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I drift in and out of sleep for what feels like hours. Frowning, I glance at the door.
Biting my lip, I reach for my phone, scrolling through my messages for Sam.
Hi, let me know when Riley gets there, so I know she’s okay.
Sam’s reply comes quickly.
She’s here. Sorry, thought Leo would have told you.
Two seconds after her text, my phone chimes with a photo. One of Riley sitting happily coloring a picture of a dog. Definitely not schoolwork.
The sight makes me smile.
Thank you for watching her.
Of course, she’s family.
Her dad might disagree.I reply.
He still being weird?
More than normal, you mean? Yes.
I chuckle at the skull emoji she sends. Fitting.
When did he leave?
A little over an hour and a half ago.
He’s avoiding coming back. Maybe he really is done with me.
Want me to come sit with you? Kaleb can stay with Riley.Sam offers.
No. She needs you more but thank you.
Dropping my phone on the bed, I cover my face with my hands.
Is this how it ends? Because of Cooper?
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Leonard
The smell of damp and stale air fills my lungs along with bitterness.
My shoes echo through the abandoned building. Dust and debris grind under my soles, kicking up to settle onto the brown leather.
I weave through the distressed building, the one I want to knock down and build a hospital on top of.
Kyle Cooper lies bound and gagged right where I left him on the dirty floor.
It felt right to bring him here.
Shucking off my suit jacket, I hang it on a low wooden beam. The bag in my hand thuds as it lands on the concrete floor.
“Let’s begin, shall we?”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
