Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 644(@200wpm)___ 515(@250wpm)___ 429(@300wpm)
"Do you want me to show you to your room?" Ace asks, and I want to challenge it.
I want to argue and ask why he's so quick to get rid of me, but I know he's just being nice. Understandably, someone who just spent days traveling on a motorcycle would want to get settled in so soon after arriving. I'm the one on edge, and I'd be a fool to think this man has any ill will toward me at all.
"Sure," I tell him, losing the battle and looking in Frankie's direction just in time to see the man's back as he walks from the room.
Fresh air slaps me in the face as we walk out the front door. When I make a detour to my bike to grab the minimal things I brought with me from New Mexico, there's enough doubt about what I'm doing here that I contemplate jumping on it and finding something else to do with my life.
Despite all my mental bravado before, I'm exhausted from life and the things I've done and seen in my career, so facing a challenge I could easily walk away from seems like the best choice for me.
But I've never been one to walk away from any opposition in my life. I face things head-on, even knowing that the best possible outcome will still be unfavorable.
"Didn't bring much," Ace says when I rejoin him.
"Don't need much," I explain as I heft the strap of my backpack on my shoulder. "Won't get to wear my own clothes for a while, I imagine."
"True," he says, looking ahead as we round the far side of this cabin and walk thirty feet to the front door of the next one. "This cabin has ten rooms. The other one has fifteen."
"A lot of space for such a small group," I say, walking through the door after he punches in the key code.
"Kincaid is always looking toward the future. The battle we're fighting is going to take a lot more men and women than we currently have."
I grunt in agreement because we both know there are days we're barely ahead of the criminals, and most days we're ten steps behind.
"This is the rec area," he says, walking through the house and turning on lights. "Code to the pool and hot tub is on the door."
"Nice," I say, giving the area he pointed toward a quick glance.
"Theater," he says, flipping on the light in the room to showcase the rows of leather recliners before turning the light back off and pointing to the left. "Half bath over there. The kitchen is on the main floor."
I follow him up the stairs to a massive open area very similar to the cabin we just left.
"The house was turnkey," he says. "Decor can be adjusted, I guess."
"It's great," I say, without a care in the world for what pictures are on the wall.
"You get your pick of a room. Originally, the place had bunk beds and stuff since it was previously used as a short-term rental, but we've already transitioned them to have all kings."
"More rooms upstairs," I say, pointing toward the second staircase.
"Yep."
It may make more sense right now to stay on the main floor just for ease, but I also know more people will come eventually, and I don't want to deal with the hassle of moving. If this house fills up, being as far away from the gathering areas as possible will be better for me.
Instead of saying goodbye, Ace follows me up the stairs. At first, I don't question it. Maybe the guy has to make a log of where everyone will be for some reason, but I fight the urge to crack my neck side to side in irritation when he hovers in the bedroom doorway.
"This one okay?" I ask, trying not to sound as irritated as I feel.
"I mean, they're pretty much all the same," he says.
"Is there something else you need?" I ask, my irritation hitting an all-time high.
"We're just not going to discuss the big elephant in the room at the other cabin?"
I drop my bag on the bed and face him fully, my arms straining at my sides with my need to cross them in front of me, but that would be a sign of weakness or submission, and I refuse to give this man either.
"What elephant?"
He scoffs, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"So you've known Zeus for a long time, huh?" he asks after a long pause, probably realizing I'm not going to have a little gossip session with him.
"Zeus," I mock.
The name is absolutely ridiculous, and with the ego he's had since he was a child, I imagine he came up with it himself.
"How'd he get the name?" I ask over my shoulder as I start pulling my personal belongings out of my bag.