Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
An ice-cold splash of guilt slapped me across the face. My father never asked me questions about my personal life. I’d obviously never introduced him to anyone before. The only condition he had was that none of the men who worked for him could cross that line with me.
And Wolfe crossed that line every single night.
I wasn’t sure how I should navigate this complex situation, but Wolfe was right. We’d have to come clean at some point. I wasn’t sure if it was better to come from me, or if my father would be pissed if Wolfe didn’t come to him first like a man.
I really didn’t know.
“Our production schedule is already pretty packed,” I said as I sat in front of the computer and spoke to a new customer through a virtual meeting. “It’ll probably take at least two months before we can start to fill such a large order.”
“Two months for us to receive it?”
I automatically looked over my shoulder to the cracked window behind me when I heard the unmistakable loud crash, like a car drove straight into a building. Then the sound of men shouting down below as if something had just happened. “Um, excuse me for one—”
Then the sound of gunshots rang out.
Oh shit.
I shut the laptop before they could hear anything, wanting our criminal activities to be a secret from our regular wine customers. I pushed out of my chair and went to the window, and I saw the steel gate to the vineyard explode and one side collapse off the hinges. “Oh shit.” I looked over the edge of the gate and saw the line of SUVs waiting to get in and kill us all.
I ran to the desk and grabbed my phone to call Wolfe for help, but then I remembered he was with my father so I couldn’t call. I called my father instead, the person I probably should call anyway.
It rang twice before he answered. “Frankie, let me call you back—”
“We’ve been hit. They just blew the gate. There are four SUVs and gunfire.” My heart was racing so damn fast, even though my voice sounded irrationally calm. With every beat, my heart was a little closer to breaking out of my chest.
I hoped Wolfe could hear me.
My father took a beat before he answered. “Barricade yourself inside your office until we make it back. We’ve got a traitor in our midst.”
“Okay.”
“Remember where the guns are?”
“Yes.” My whole body was slick with sweat. The palpitations were about to kill me.
“Shoot. Reload. Breathe. Repeat. Remember that?”
“Yes.” My voice cracked when I spoke.
“And don’t forget your vest.”
“Okay.”
“We’re on our way back. Hold them off as long as you can. Go.”
“Okay.” I hung up, dropped the phone on the desk, and sprang into action. I locked the double doors that led to my office, but they were made of wood so they wouldn’t hold up against gunfire. I had a large shelving unit that held a couple picture frames and other decor. I used all my strength to slide it across the floor to block the door. Then I moved a shorter dresser in front of that, putting as much weight against the door as I could.
I opened the closet and pulled out all the guns.
I found the rifle with the scope used for picking off men from a distance, the AK-47 that could spray bullets at close contact, the handguns and all the magazines and the rounds. I dumped it all on the desk, along with the knife that was packed with it. I strapped the black vest over my white dress and secured it in place, protecting me from gunfire and knives.
I looked at the knife and immediately thought of Wolfe.
I had a mini panic attack when I stared at it.
“He’s coming…he’s coming.” Knowing he was driving like a fucking madman to get to me was the only thing that kept me calm. All I had to do was survive and evade capture until he arrived, and then he would fix everything.
I put the knife in the sheath and secured it to my upper thigh underneath my dress in case I needed it.
“Alright, focus.” I grabbed the rifle and checked that the barrel was loaded before I moved to the window. I secured the butt of my gun against my shoulder and stared down the scope, seeing the SUVs that poured onto the property. Our guys fired from everywhere, from behind the house and the other buildings. It was a fucking war zone.
I focused my aim on the guy in the driver’s seat, and the second he opened the door and stepped out, I fired.
It was a headshot—and he was down. “Shoot. Reload.” I opened the barrel and dropped the bullet into place before I cocked the gun. “Breathe.” I took a deep breath and steadied my gun before I redirected my aim to someone else and fired.