Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I made a note of it and met his gaze. “So, the first two times they used a vehicle to kill you… uh… I mean… try to kill you. When was the next time?”
He let out a breath. “It was two days ago. I was just leaving the gym and walking down the street to my bike. My buddy yelled at me to watch out, and I ducked into a doorway. This big AC unit comes crashing down from the roof. If not for his warning, it would have hit me for sure.”
His lips twisted. “I was so mad that I rushed into the building to see which apartment the unit had fallen from, but no one seemed to know anything. I hurried to the roof and found some scratch marks on the concrete. Whoever put it up there either had help, or they were strong. That’s when I first suspected someone was out to get me. I told Vanetti, and he agreed. The bomb this morning was the fourth attempt.”
“Okay… so this morning you were lured to the building by a text from a contact?”
“Yeah.”
“But it obviously wasn’t them, right? So did you talk to your contact afterward?”
“Yeah… I called him while I was cleaning up, and he insisted he hadn’t sent it.”
I shook my head. “So it was someone pretending to be him?”
“Yes. It was sent from a burner phone, and they used his name.”
“Okay… so it’s someone who knows your contact and your number. I think that could be a good starting point. Who’s the contact?”
He shrugged. “His name’s Razor, and he’s part of the Shadow Serpents gang. But I don’t think it’s any of them. Razor knows better than to cross me or Vanetti, and so does his gang.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to talk to him though, right? Maybe I’ll pick something up.”
“I guess.”
“You still don’t believe me, do you? Even after I described your accident?” I couldn’t blame him too much, but it still annoyed me.
“I don’t know.” He huffed. “Maybe I do, but I don’t get how your ability even works. And even if you could pick something up, connecting it to me seems like a stretch.”
My mouth pinched. “Okay, fine. I get that, and I wish I could explain it better, but that’s how my psychometry works. When it isn’t connected to the job, I just keep it to myself.”
“So you pick up a lot of things?”
“Yes, I do.” My teeth clenched. “But, I usually know if it’s connected.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Ugh.” I threw my hands in the air. “So typical. You know what? Mr. Vanetti hired me to figure this out, so that’s what I’m going to do, even if I have to visit this snake gang by myself.”
“Hang on.” He held out a hand. “Don’t even think about going anywhere without me.”
“Why? I get the feeling you’d be happier alone, anyways.”
His jaw tightened.
It looked like I’d hit a nerve, but I didn’t take it back. He’d been a total jerk ever since Mr. Vanetti told him I’d be working with him. “You know, I would think someone with a target on their back would be happy to get help.”
Mouth twisting, he let out a frustrated grumble. “Fine. But if you really can pick stuff up, then we should start with the bomb. Believe me, you don’t want to meet the Shadow Serpents. Especially if you call them the ‘snake gang’ to their faces.” He shook his head, obviously disgusted.
I sniffed. “Okay, fine. But we’re still going to have to talk to your snake buddies.”
Stone rolled his eyes and pushed to his feet. He winced when he stood, but I was done feeling bad for him. Relief to do something constructive washed over me, and I put my notepad back in my purse and slung it across my shoulder. I bit my lips as I followed him out, noting his slight limp. But it wasn’t my problem that he’d nearly gotten himself killed today, even though my stomach plunged at the thought.
Stone stepped into his apartment for his leather jacket, and we took the elevator down to the parking garage without saying much. He led the way to his car and popped the trunk. Taking out a motorcycle helmet, he held it toward me. “Here. This should fit you.”
I froze. “We’re going on a motorcycle?”
“Yeah… unless you’re afraid to ride it.” He let his hand fall and raised a brow. “Maybe you should touch the bike? It might show you who’s after me.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I guess it’s worth a try.” I couldn’t quite tell if he was being serious or just goading me.
He moved to the side, allowing me access to the bike. Suddenly nervous that I wouldn’t get anything, I ran the fingertips of one hand across the leather seat. Getting nothing, I placed my entire palm over it and still got nothing.