Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
"What's stopping you from leaving?" he asks.
I shrug again. Sometimes I don't know what stops me from leaving. Maybe I've just gotten used to all the things I wanted to run from. Maybe I found a way to make this tree home even though it required a lot of renovations to make it feel right. Maybe leaving would force me to make decisions that I'm not ready to make, like what I actually want to do with my life that doesn't involve social media.
"I don't know. I guess I just don't have a sense of direction yet for it to make sense to leave now," I finally admit. I meet his gaze. "Besides, if I left when I originally wanted to, we wouldn't be here right now."
He looks at me for a long while. "If someone wasn't trying to have you killed, we wouldn't be here right now," he corrects me, his voice soft.
I drop my gaze as reality crashes back onto my head. "Right," I murmur. We quietly sit in the tree, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I wish we could stay like this forever. Sitting in a tree and talking feels normal, something that could be an everyday thing for us. But I know that reality may not be in my future. Even though things feel great right now, they're bound to come to an end.
They always do.
"I have to get going," Trent says. Anxiety replaces the calmness that once filled me at the thought of him disappearing again. Even though I want to ask him to stay, it's back to business for him. Besides, it'll only end with us getting into another fight, and I'm exhausted from the whiplash of emotions.
We make our way back to the ground, and I wrap my arms around myself. "I guess I'll see you around then," I say.
"I'll call you." He reaches up and strokes my cheek briefly before he turns and walks away. I sigh as I watch him walk around the side of my house before he disappears completely.
I trudge back into the house, already wondering when I'll see or hear from him again.
21
TRENT
Itighten the velcro straps of my bulletproof vest before pulling my shirt back on. Adrenaline rushes through my veins as seventeen other men and I prepare our weapons, confirm everyone's role in the operation, and outfit ourselves with knives and extra magazines. My mind goes over the plan in my head as I put a couple of magazines on my utility belt. There are three entrances: front, side, and back. Auction is taking place in the main hub of the warehouse; point of entry for quicker access—side entrance. Two armed guards at the front of the building, two snipers on the roof. One armed man at both the front and back door. I shove a magazine into my rifle and cock it, still filtering through the information I know. The majority of the security will be inside the building during the auction. Phase I: Secure the outside perimeter before breaching. Phase II: Secure the lobby and hallways. Phase III: Dismantle auction.
"Ready to rock and roll when you are, Lone Wolf," Bentley says as he passes me, pulling me out of my mental walkthrough. I nod to acknowledge, grinning at the mention of my nickname. I normally did missions alone, as I didn't care for the distractions of having to keep up with multiple people or risk having a kink that could derail the mission. But for a takedown this big, it's all hands on deck, so I welcomed the team of men who agreed to help.
"Our snipers are positioned in the trees already." Jason approaches me, tightening his bulletproof vest. "Waiting on your call to take out their two snipers and the two men up front."
I nod. "We need to get moving. The auction is starting so we have the element of surprise since they're not expecting anyone else to enter the building since everyone on the guest list has been accounted for."
Jason taps the top of the cargo van. "Those riding with me, load up," he orders.
Excited energy buzzes in the night air as the group splits into two separate vehicles. Once I was in the passenger seat, I press my earpiece. "Testing," I say.
"Hear you loud and clear, Lone Wolf," Cameron replies. Anthony closely follows Jason. It was a little dangerous driving in the dark without headlights, making sure to stay far away from the building so that the snipers don't blow our position and alert the others. We park the vans behind tall hedges before getting out and covering the side of the van with a matte green tarp to prevent any light that may hit the surface. We remain behind the bushes, the others huddling around me.
"Once Cameron and his partner give the all clear, we're splitting into groups of five. You four, with me"—I point at Louis, James, Cole, and Aaron—"you four with Jason, and the remainder of you with Bentley. My team will hit the front and work our way to the back. Jason, your team take the side, and Bentley, your team has the back door. Take out anyone who is an immediate threat, even the guests if they're armed. Are we all clear on that?"