Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“What deal?”
“You marry her. The Castillo and Denton line become aligned. You get your woman, we save face, and in the meantime, you help me build this empire back up.”
“Why are you asking me this? This should be Jacob. He’s the rightful person to take this place.”
“In case you didn’t see, Jacob has other problems. I need a man willing to do whatever it takes to win his woman, and keep this line going. You’re a Denton, Gabriel. It’s time for you to drop the Colton, accept who you are, and help me. Will you do that?”
****
Landon stepped in front of the doorway and saw Jade and Tulip snuggled together. They looked so peaceful.
Jade woke first as he cleared his throat, followed by Tulip.
“What time is it?” Tulip asked.
“It’s time for some dinner.” He’d left them alone all day, hoping space would give them a chance to forgive him.
“I’m starving,” Jade said. “I’ll have to eat my fill before my dad shows up. I’ll be put back on a strict diet. Yay, what fun.”
Tulip hugged her.
“I think Landon and I need to talk.”
“I’ll leave you two alone. I’ll go and get some food for all of us, though.” Tulip got to her feet and she moved toward him. Landon expected her to avoid him, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he held on to her, thankful for this lifeline. “I’m sorry I yelled. I was so angry and I know I shouldn’t have been.”
“You don’t need to say sorry. This is all my fault.”
Tulip pulled away after brushing her lips across his. “I’ll be back.”
He watched her leave and Jade laughed. “I wonder if she feels her ass being eaten alive by that stare. Damn, I better get used to being quiet again.”
Landon entered the room. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you are. Maybe we can still be friends. If I’m married to like a really old dude, you can sneak in and we can go shooting together.”
“I don’t know if your family will sell you off that fast.”
“They will. They’ll see my virginity as a time bomb. There’s nothing I can do. It was good to dream while it lasted, you know. Nothing else I can do now but wait and hope that whomever I end up with is at least nice. You need to go and make it up with Tulip though.”
“She hates me.”
“Don’t be like that. She doesn’t hate you. She’s angry, confused. Don’t you think she has a right to be? She’s not chained up, but it’s not completely over.” Jade sighed. “You know, I loved shooting a gun. It was fun. Taking down those bounty hunters, it made me think I could do anything.”
“You can do anything.”
“Have you spoken to your sister?”
“No. Not since we’ve been taken. Rick has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“He’s so scary.”
“That he is.”
Tulip was suddenly in the doorway and he stood. “They’re here,” she said. “Her family is here and they’re coming for her.”
Landon tensed up.
Tulip went into his arms and Jade stayed where she was, rattling her cuff.
Rick was the first person to enter, followed by Castillo.
“Out,” Rick said.
“Rick?” He wanted to bargain, to do something that would make this harder on him but easier on Jade.
“I told you to get out. Castillo has agreed not to shoot you. We have come to some new terms.” Rick smiled at Jade and Landon watched as Gabriel entered. “Now, your father believes it’s important for your hymen check. I, of course, have assured him it’s not necessary, but he has his ways.”
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Jade said.
“Be quiet, you stupid girl,” Castillo said. He was an old man with gray hair at the temples, but still good-looking.
Jade instantly bowed her head and Landon wanted to pound the man.
“We don’t need an audience.” Rick snapped his fingers and Landon fought as the guards touched him and Tulip, dragging them out of the room. He grabbed his guard, body slamming him against the wall, and then snapping the one who held Tulip.
Rick was there, wrapping his fingers around Tulip’s neck, squeezing. Landon watched his woman as she fought against the hold, and Rick took charge, forcing him to step back.
They were pushed inside a room. Jacob and Abel were there to keep him inside.
“Now, let’s do this the right way. You will stay here with Tulip and I’ll let her live. Whatever is happening in that other room is not your concern. I’m cleaning up your mess, Landon, you should appreciate it.” Rick let go of Tulip, throwing her against him, and he caught her.
The door was locked, and he had no doubt his brothers were on the other side, guarding it.
He wouldn’t kill them, though.
Tulip wrapped her arms around him, tightly. “I hate him.” She choked out each word.
“I’m so sorry.”