AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It feels odd to call the woman I’m fated to be with my partner in a business sense, though to be fair I don’t think we’d be destined if she wasn’t interested in this kind of work. It’s my life’s purpose. I can’t imagine spending too much time doing more frivolous things.
It’s probably not how most packs work, but it works for ours.
“Then, let’s go inside and call the police,” Marcus Senior says. “I’ll try to get Marcus to come back to the house. He should know by now he can’t just run away from his problems.”
Chapter Sixty-Two
Leanne
We spend a vaguely uncomfortable couple of hours in the Hamilton house, being regarded with stony silence from Beth’s kidnapper’s mother, listening to ill-timed and inappropriate jokes from a nervous, exhausted and likely traumatized Beth, and hearing a laundry list of the ways Marcus’ father is going to make him regret what he did whenever the kid drags his sorry ass home.
The ambulance arrives much sooner than the police, giving Beth a break from the tension around the family’s kitchen table. E.A. goes out and waits with her since Marcus is likely still nearby, waiting for the all-clear to head back to the house.
It doesn’t matter when he shows up. His dad is clearly not going to let this slide, and I’m glad there’s at least one caring adult in this household.
The kid’s mother looks like she’d be picking up a knife and getting ready to bury Beth’s body in the back yard sooner than she’d ever admit her precious son did anything wrong.
It’s a weird kind of torture to sit around with these people while we wait for the police.
Beth is clearly ready to leave. I would be the same if I’d just gone through what she has.
“I need some air,” she says. “I feel like I’ve been breathing in old shoe smells for days.”
Mrs. Hamilton makes a disgusted noise but doesn’t bother to explain herself.
Mr. Hamilton gets to his feet. “I’ll let you out back.”
I get to my feet to grab the chance at a break from the tension.
“I’ll go with Beth,” I tell E.A.
He looks over at the porch door that Mr. Hamilton is opening before he nods his head.
We’ll be where he can see us.
I help Beth get up and we walk to the door as Mr. Hamilton pulls it open.
“Thanks,” Beth murmurs as we pass.
“No problem.” He gives her a sympathetic smile.
We step outside onto the paved back porch, and he closes the door most of the way.
Beth lets out a sigh as she glances at me. “Any chance you can hustle me into your car now?”
She’s ready for the day to be over, clearly, and I don’t blame her one little bit.
I’d feel the exact same way if I was in her shoes.
I almost feel that way now.
“It won’t be long,” I promise. “The cops should be here soon.”
She sighs as we get to the bench close to the end of the paved area. The rest of the yard is grass, with a border of planted roses and a six-foot-tall wooden fence sealing off the area from the nearest neighbors. It’s pretty, I’ll admit, but I wouldn’t want to live out here.
Beth sinks down onto the bench. “Finally! Thanks for coming with me. It’s almost like having Secret here.”
“Oh, so you’ve worked out I’m Leanne?”
