Total pages in book: 211
Estimated words: 201554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1008(@200wpm)___ 806(@250wpm)___ 672(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1008(@200wpm)___ 806(@250wpm)___ 672(@300wpm)
Now I call out. “Eric!”
Much to my relief, he stops walking but he doesn’t turn, tension tracking his shoulders down to his fingers where they curl into his palms at his sides. I’m not discouraged. I hurry forward and I step in front of him, planting my hand over his chest, holding him right here with me. “Where are you going?”
“You knew I needed to talk to the Walker team.”
“Talk? Just talk? Or make plans that you can’t come back from?” I don’t give him time to reply. “Promise me you won’t take any permanent actions until we can talk.”
“We already talked,” he replies, his expression inscrutable. “And you know where Walker falls in all of this.”
“That’s not even close to a promise. I need a promise, Eric.”
There’s a flex in his jaw before he’s suddenly dragging me to him, his hands firmly on my waist. “Bastards don’t make promises they actually keep.”
“Then don’t be a bastard, because we both know that’s your choice. You told me your promises matter.”
“I swear to you, princess, if you—”
“Don’t finish that sentence and turn yourself into a bastard by choice. If you do, we’re going to end up fighting right here in the middle of all these men. I’m trying to protect you.”
“What the hell do you think I’m trying to do for you?”
“Protect me. I know that. I know. Make the promise.”
He cups my head and kisses me. “I promise,” he says. “For you. Only for you.” His voice is low, gravelly. Rough. “I won’t be long.”
I don’t get to ask him where he’s going or what he’s doing. He sets me aside and heads for the door, but I let him leave this time. He made a promise and I trust him to keep it. The door opens and shuts behind me and that’s when I find myself in the spotlight. Grayson and Davis are standing in the living room, watching me.
“That was something to observe,” Davis comments.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, confused.
“You,” Davis replies. “Eric. I’m not used to seeing him invested in a woman.”
“He’s known me a long time,” I say, closing the space between the other two men and me. “For all kinds of reasons. I’m his stepsister. I’m his—”
“Woman,” Grayson amends, his voice low, but no less absolute. “You’re the woman. I saw it in his eyes when he looked at you. And I saw him in your eyes when you looked at him. I knew the day you came to the office.” He motions toward a bar on the wall next to the patio door. “Drink?” He doesn’t give me time to reply to his stunning revelation. He walks to the bar and Davis joins him, but my gaze locks on that door next to them, on the patio entrance.
Eric had planned to talk to the Walker men out there before we went upstairs. Instead, he left with them. He made sure I couldn’t interrupt this time. He promised me he wouldn’t do anything permanent before we talked, and yet, he didn’t go to the patio. He left the apartment.
He promised me.
He wouldn’t break his promise.
Grayson hands me a glass. “Drink. It’ll help calm your nerves. You’ve been through a lot tonight.”
“I’m not worried about me.”
“Let Eric do what he needs to do to make sure this ends sooner rather than later.”
“He wants to end it by ending his father.”
“He’s wanted to end his father for a very long time. He didn’t do it. He has reasons not to do it.”
“Because of his mother, I know, but he believes they tried to kill me tonight, Grayson. He wants his father dead.”
“He promised you he’d talk to you before he did anything permanent. I heard him.”
“That’s all you’re going to say? He wants to kill him.”
He eyes Davis and Davis nods. “I actually need to deal with a client at the office. I may or may not be back.” He glances at me. “He’s intense. It’s contagious. Drink the drink.” He turns and walks away.
I frown and eye Grayson. “Did he just tell me I’m wound too tightly?”
He chuckles. “I do believe he did.” He motions to my drink.
“I know. Drink it. It’ll help. I’m following the theme going on here, but I’m not a good drinker. I need a clear mind right now for Eric.”
“Eric isn’t going anywhere without you. You were attacked. You could have ended up dead. He is not leaving your side. His father is safe for the night. He’s not on his way to kill his father. He’s still in an airplane.”
“Do you believe he’d do it?”
“Not tonight, and I know him well. By morning, he’ll decide death is too good for him.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I met him when he was still bleeding out over his mother’s death, and even then, he didn’t go after the family. His mother’s wishes meant too much to him.”