Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
PROLOGUE
BROCK
“It’s more important that we find out who’s been hijacking our property and moving…cargo.”
“Cargo, Dad? Really?”
“It’s just an easier word to say, son.”
“I suppose. But we can’t let ourselves get easy with this, Dad. It’s a harsh reality. I don’t want to get comfortable with it.”
“This has nothing to do with getting comfortable, Brock. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know that.”
“All I can tell you is this. I understand that Pat Lamone means more to you because of what’s going on with you and Rory. I get that, and I understand. But we really need to find out who left that information for Donny. Someone wanted us to find out what’s happening on our property. Whoever it is, we have to consider them a friend at this point.”
“Do we?” I ask. “That’s pushing it, in my opinion.”
“In mine as well. But whoever has hijacked our land for these horrific purposes is the enemy for sure. Someone wants us to know, and you know what that means. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
“Maybe, Dad. But if they’re a true friend, why didn’t they just come to us? Why sneak around and leave shit in Donny’s bathroom? Who the hell does that?”
“Someone who doesn’t want to—or can’t—reveal themselves to us. Which means—”
“They’re probably working with the enemy,” I finish for him.
“Exactly.”
My mind races. “There’s got to be a connection, Dad. That ring. That ring that belonged to your mother. With the initials LW on it. That’s got to be some kind of clue, right?”
“Yes, but I haven’t been able to figure out what. We have to look deeper, Brock. Whoever wanted us to have that information, those GPS coordinates, also left the ring. But why? I’ve been racking my brain to try to figure this out, and I haven’t yet. But I will, and you’re going to help me.”
“I will. Donny and Dale will too. But do we keep it among the four of us for now?”
“I’m going to bring Talon in. After all, he was shot, and at this point I think we have to assume that his shooting is related to the rest of this.”
“Is that a reasonable assumption?” I ask.
“Reasonable? Hell, I don’t even know what reasonable is anymore. But my brother gets shot in a place where he almost never goes? And the next thing you know, all this other shit comes to light? The puzzle pieces have to fit together somehow, Brock.”
“But there’s more, Dad. The stuff Brendan Murphy uncovered under his floorboards.”
“I’m not completely convinced that is related,” Dad says. “But it is something else we need to figure out.”
“Hell yeah, we need to figure it out. Because whatever else was left under those floorboards is no longer there after Murphy’s place got trashed.”
“I know, son. I know.”
“We need to go back, Dad. Tonight. Rory’s going to be involved with her father for a few days. That gives me the chance to deal with some of this stuff. We’ll check out Doc Sheraton’s land. Talk to him about the guard dogs. We have to figure out who’s behind this. We have to.”
“I agree with you. And we will.”
“Except…”
Zach and Dusty waggle up to the deck to have their ears scratched. I oblige, stroking their soft heads.
“I have to take care of the Pikes’ dogs.”
“We can get someone else to take care of the Pikes’ dogs. What about your brother? Or Dave or Henry?”
“Yeah, I suppose Brad could do it. Someone just needs to come over here in the morning, feed them, and let them out, and then do the same thing in the evening.”
“Perfect. Call your brother and get that all arranged. If he can’t do it, get Henry or Dave. I’m going to talk to Bryce about taking a few days off. Let’s get started as soon as we can.”
“I’m in. All in. At least while Rory’s occupied with her father.” I sigh. “I just wish…”
“So do I,” Dad says. “I get it, Brock. It’s a tough thing. But at this point, it’s ride or die, son. We figure this out or we go down.”
“I understand.”
I end the call.
Ride or die.
I breathe in and hold it, drawing strength for what I must do. What I must do for my family. For Rory. For the future of the children she and I will have someday.
They deserve everything I have to offer, everything my name has to offer.
The Steel family will not go down on my watch.
CHAPTER ONE
RORY
My father has always been my hero.
I don’t look much like him. Neither do my sisters or my brother. We all seem to favor our beautiful mother. Maureen Antonia Sebastian Pike—local beauty queen and homemaker extraordinaire.
Though I may look like my mother, I’m nothing like her. Not on the inside.
She’s a good mother. Rather, she does the best she can. I believe she’d give her life for any one of us.