Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
I certainly have my own preferences when it comes to him.
Our walk back to the house is quiet except for the snow underfoot. The cold air stings my cheeks, but Boyd stays close, his fingers twined with mine until we reach the door that leads into the ops center.
As soon as we step inside, a voice turns my blood to ice.
“…just want her home safely.”
My body reacts before my brain can make sense of what I’m hearing. My heart lurches hard enough to make me dizzy, and I stop short, grasping Boyd’s sleeve, preparing to flee.
It’s his voice, and for a long, horrible second, I think he’s here. That he somehow found me, breached the perimeter, broke through all defenses.
Then a woman speaks in a measured tone. “Can you tell us more about the last time you saw your fiancée?”
Relief floods in, quickly followed by dread.
Boyd’s hand settles firmly on my back. “It’s the news,” he murmurs. “You okay?”
I nod, but my pulse roars in my ears.
We quickly tug off our coats and find Atlas and Viper at the command desk. Atlas has his arms crossed tight over his chest, and his jaw is locked. He gives me a wary look before he glances up at Boyd.
Viper is standing slightly apart, eyes sharp and unblinking as he focuses on the monitor.
On the screen, Preston is at a podium surrounded by microphones. Dark circles frame his eyes. His hair is disheveled with subtle precision. His voice wavers. He sounds like he might break if he weren’t so brave.
A picture of my face is inset in the top corner with a phone number beneath it in bold yellow type.
“She’s always been so strong,” he says, “but pregnancy hormones can be overwhelming. Combined with wedding stress … I’m afraid she suffered some kind of emotional episode.”
A wave of nausea hits me that has nothing to do with the pregnancy.
“She disappeared on our wedding day. At first, I suspected foul play, but when no demand for ransom came in, and when she wasn’t found, I consulted psychological experts. I’ve come to believe she may be disoriented. Possibly dissociative.”
He pauses, making a show of summoning the strength to go on. “Looking back, I realized she wasn’t herself in the days leading up to her disappearance.”
Atlas is already behind me. He turns me into his chest, his arm circling my shoulders. Boyd steps closer, forming a solid wall at my side, the way he does.
On the screen, Preston goes on, eyes glistening so impressively that for a moment, I almost believe he loves me and misses me. “I’m worried about her safety. That she might be a danger to herself … and to our baby. She left without her phone, without her medication—”
“Medication? The only thing I was taking was a prenatal vitamin.”
A detective steps into the frame to add that my matron of honor’s car went missing at the same time I did. She gives a description of Brianna’s vehicle and asks viewers to come forward if they have any information.
Preston’s face is somber. “Please. If anyone sees her, don’t scare her. She may not understand what’s happening.”
My stomach turns, and my body goes numb. “He’s getting desperate,” I whisper hoarsely. “He never wanted the timing of the pregnancy and the marriage to be public.”
Atlas’s hand tightens on my shoulder. “Which means he’s running out of options.”
“Poisoning the well,” Boyd adds, his tone low and angry. “Setting the narrative before anyone can hear yours, like you predicted.”
Viper speaks calmly. “If you surface later, everything you say gets filtered through ‘mental break.’”
“He’s not just trying to find you,” Atlas says, “he’s trying to control what happens when he can’t.”
The press conference ends, and the screen changes to two news hosts sitting at a desk, speculating about me with professional concern. I can’t watch anymore.
Atlas tips my chin gently until I look at him. “You’re not unstable. And you’re not alone.”
Boyd’s hand slides into mine, warm and firm. “We’ve got you.”
Viper meets my eyes across the room, but he doesn’t come closer. “You’re safe here,” he says. “We won’t let anyone take you.” Then he turns and heads toward his alcove.
Atlas rubs my arm. “You’ve had a shock. You should get some rest.”
I look up at him, then over at Boyd, who’s still close, but starting to look uncomfortable. “I’m going to sleep in Boyd’s room tonight,” I tell Atlas. “I hope you don’t mind.”
He’s surprised, but does his best to hide it. He glances at Boyd and gives him a nod. I think he seems pleased for his friend.
“Sleep well, Kira.” Atlas kisses me chastely on the forehead, like a father would. His eyes say more than the kiss does, though. His eyes tell me that he wants me, and that he’ll miss having me in his bed, and I wish I didn’t have to choose between the men for the night, but I appreciate his willingness to share me.