Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I have to kick Wrench’s leg to get him to wake up. He was right about being useless on this trip, but the way he was begging Kid to convince me to let him stay behind instead made my skin crawl. He normally backs off when I give the club a command. I don’t do it often, and everyone knows how serious I am when I do. This time, for some reason, he’s focused his energy on defying me, and an ominous feeling in my gut says he’ll continue to push me until I do something more drastic to make it stop.
Remembering a text message from Kid earlier makes me smile as we wait for the door of the plane to open. Emmalyn wants to get a job. I knew it was coming. I can’t ignore just how annoyed she’s been at my offering to buy her things and her insistence on paying me back. I know, without even admitting it out loud, that I’d buy her the world if she asked. I chuckle knowing she’d never utter those words.
I gave Kid strict instructions of where to take her to seek employment, not because I want to control her, but because I want to protect her. I know she’s going to want to get a waitressing job simply because it’s what she knows, but I don’t want her in an environment we can’t keep her safe in. This thought had me firing off another dozen or so instructions to him.
I pull back my smile at the thoughts of her and steel my mind to the mission ahead of my team as the door of the plane opens. Walking down the few steps of the jet, I stride toward the Senator’s other team. Hopefully, together we can bring Constance Williams home safe.
Chapter 17
Emmalyn
I wish I had something to focus on other than Bunny’s words as we drive into town. I opted for the back seat of the SUV even though Rose offered me the passenger seat. I wanted to avoid Kid’s eyes on the side of my face and Rose’s gaze on the back of my head. Instead, I get the steady stream of glances from Kid’s soft blue eyes in the rearview mirror.
Ten minutes of silence, it seems, is as long as Kid can handle before he feels the need to explain himself and, in turn, Diego.
“You’ll need to learn to ignore the club girls,” his reflection tells me in the mirror.
I cut my eyes to the line of trees flying by on the road outside of the vehicle. “So everyone keeps telling me.”
“She’s poison,” Rose says referring to Bunny.
“She’s marking her territory,” I say simply. “There’s no need for her to do that.”
“Kincaid isn’t with her, Emmalyn,” Kid says.
“He’s not with me either,” I mutter not pulling my gaze from the passing landscape.
“Isn’t he?” Kid prods. I look into the mirror. “So that little scene I had to turn away from in the hallway before they left last night didn’t happen?”
I look over at Rose and can see the grin in her profile. I narrow my eyes at Kid. “We kissed. That doesn’t make him mine. God knows how many women in that kitchen this morning have done more.”
“If he wanted the other women in the club he would’ve had them long before now. He doesn’t want them.” I get the feeling he’s going to say more but Rose places a hand on his arm, and he just continues the rest of the drive in silence.
Ten minutes later we pull up outside of a bar. The parking lot is empty except for a lone pickup truck parked near the front entrance. It’s midmorning, and most bars don’t open up until late in the afternoon unless they serve lunch.
I angle my head so I can read the sign above the door. “Jake’s” is all it reads. Seems simple enough, but it must be on the Diego approved list if we’re here. I open my door and Kid begins to open his also.
“What are you doing?” There’s no reason for him to go inside with me while I fill out an application.
“Going inside.” His response is flat as if he’d never consider doing anything else than following me inside.
“I’m capable of filling out applications without your supervision.” I watch in astonishment as he reaches for his phone. I sigh. “Fine.”
I’m seething as I walk toward the front door, and shy away by instinct as Kid’s hand reaches out from behind me and pulls open the heavy door before I can open it myself.
“Sorry,” he says genuinely. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I just nod at him, upset at my response. How long will I cringe and respond protectively around every man who makes any motion toward me? I hope to one day feel safe enough that it’s no longer my first instinct.