Knowing Vera (Romantic Suspense, Family Drama) (Chance for Love) by Ayala Rachelle

Author:Ayala, Rachelle [Ayala, Rachelle]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: mystery, FIC054000 FICTION / Asian American, interracial romance, Australia, asian american, Romantic Suspense, FIC027110 FICTION / Romance / Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Family Drama
Publisher: World Literary Press
Published: 2013-09-05T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Two pairs of hands restrain me. We’re in the middle of downtown Melbourne, watching Zach open the door of a black Porsche SUV. He leans over with his hand on the small of the woman’s back and helps her in.

“Forget about him, you’re leaving tomorrow.” Ben’s voice is tight.

Dex swivels me toward the jeep. “Say the word, Ate, and we’ll rearrange his face.”

“No, please don’t.” I slump into the back seat. It is what I wanted. No Zach in my life. No strings. Empty. “But you know where he lives, right? At the far end of the Ping estate where the gatehouse used to be.”

“Yeah, that was the plot of land Tatay let his father keep where they sell seasonal fruits.” Dex guns the engine. “You want us to burn it?”

“No, take me there. I want to talk to him.”

“He might not be headed there,” Ben says.

“Then I’ll wait. All night if I have to.”

For once, the twins are quiet. No radio, no jokes, no chit-chat.

We wind our way out of the city and down rolling country roads. My gut churns, and adrenaline floods my veins. There’s no way I can shut my eyes and relax. I stare out the darkened window. Fifteen minutes. That’s all I need to tell him what he needs to know.

We bump along and make the turn toward the vineyard. The third quarter moon peeks just above the hills, illuminating acres of grapevines. Ben lifts the chain to the driveway, and the jeep travels a few hundred yards to the gatehouse. Zach’s Porsche is ticking in the carport, still hot, so he’s just arrived.

“What if the chick’s there?” Dex asks. “You sure you want to go in?”

“I’m not afraid of her.” I jump out of the jeep, ready to do battle.

“Take this knife.” He unstraps a sheathed knife from his belt.

My hands shake. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not going to kill him or anything.”

“Sure about that, Ate?” Ben laughs. “How about slicing his jewels off?”

“Take it,” Dex orders. “You’ll scare the implants right out of her boobs.”

They both laugh while I examine the knife in the light of the moon. It has a wicked curve to the sharp point and a small, serrated section near the tang. The brownish horn handle is inlaid with white bone.

Dex nudges me toward the door. “We’ll wait out here for you.”

“Don’t take too long,” Ben says.

“Or if you get lucky, take as long as you want.” Dex laughs.

They get in the jeep and park it outside the chain posts so we can make a quick getaway. Sweating on my forehead, I hook the sheath on my waistband and clutch the knife in my right hand.

The door is unlocked. I barge in and trip over something, but catch myself on the sofa. Zach’s prosthetic leg is lying in the middle of the living room. The dim moonlight shines on a trail of clothes leading to the bedroom.

My heart pounds so loudly, I’m sure they can hear me. Slowly, I tiptoe toward the closed door and hear the bed squeaking.

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