nothing. Everything I’d given up, every sacrifice my family had made in pursuit of my goal . . . worthless. It was so fucking unfair, I choked on my bitterness. Anger, hot as lava, poured through my veins and tightened my muscles.
Seth, or Frey, or whomever he was—maybe he’d come after me, or maybe the organization he worked for would.
Fine. Bring it.
I’d like nothing more than to smash another laptop into his goddamn face.
If I had to give up everything, I’d do whatever I could to make sure it wasn’t easy on him. There was a fighter lurking inside me, and she was ready to take center stage.
For a long while, I lay on the bed and indulged in the fantasy where Frey wound up dead, so it no longer mattered what he’d told me. I’d return to the CBC, get back to work, and after a while no one would talk about that night in the theater or ask about my ordeal afterward.
My life would be normal again.
I’d be free of the marshal in the next room. The one I was sure had wanted to kiss me until he’d thought better of it. And in spite of how he annoyed me . . . shit, I had wanted it. Even with everything going to hell around me, there was a force pulling me toward Jason.
It was why I’d sought comfort in his arms. The gravity of him was inescapable.
And I wasn’t sure I wanted to escape.
After living on my own for years, it was weird to suddenly see other toothbrushes on the bathroom counter. I’d awoken this morning and spent more time contemplating what Jason revealed. How I’d have to give up and disappear.
Once again, it filled me with anger, and I decided I’d live in denial for a little bit longer. I brushed my teeth and pulled my hair back into a ponytail, took a deep breath, and headed for the kitchen.
There was no sign of Jason, and I assumed he was still asleep.
Derrick hadn’t shaved, but the stubble dotting his jawline did little to visually enhance his age. “There’s eggs, if you want ‘em.”
I made an omelet and ate alone at the kitchen table. As I finished, Derrick moved to the chair across from me and glanced at his phone.
“Our supervisor will be here at nine.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. “Oh?”
“He’s coming to discuss relocation. Your ID made the OEO authorize a move, but Bill can explain it when he’s here.”
I studied the marshal on the other side of the table. I’d been so flustered by Jason, I hadn’t paid enough attention to this one.
“How long have you been a marshal?” It was a roundabout way to guess his age.
“Two years.”
“Do you like it?”
He paused as if no one had ever asked him that before. “Yes, ma’am, I do.”
I nodded. “That’s good.”
Obviously, he was a man of few words. Yet when I looked deeper, I got the impression he wasn’t some eager-to-play-cowboy kid. This man was serious. Sharp and calculating. And he was older than he looked.
“Do you do a lot of these? Protection details?”
“No, I’m mostly high-risk prisoner transport.”
“What’s that like?”
“It’s boring, most of the time. But it can be dangerous,” he said, nonchalant. “During transport, you’ve got the greatest risk for escape.”
It felt like he wanted me to ask. “Does that happen?”
“A guy tried once.” He shrugged. “People tend to underestimate me. I guess because I look young or something.”
There weren’t any more photos to look at since I’d identified Frey, so I excused myself and went back to my room, intent on practicing. It was far from ideal, but it was better than nothing, and losing myself in the work was all that mattered. I pulled the shirt over my head, cast it on the bed, and then popped the button of my pants—
Derrick’s voice boomed from down the hall. “Jason, get her secure now!”
What?
There was a deep thump next door, like feet hitting the ground. Furious footsteps approached and my door burst open. A shirtless Jason stormed in, gun at his side and his face full of determination.
I was too startled to do anything as he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me with him toward the closet. He threw open the door to the small, empty space and yanked at the corner of the carpet. It was a false floor hiding a ladder that led down into darkness.
“Go!” he said.
I didn’t question him and descended the ladder as fast as my nervous hands would allow. He came down right behind me, cutting off any light to the room as he pulled the trap door closed.
It was pitch black.
The concrete floor was cold under my bare feet, but I didn’t dare move.