Page 62 of August 20

"Size?"

"Um." She looked at the menu board hanging above them. "Twelve ounces. Can I get two, but only sugar in the other one?"

"Absolutely."

She looked at the woman's nametag. "Thanks, Dania."

The barista turned to fill the order.

Brooke walked around the small shop and looked at the pictures on the wall. Most photos were whale sightings in the ocean, staying with a theme.

"Where are you from?" asked the woman.

"Oh, I'm..." She had no idea what to say. "I moved here a few months ago."

"Nice. A local." Dania set one of the coffees on the counter and returned to finish the second one. "What's your name?"

"Brooke."

"You wouldn't, by chance, know how to make coffee...?" Dania put the other coffee on the counter. "We're looking for another barista. Suz planned on coming back after having her son and called yesterday to let us know that she's moving closer to her husband's family in another state so they can help with the baby."

Her stomach fluttered. Today had been crazy.

Suddenly, Maverick gave her freedom, and she had no idea what to do. She should be telling someone how she was held hostage and she was sleeping with her kidnapper. Yet, who would believe her when Maverick let her walk to the coffee shop alone.

"I can learn." She blew out her breath.

"Honestly, that's all that I need. Someone who isn't afraid to jump in and hustle. Everything here is teachable. You're a coffee lover, so you have that going for you." Dania lifted her brows. "Are you interested in the job?"

"Can I let you know this afternoon? I'll need to talk..." She went blank.

Was she supposed to call Maverick her kidnapper or her husband? He was both.

"Oh, sure. No rush. Tourist season is over. Business has slowed down. I could handle everything myself, but I have a daughter at the grade school. I like to volunteer in her classroom once a week and take her to her after-school activities."

"I have a niece I raise. She's in second grade."

"Mariah's in third grade. I wouldn't be surprised if they haven't met on the playground. It's a small school."

Brooke paid for the drinks, promised to call once she knew if she could take the job, and carried the coffee to the sidewalk. In the distance, she spotted Dio standing outside the shop, looking in the other direction.

Her pace slowed. Now would be the time to run. She could return to the coffee shop and tell Dania to call the police.

Chapter Thirty

A sharp pain shot down Maverick's throat. He clutched his neck, feeling pressured to explain to Jagger what must be done before it was too late.

"Want some water or something stronger?" asked Jagger.

Maverick shook his head. "Fuck'n throat."

He swallowed repeatedly and inhaled through his nose. Brooke would only be gone a moment, or his life would be over when she rats on him. He needed Jagger to understand what he wanted done.

No amount of watching Brooke would guarantee his freedom. He'd be the first to admit that he was wrong in how he went about getting his daughter back.

But he knew no other life. It was the only way to get Skye back.

The judge never listened to him when he claimed he was innocent and had nothing to do with the explosion. Nobody listened when he screamed his daughter's name from the jail cell until blood ran out his mouth, and he thought he'd die because he couldn't catch his breath.

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