Page 8 (1/2)

With bleary eyes, I studied his es he’d earned for exeht to defend, and then I looked at what I’d become My own career cut short, I’d slowly devolved into this A sha he’d done Chips cashed in, I only had one last thing to try If that didn’t work

Kicking h the headache and the hangover to the shower For a while I stood under the war me back to life After that, I dried off and dressed in dark jeans and a long-sleeved, white button-down It would do for this errand

A quick login to the fir Nikki, but immediately dismissed that notion She’d ask too many questions, and it’d be easier if I sent her an e I hadn’t decided I didn’t want people following me

I threw all rabbed the keys to the rental I had to return it since I was leaving the state, but I hadIt was h the process I stopped in a used car dealership and bought a late-model, black pickup Once I finished in Bayville, I’d drive it as far as Cleveland and fly the rest of the way to Montana

I thought about my plans Dad’s Medal of Honor should be with someone who deserved it Lane was a baby, but acy I’d shot that privilege straight to hell

The Jungle Gyline “Where the wild things are” I expected it to be a bunch of MTV reality-show bad actors, since that hat this area was infaym

So out the establishoes by Kenny”

“I’irl behind the counter She was dressed in black and had enormous blue eyes

Her appearance didn’t ht “I expected someone older”

“I’m twenty-six, and you are?”

She was pissed, but I couldn’t i a baby with this person She was not his usual leggy blonde Nikki’s co very different echoed in my mind Still, apart from the purple hair, she was cute in a waifish sort of way Her eyes were a definite plus

“I’ht You know my brother Patrick May I speak to you alone? It’s about my nephew”

A treh my torso, and I reached up to rub the back of my neck I needed to relax, but uard Probably all of this had her on guard, which wasn’t my intention

Resistance stiffened her back “We can talk here Mariska’s my best friend”

The person behind her stepped forward, and for a second, my control slipped A pair of hazel eyes exactly like the sunset in the place I was headed struck me Then her cheeks blushed a shade of pink