Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101887 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Ronan wants to introduce me as his wife. I don’t want to disappoint. I can’t wait to see the look on Kaye’s face.
“I might not have such a problem with it if ya allowed me to do the spoiling,” he croons and palms my ass, returning the peck to my lips.
“Nope, you spoil me in the only way that matters to me. I don’t need your money.”
He growls and buries his face in my neck. I get ready to reach my hand into his sweats when his phone rings. I guess that’s for the best. It’s not like we’re here alone.
“Hello, Den’Nisha,” he answers the call like he’s greeting an old friend.
These two talk on the phone all the time. Mom really is happy to have a son-in-law. I roll my eyes and head for the closet to finish packing.
How did I even get all this here from PA? He might be right. I frown as I admit to myself I might have a problem. I reach for a pair of shoes and a panel behind them falls open. I knit my brows and move closer to look inside.
Reaching in, I pull out the box inside and blow the dust off. This was once Uncle Freddie’s room. This had to belong to him.
My curiosity is piqued. I go to walk out of the closet but stop short as Ronan’s words reach my ears.
“I promise ya. I’m going to find Anika. Don’t give up on me yet.”
I tighten my hold on the box, nearly crushing it. I know this man hasn’t gone behind my back to help find that bitch. This is none of his fucking business.
“I know you fucking lying,” I roar as I step out of the closet.
Ronan spins and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Oh, he hasn’t seen how crazy I’m about to get. I feel so betrayed.
“Danny, calm down and listen to me,” he says and holds his hand out as if to stop a wild animal.
“You have no fucking right,” I snap.
His face grows dark with anger. He works his jaw, looking as if he’s fighting to keep from breaking on me. Pulling the phone from his ear, he holds it out to me.
I roll my eyes but step forward and take it. He huffs and turns to leave. I lift the phone to my ear and take a calming breath.
“Hello.”
“You owe that man an apology. Anika has been missing for going on two years, Danny. Someone’s paying that girl’s rent, but she hasn’t been there since before you left for Ireland.
“Danika, what happened between you two? I need to know because my baby is in trouble. I can feel it. I’m still her mother,” my mom sobs.
I stumble back. My head is spinning. I try to remember the day I found out the money was missing.
“Wait … what?”
“What happened, Danny?”
“I sent her to the bank to make a deposit and clear some invoices. She sent me a text that she was sorry.
“She didn’t come back and when I checked the account, she made the deposit but took out half a million after.
“Thought nothing of it at first, I was busy writing, but some other shit went down, and I started trying to call her to vent but she wouldn’t answer. That’s when I started to think she stole the money and took off.”
I walk out of my room as my mind spins. Two years, I’ve been wrong for two years. Where the fuck is my sister?
“Danika, your little sister has always looked up to you. Why would she do something like that? I’ve caught her in lies before, but she’s never been a thief. I didn’t even believe it when Byron told your uncle that she tried to steal from him.
“That’s why I stopped sending her with you guys for weekends. It had to have been a misunderstanding, but Freddie was so angry.”
I tune my mom out as Byron walks into the house behind Ronan and Tadgh, who just came back in. They both glare at him. I, on the other hand, stand there, seeing him through new eyes.
“Ya know him?” Ronan demands.
“Yeah, that’s Dayton’s son Byron.”
Byron’s face clouds over, reminding me so much of Myron. As I think of it, that has always been my issue with Byron. Since the accident that killed his mother and brother, he has this habit of flip-flopping between his brother’s demeanor and his own. It’s weird.
The other thing to stand out in this moment is my mother’s words. Uncle Freddie thought Anika had stolen from him; that’s why he stopped bringing her along with us. Why would Byron tell him that?
Suddenly, loud barking begins outside. Ronan moves quickly out the door. Byron looks after him and blanches. I tilt my head and study him closer.
He looks super nervous now. Yeah, our dogs are huge, but Byron can’t see them from where he’s standing. Something else is up.