Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
“I take it that Wolf didn’t show up this morning?”
“Not so far, no. I don’t want to leave yet, though. I was just checking on you.”
Warmth fills me. “I’m good, Liam.”
“Yeah, you are,” he purrs quietly, making the warmth inside of me intensify.
What am I waiting for?
“Can you take a lunchbreak?” I ask.
“It’s probably not smart.”
“I could bring lunch to you. We could eat outside on one of the tables in the church yard, or if you need to be more covert—”
“Covert,” he laughs and I grin into the phone.
“We can eat in my vehicle.”
“I’ll take that, even though I shouldn’t. I want to see you, Ellie.”
“I’ll be there around one.”
“Sounds good, baby,” he says, his voice soft, as then he ends the call. I hold the phone for a little bit longer.
And I do it smiling.
Fury
It’s almost nine. I’ve been outside church, along the tree line, so I could keep the perimeter in my eyesight at all times. I’m tired, hungry and cold. I also have no clue where Wolf is, because he didn’t show today.
I’ve been careful, so I don’t think he had a chance to see me. I doubt I have him spooked in any way. Hell, even when I took lunch with Ellie, I had her park in the parking lot across the street from the church. I could still see the church like that, but kept her away enough that hopefully Wolf wouldn’t see her. The last thing I need is for that fucker to get her in his sights. I thought for sure the bastard would have shown up today, though. He’s not one to just take the Sister’s no and move along. He would come back in to investigate. There’s security on the church, so if he tries to break in tonight, the police will be alerted. I have Scorpion back home keeping an eye out for any break-ins here. It’s shitty that I’m not doing it myself, since I’m closer, but I wanted time with Ellie. Besides, considering she’s all I could think about this last hour, I’m useless watching the church right now anyway.
When I walk in the house—using the key that Ice gave me this morning, the place is quiet. I kick off my boots, lock the door, and walk into the living room. Ellie is lying on the sofa. She’s got a well-worn paperback in her hand, but she’s not reading it. It’s on the floor, because her hand has flopped down. Her blonde hair is secured on top of her head, but strands are going everywhere, pulled loose, ruffled from sleep.
It seems like a lifetime ago when I first fell in love with her. Being around her again has only made it clearer that I will always love her. I just need to convince her to fight for us. The truth is, I always expected Ellie to leave one day. She wasn’t of my world. She didn’t fully understand it. She pushed away any reservations she had just to be with me. I knew as much as she loved me, she wasn’t one hundred percent in our relationship. Which meant, I prepared myself for her leaving since day one. Maybe that’s the real reason I never tried going after her. I thought she’d be better off without me. Finding her again, seeing how much weight she’s lost, the sadness in her eyes…I knew I was wrong. She might deserve better, but she’s as twisted up in me as I am in her.
I walk over to the couch. Taking my cut off, I carefully lay it and the holster with my pistol on the end table. Then, I take her in my arms. “Fuck, Ice, you’re warm.”
“Liam?” she says while yawning, stretching against me as I pick her up. I settle on the couch, keeping her curled up in my lap.
“I forgot how you used to fall asleep reading, Ice. I’ve missed it.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost nine,” I tell her, leaning down to kiss the crinkle on her forehead.
“Are you hungry? I can heat you some of the leftover pizza,” she mumbles.
“I grabbed something while I was out, Ice. You okay? No headache?”
“Nope. Not a sign of one in days. I hardly know how to act,” she laughs, squeezing me as she wraps her arms around my waist.
“It’s because I’m here with you,” I reply with a grin, kissing the top of her head.
“You’re so full of yourself, Liam,” she laughs, but she doesn’t deny it. “So, no Wolf.”
“No Wolf,” I mumble.
“Dag-nabbit.”
I laugh, jostling her with my movements and shaking my head. “God, Ice.”
“What?” she mutters, tilting her head to look up at me.
“You just make me happy, baby,” I murmur. My words makes her face light up, all signs of sleep instantly gone. Maybe I should be cautious now, but I don’t stop to think about it. I just bend down and kiss her.