Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
We find him with his back pinned to the wall with Josie confronting him. “You can at least nod your head,” she says. At our approaching footsteps, she whirls around. “Did you tell him not to talk to me?” she accuses.
“Yes,” I answer agreeably. “Good job, kid.”
The recruit straightens and gives me a salute. I knock his hand down. “We ain’t in the military.”
“No, sir.”
Behind me, Niki snickers. I sigh and show him Cole’s photo. “You know him?”
The recruit nods. “I came across his dead body last week, searched him, and found his phone and two Benjamins. Brought the phone here. Was I supposed to turn in the money?” The last bit comes out quietly, as if the kid’s afraid Niki and I are going to beat him to a pulp for it.
“Nah, finders keepers. You know the kid?”
“Nope. Tall fucker, though. Probably played some kind of sport.”
“What high school do you go to?” Josie interjects.
“Lincoln.”
Josie makes a face. That high school isn’t even in our district, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t know Cole. We let the kid go. Josie taps her chin. “We need to go back to Shane.”
“Why?”
“Because we need to find out where he was when the fire alarm was pulled. If he pulled the fire alarm, then we need to find out why.”
“Could be just a prank,” I suggest.
“Doesn’t feel like it.” Josie writes down the details of our phone investigation in her notebook and then slaps it shut. “Let’s go ambush him.”
Chapter Twenty
JOSIE
“Just so you know, I’m mad at you.” I keep my chin tilted up as we walk down the sidewalk back to the school. Bam has his hand again cupping the back of my neck.
“Because I told the recruit not to talk to you? He doesn’t need to.”
“No.” That was actually kind of funny, but I’m not letting Bam know that. Next time I’ll have to be a little more elusive when following him. It’s clear that my idea of being sneaky wasn’t that at all.
“Hey.” Bam stops walking. “Inside the laundromat isn’t a place for you, nor should you want it to be.” I know he only wants to protect me, and I need to trust him in that. My self-control just isn’t the best.
“Does this have to do with your Horde?”
“Horde?” He lifts a playful brow.
“Yeah, Horde. It’s what I’m now calling it since you don’t like the G word. So, you’re now the Horde because we’re definitely not the Alliance.”
“What the hell is the Alliance?”
“Warcraft.” How does he not know these things? Oh, yeah. Bam is way too cool for Warcraft. I bet he doesn’t have a lot of free time between school and Horde dealings.
“Is that a video game?”
“Yeah.” I nod before holding my hand up. “For the Horde!” I shout. A few people glance our way. “Sorry,” I tell him. “If I just embarrassed you.”
“Embarrassed me?” He laughs. “No, rebel. Your antics can be rather adorable.” Heat blooms in my cheeks because I love that compliment. “And I don’t give a fuck what other people think.” See, definitely cool.
“You’re forgiven for leaving me behind then.”
“Hey now.” Bam steps closer. “Not so quick.” He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “I have plans to make it up to you later.” I lick my lips.
“You still can.” He leans in, pressing a kiss to my mouth.
“Let’s see if this Shane is here.” We start walking again. I rub the palms of my hands down my jeans. They feel clammy.
When we make it to the school, it’s empty except for a few track athletes making their way around the oval. The doors to the practice facility are locked.
“It might be too late,” I huff, frustrated. “And it’s not really an ambush if we go to his house.” I don’t want him to know we’re coming. “I want it to be a sneak attack.”
“Tomorrow then. I still need to feed you dinner.”
“Wait, let’s check the pool hall.” I point down the street.
“If he’s not there, then tomorrow.” Bam’s tone is firm, and I know I won’t win this argument, so I agree.
It’s only a few blocks down the street. I pull my phone out of my back pocket to check the time and see that it’s dead.
Shit. I put it back into my pocket and rub my palms down my jeans again. I forgot my bag back at the house. I only grabbed my notebook and booked it after Bam. It’s fine, I tell myself. We’ll check the pool hall and then head back home.
“Babe.” Bam gives my neck a squeeze. “Are you okay? You’re swaying.”
“Pool hall.” I point to the building with the neon lights in the window.
“Come on,” he grunts, leading me across the street and inside. It’s fairly dead inside, and it doesn’t take long to see that Shane isn’t here.