Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 79020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
"Where do you guys keep the coffee?" I recognize the voice as Hound's.
Pax seems more in control, and less manic than he did just a few hours ago, but I know the limited sleep we got won't be enough for long. He still needs more rest, and more time to heal from being stabbed.
Goose pimples rush down my arm as he sweeps his hand from my bicep down until our fingers are tangled.
"Can we speak in private?"
"Of course," I answer, letting him lock our hands together before he escorts me out of the room.
A wave of nausea washes over me as he leads me up the stairs and toward his room. I imagine seeing all the blood on his bed, but the room is in pristine condition when he pushes open the door.
I pull in a relieved breath at the normalcy of the room.
He guides me across the room until we're close to the edge of the bed.
"Is this okay or do you prefer the chair?"
"This is fine," I answer quickly, wanting to get to the meat of the situation although my heart is pounding. I'm terrified he's going to tell me that he made a mistake, that he had a choice to make and I wasn't even a consideration.
"So, club president, huh?" I say when he sits beside me seeming content to just exist in the silence.
"It's new."
"How new?"
He looks down at his watch. "Half an hour or so."
"What did you have to give up to get that job?" Tears burn the backs of my eyes with the question, but shit, if I'm going to be asked to leave, I'd much rather that happen sooner rather than later.
He pulls in a deep breath, making my head race with the path I'd have to take to get out of the house and the direction I'll leave the driveway, and the stop signs I'll hit on the way to the interstate.
Beach or mountains? I realize I still haven't fully made up my mind.
I picture the closest pull-off I can use to cry my eyes out because I know that's going to happen long before I get to my final destination, wherever that might be.
"Nothing," he whispers.
"You're not going to make me leave?"
"I probably should," he says, a hint of defeat in his tone. "The work I do is dangerous. It would put you in danger, and I'm not just saying that. People connected to Cerberus have been hurt in the past. We deal with the worst of the worst, and they don't blink an eye hurting people, especially the ones we care for if anything for the distraction it might offer for them to escape."
"You want me to leave," I surmise, my heart threatening to break all over again.
He shakes his head. "You not being here would probably be best."
The crack in my chest begins to widen.
"I would tear apart the earth if something happened to you, but no Zara, I don't want you to leave. Honestly, I don't know how I'd survive with you gone, but it has to be your choice."
"I have a choice?" I ask, trying to lighten the mood, but all he does is frown.
"I'm not holding you prisoner, and I don't want you here out of fear. You'll be as safe as you would've been before you met me if you leave now."
"Before I met you," I whisper softly, looking down at my hands.
Just the thought of it makes me realize just how short a time we've had since I first locked eyes on him in the bar, but somehow at the same time, it feels like we've known each other forever, as if our souls were always meant to join.
"I want you to really think about it. I can do my best to keep you safe, but the danger is real. It's not some far-off concept of danger like riding in a car or going for a hike in the woods. There may come a time when someone will think it's in their best interest to hurt you to get to me."
I swallow, trying to take his words in and really consider the choice I seem to have.
"Know that I will kill anyone who ever even thinks about it, but that may come at a cost to you as well."
"It sounds like you want me to leave," I whisper, looking up at him.
He shakes his head without hesitation. "This is one time in my life I'm being selfish. I want you here with me."
"Do I have to make that choice right now?"
"No. I'd feel a lot better if you took some time and really thought over the pros and cons. I'd like for you to stay here while you do that if it's not too much to ask."
I look around the room.
"Full disclosure, if the answer turns out to be no, then I can have you relocated."