Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
“Fine?” she shrills. “You’re fine? You shot someone! You were—”
I cut her off. “Abby, listen, I’m okay. I was on the job.”
She groans. “I know it was the Brody sister. I heard she was in the hospital. Is she okay?”
Well, the small town gossip is alive and well. “Yes, she’s okay. I mean, she was hurt, but she’s going to be okay.”
My mind starts to race, replaying everything from yesterday, and I have to shake the thoughts out. “So uh, how are my niece and nephew? I need to come and see them.”
Abby huffs. “They’re fine… Zach, are you okay? I mean, you just sound, I dunno, off.”
I hate it. Even with the age difference, my sister and I have always been close, and normally, I’d talk to her about this, but right now, it’s too fresh. “Yeah, I’m okay. I’m just overwhelmed with… everything, but I’m okay.” I hate for my sister to worry about me, and she always does. I should have called her yesterday. “I’m sorry, sis. I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’m sorry you had to hear about it from someone else. I’m sorry—”
“Stop,” she says. “Stop it right now, Zach. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I just needed to know you’re okay, but it’s obvious that something is bothering you.”
I massage my temples. “Yeah, you’re right, okay, and I promise I’ll talk to you about it, but I can’t… not right now… not yet.”
I just can’t right now. I’m barely holding it together, and I’m afraid I’ll lose my shit if I start telling Abby everything.
She starts a rant. “What is it with you guys? Davis is the same way. He thinks he’s gotta handle everything on his own. Like I can’t handle it.”
I can’t help it; I laugh. “Your husband doesn’t think you can’t handle it. He just doesn’t want you to have to handle it. He wants to take care of you.”
“Zach, I’m worried about you.”
I nod. “I know you are, but I’m okay, and I’ll come over later this week and tell you everything.”
She pauses. “I watch the Cookie Crew, bub, and I saw you on there. Was that real? Or was that part of the job?”
I blow out a rushed breath. “It was real.”
“Was?” she asks.
I stare up at the white ceiling. “Yeah… was.”
“Zach!” Logan hollers as he walks into our new office.
I push my chair back as I stand up. “Sis, I gotta go. Logan just walked in. I love you, and I’ll talk to you this week.”
“I love you too, Zach.”
I hang up as Logan calls my name again. “Zach!”
I should walk around my desk to meet him, but I stand here and wait. “In here,” I call.
He walks into my office, and I take in his disheveled look. His hair is standing up in every direction, he has a few days of beard growth, and his clothes are filthy, letting me know he came here straight off the plane. “What the fuck, Zach?”
He’s angry, and I don’t blame him. “I know. I’m sorry. I fucked up, and I know I did.” I suck in a breath and shake my head. “I think I should take a step back from Stronghold Security.”
Confusion etches his face, and he throws his hands up. “Wait. What the fuck are you talking about?”
I pace across the room and look out the big window. Our office is right on Main Street, and I watch the people going about their lives while I feel like I’m drowning. “I don’t know, Logan. Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe I’m not cut out for this… Maybe I should go back to the Ghost Team.”
As I peer out the window, all I keep seeing is Skyler with a blade to her neck.
I’m surprised when Logan starts to talk, and he’s standing right next to me. He has his arms crossed over his chest, and he’s looking outside instead of at me. “So, uh, you think this last job was a failure?”
I huff out a breath. “Fuck, yes it was. Of the biggest proportion. I failed…” I clench my eyes shut and open them again. “And this was the biggest mission… This is one I shouldn’t have failed… and I did.”
Logan sighs, and I hang my head. “I’m sorry, Logan, truly I am. Skyler…”
I can’t even get it all out. Since Sky kicked me out of her house yesterday, I’ve been a mess. There’s so much that needs to be done around here, but I haven’t been able to focus on any of it. All I can do is worry about Skyler. Is she okay? How’s her concussion? The bruise on her face? Her heart? I turn to Logan. “Have you seen her?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I talked to Aria and my brothers. What happened?”