Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 47176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
He looks at me firmly, his eyes glassy.
“That’s what I told him, to twist that druggie fuck’s ear. Of course, I didn’t mean it.”
“I know, brother,” I tell him. “The first moment I saw you, I could tell they didn’t break you.”
“I can confirm that,” Kelly says softly.
She’s wearing a baggy hoodie and jeans that don’t fit her properly. I guess she changed at some point while they held her hostage.
“When I heard all the shooting,” Kelly shivers a little, and Jennifer places her hand on her arm. “I thought it was over. But then you opened the door.”
She looks at Matt, smiling shakily.
“And you saw how much of a grimy bastard I looked, and you thought damn, it really is over now.”
We all laugh, the release welcome after all the tension.
“How bad was it?” I ask Matt. “I wish I could’ve come with you.”
Matt glances at Jennifer, then back at me, and suddenly I’m sure he knows.
He can sense the change in me. He can feel all the protective impulses radiating from me, toward Jennifer, only toward her.
It’s kind of similar to the way Kelly’s looking at Jennifer. It makes me wonder if they know if they’ve guessed something’s happening here.
It will be easier for Matt to acknowledge than Kelly….
Matt doesn’t have a secret, a bombshell, waiting to drop the way Kelly does.
“There were four guards. I was forced to take one out, but the others are alive. They’d been keeping me in that basement for a couple of months by that point, and I knew the layout of the house from when they’d transfer me from room to room.”
My hands are shaking, my whole body trembling.
“I could’ve saved you,” I snarl. “If I’d known where you were…if I’d thought to keep looking.”
Matt shakes his head. “Lots of things could happen, brother, but it’s too late for that. All that matters is what we’re going to do next.”
I watch him, waiting.
“Junior has to go,” Matt growls. “He’s the one who really did the sick shit. He’s the one who wanted to keep me around, nagging Senior. That was a blessing, honestly, because Senior would’ve executed me otherwise.”
Matt trails off, reaching down and picking Lucifer up. The small dog relaxes in his arms, making a soft noise of pure pleasure, of complete contentment.
“I was a fuck up, Jamie. That’s the truth. All that drinking, all that gambling, all that bullshit. It’s a shame I needed a wake-up call like this, but it woke me up, no mistake. Junior will wish he didn’t.”
“Do you want him dead?” I ask.
Kelly and Jennifer flinch a little, the way civilians do when they hear about death.
“It’s not about what I want,” Matt says. “Junior’s going to turn our city into a shithole in no time if he isn’t stopped. You’ve seen how unhinged he is…he thought you were going to kill me, honestly believed it.”
“He thinks everybody is as bad as him,” Kelly says softly, picking at the table with her fingernail. “He kept saying stuff like that to me like how I’d do the same in his position. Or I’m an idiot for ever trusting….”
Kelly glances at me, frowning tightly. Then it’s my turn to frown.
As far as Kelly knows, Jennifer still thinks we were together. She doesn’t know how much everything’s changed…and looking at her, I can tell it would be unfair to unload it all today.
She’s got big bags under her eyes and looks ready to collapse.
“It’s okay,” I say. “I won’t take offense.”
“Junior even told me that when you killed Matt, he might even have some respect for you.” Kelly shudders. “I can’t believe how excited I was to date this man.”
“He’s good at turning on the charm,” Matt says, glancing at her, then averting his gaze quickly.
I can read my brother, knowing he’s ashamed of his appearance, out-of-control beard, gaunt cheeks, and chaotic hair. We all understand this, and that aside, we are all tremendously grateful for him.
But he also saved Kelly, even in his weakened state, and brought my woman’s sister home.
“I know it’s still light out,” Kelly says, yawning. “But if we’re safe….”
“We are,” I say firmly. “Get some rest, all of you, if you want it. I’ll keep a lookout.”
Kelly looks at Jennifer, smiling gently. “Do you think…I know we’re not little kids anymore….”
“Yeah,” Jennifer says, standing. “Don’t be silly. Of course, I’ll sleep with you.”
“Just don’t get annoyed if I start snoring,” Kelly says with a big grin. “I can barely keep my eyes open, and you know what that means.”
“Snore-a-thon ten thousand?” Jennifer jokes as the two women stand.
My gaze seers into Jennifer, especially the blush at her neck and over her cheeks. It’s making me think of when she was on the tattoo chair the first time, how her gorgeous thighs turned a subtle shade of red when I squeezed them…