Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
I lean in, brushing my lips over his, fully expecting him to press his lips to mine. Who would reject a woman in such an emotionally fragile state?
Eddie Yarrow, apparently, I realize, when he pulls his face back, hands coming up to clasp my upper arms, as if he's afraid he'll need to use force to keep me away. His rejection is enough, and I'm a really fast learner.
I hate the embarrassment heating my cheeks, and I drop my gaze from his.
"Sorry," I mutter, trying to stand, but he keeps his hold on me, preventing me from getting off the sofa.
"That can't happen, Cora," he says, an echo of what he said last night.
He predicted my move then, just as he has done now. Call me a fool for the second attempt, but twice is all it will ever take for me to get the point.
"There's so much to do," I say, trying to distract myself both from him and the reason why I need to get a hold of my brothers.
His hand covers mine when I reach for my cell phone.
"You're right," I say. "This isn't something they should hear over the phone."
"There's more, Cora."
I shake my head, instantly rejecting whatever it is that he's planning to tell me. My heart can't take another hit.
"Sadie was murdered."
It's as if I'm not understanding the words even though they make perfect sense. Had I judged Sadie so harshly that I automatically assumed she had overdosed? I realize in all my questioning, I never once asked how.
"Murdered?"
The word is foreign to me. Of all the ways we've lost loved ones, that word just doesn't compute.
And as if I haven't been dealt a big enough blow, he keeps on talking.
"We think William hired out the job."
Chapter 21
Ace
I realize I might've been able to prevent her from calling her brothers, but I knew I wouldn't be able to prevent her from going to California. It's why I'm sitting beside her in first class on the way to the Golden State.
I could say a lot of things, but I saw the resolution in her eyes when I didn't kiss her back. I know the rejection probably stung. She wouldn't have tried to kiss me if she thought there was a chance I wouldn't reciprocate. I know her to be a woman who doesn't take many risks, not counting her little trip to the spa earlier in the week.
Add on top of the news she just got about her sister, and I don't doubt the woman went from wanting to kiss me to get her mind off the bad news to hating me completely.
Giving her something she wanted at the moment would end up being seen as me taking advantage of her when the dust settled. I can be a jerk right now, but I'm not going to be an asshole she hates for the rest of her life.
I'm not so egotistical to think that she's pounding back glasses of white wine like she's at a frat party because of me but it doesn't make it any easier to watch.
My job is technically over. Kincaid asked me to help find Sadie Preston, and even though this is the worst-case scenario, she's been located.
I called him back, all but putting myself on the murder investigation because I just can't seem to distance myself from Cora.
I felt my own pain and regrets while witnessing her grief, and that may make me a glutton for pain. I went through my loss over Noah all alone, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Plus, I need more information. All arrows point to William Preston, Jr. as being the one who set Sadie's murder into motion, but we don't have anything concrete. The man has made it his life’s mission to keep his secrets hidden.
"Can I get another?" Cora asks, her words slow and coated with a haze of inebriation.
"I'm so sorry," the flight attendant says with a gentle smile. "You've reached the limit allowed by the FFA."
"Okay," Cora whispers, just accepting that there are rules in place.
There might be, but I'm not aware of any. I know alcohol on the plane has to be served by the airline and that pilots have an eight-hour bottle-to-throttle rule, but I'm not aware of any limits on customers so long as they aren't being unruly.
Whatever the flight attendant's reasoning, I'm grateful for it. The hour and a half between now and landing in San Diego won't give her enough time to sober up, but at least she won't have the chance to pound anymore back between now and then.
She hasn't spoken much to me outside of thanking me for making flight arrangements. I didn't explain to her that Cerberus's spending isn't something William can track, and it's best if he doesn't get suspicious about what she's up to.