Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“My father was adamant that they keep the baby. The only people who knew of my existence were the house manager at that time, who had delivered me, and my parents. There was only one other maid, but she hadn’t been there that day. For the house manager’s silence and to share the lie that both the woman who gave birth to me and I died during labor, her family would get to live and do so with wealth for the rest of their lives. Money can buy many things and make people do horrible things to get more of it.” He sighed.
“I grew up with a close circle knowing of my existence. When I became a teenager, I’d spent most of my time reading due to my being left alone so much that I taught myself several languages. But I will say, languages come easy to me. It wasn’t difficult.
“I was also stealthy and could slip in and out of places without being seen. Jokingly, one night, my uncle commented that I might be just what they needed to get their product farther into Europe and then into the States. The idea started to churn, and soon, I was being trained to do what I do now. Keeping the Murphy name in the clear while they continue to make hundreds of millions a year.”
I opened my bottle of water and took another long drink. Part of me suddenly understood why Eamon had kept this side of his life from me. He’d grown up with a brother his mother hadn’t wanted to exist because he was the product of an affair. And now that brother was their tool to smuggle drugs into more than one country, building their wealth. It didn’t make it okay, but I felt sorry for Eamon and Brady. What a dark, twisted childhood.
“We are going to need gas before we go much farther. Let’s stop off here and find some lunch at whatever quaint little town is on this exit and fill the tank up,” he said as he turned on his blinker.
I glanced over at the sign that read Madison. The thought of food didn’t sit well with me, and my mouth watered. Crap, I’d been fine when I woke up. Maybe it was car sickness. I’d been traveling for a while, and my stomach was empty.
He drove to the first gas station and pulled up to the tank while I fought off the wave of nausea.
19
Tex
Banging on my door woke me with a start, and I looked around the dark room, confused for a moment. Another round of banging, and I stared at the door before standing up. I’d fallen asleep sitting up on the sofa when the sun was still up. As I walked to the door, I stretched my neck, trying to work out the stiffness.
“Tex!” Micah called out.
He hadn’t been here when I came to my room, and I didn’t recall hearing that he was coming to stay the night. He preferred to stay at home with Dolly.
Hurrying now, I jerked open the door to find him raising is fist to knock again.
“Fuck, you were out of it,” he said. “We gotta go.” He glanced down at my clothes. “Good, you’re still dressed. Boots and all. Let’s go.”
I rubbed a hand over my face, still feeling out of sorts. “Where are we going? What time is it? I need to grab my phone.”
“Private airstrip. Nine, uh, fifteen. Grab it and come on,” he shot back at me.
I flipped the light switch and scanned the room until I saw my phone on the sofa beside where I’d slept. I went to grab it and headed back to the door.
“Why are we going to the airstrip?” I asked.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Seems there was a Salem sighting,” he said. “And she ain’t in Ireland. The fucker stopped in Madison, Georgia, today, and they had some lunch.”
She was in Georgia?
I was wide awake now and walking past Micah and to the stairs. “Who saw her in Madison? How did they know to look for her?” I asked while hurrying down the stairs.
“Madison is where the Georgia family of the Mafia is located. Hughes sent out pictures of them to every branch he has. Told them what was going on and if they had a close connection that they trusted at the trafficking ports, to take the pics to them and see if they knew anything,” he said as we reached the door leading outside.
I shoved it open and stopped mid-stride.
Brick, Country, Jars, and Lick sat on their bikes, looking at me.
“You ready to go get your woman?” Brick called out.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Jars said.
My eyes cut to Lick. He cocked one eyebrow, as if to challenge me. I didn’t want him going, but fuck if I had time to deal with this shit. She was mine. She was always going to be mine. I didn’t want him helping to get her back. The others were here for me. He wasn’t. He wanted her for himself.