Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Preacher nods. “Good. Devil, you stay with the bikes and keep a lookout for movement. Crash is the one that knows the house. I'll go with him for backup. The goal is to get Summer out, preferably without getting keelhauled by Eagle-Eye for getting caught.”
Devil chuckles. “He's going to be fucking pissed about this, but if we have Summer, he won't say shit. He's a sucker for a girl in trouble.”
“Fucking dare you to say that to his face.” I shake my head and snort. “Come on.”
Preacher and I slip along a fence between a house and a commercial parking lot that butts up against the back corner of the estate. He's light on his feet, but neither of us are exactly dressed for stealth. There are some big, old shadowy oaks along the corner I'm aiming for.
“When's the last time you climbed a tree?”
He gives me a death glare. “It's been a few fucking years, okay? But I can do more pullups than you, kid.” I give him the finger along with a quiet laugh.
We both manage, hopping from the ground and swinging up into the branches before dropping down on the manicured turf on the other side. A dark shadow shoots across the edge of the yard, I snap my head in that direction and see the compact, muscular form of a brindle pittie focused entirely on us.
“Stay still,” Preacher warns under his breath, putting his hand on his gun. “I don't want to shoot, but I will if it's us or him.”
I drop slowly down on my haunches and hold my hand out. “Hey, King… Remember me? They still got you working, old boy?”
His ears snap up, and his tail starts to move ever so slightly. Fuck, this guy was barely more than a puppy when I left. The dogs were one of my only bright memories of this place. He's got more white around his muzzle than he used to, but he pads forward cautiously and sniffs my hand. Then he slams into me, knocking me on my ass and licking my face.
“Jesus, I'm glad I have you with me,” Preacher grumbles, hunching down and giving King a scratch. Now that he's accepted us, he's happy as a clam, trotting alongside.
We hug the side of the yard, mostly hidden by hedges and trees, making our way to a back door with a code pad next to it. I flip the cover off and press a few buttons. There's a soft beep, and the light turns green.
Preacher shakes his head. “What the fuck?”
“Told you he's too cheap for real security. I bet there's a state-of-the-art system protecting his cars, but the house is the same piece of shit system it was back when I lived here. It's probably the same fucking code it was installed with. Stay, King.” The dog, obedient to a fault, plops down happily.
Preacher hesitates when we get inside. “You know this place. Should I stick with you, or wait down here in case you need to run. I don't fucking like splitting up. Give me a shootout over this cloak and dagger shit.”
I don't like splitting up either, but he's less likely to get noticed down here than wandering the halls. “Stay. You hear anything, text me.”
He nods. “Go. Get her and get both your asses back here.”
It's even fucking creepier to be inside the house. Small things have changed here and there, but it's just like I remembered it. I can't imagine my mother walking these halls for all these years. I wait to feel regret or guilt, but I mostly just feel sad for her, and even more fixated on making sure that's not Summer's fate. She's too fucking alive to be stuck in this gilded tomb.
Footsteps come down the hall and I duck into one of the guest rooms, waiting for whoever it is to pass before continuing down to Summer's room. Just like everything else in this house, she's in the same fucking place. The door's locked from the outside, just like the woman said on the phone. I knock softly and let myself in.
She's sitting in a chair by the window, reading a book. The sun shines in her hair, and her big brown eyes go wide when she sees me. The book hits the floor. “Crash! How did you get in? Are the others with you?”
“They're nearby. Shit, Summer, how do you stand it? This place?” I gesture around at the room that hasn't changed since she was a girl. I wasn't allowed in here when I lived with them, but I was a curious fucking kid and of course I spied on my cute step-sister. Complete with lacy curtains, horse figurines and inspirational posters made to look cool but are anything but, it's a little girl's room. I won't leave her in it if I can help it.