Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“It’s entirely likely that prick just wanted the money he got for selling her,” Tanner told her bitterly. “Fucking asshole.”
“It was practically a point of pride that she was a virgin. Thankfully, in Stefan’s twisted mind that was something to be celebrated. He decided to wait until their wedding night. I think he got a kick out of the fact that she thought he was a good guy. That he loved her. I just couldn’t tell her about what her dad did.”
“It’s all right, baby,” Tanner soothed. “The old man is gone now. There’s no point in her knowing.”
“When she found out about Stefan . . . I knew that I had to get her away from him. Before he hurt her.”
He hated the dead tone of her voice. He was determined to bring back life into her voice. All he wanted was her happiness and safety.
Like hell would he ever let her go back to Stefan and put herself at risk again.
Tanner couldn’t believe she thought that was an actual possibility. Obviously, she still didn’t know him at all.
“Right, let’s get moving,” Alec said. “I’ll feel better once you’re all under lock and key at the Ranch. We can keep you safe there. Unlike here.”
“I’ve been keeping them safe,” Linc said between clenched teeth. He was still holding onto Kye as he stood. “Why would Ryleigh want to go with you when she hardly knows you?”
“Because we’re her brothers,” Alec said. “And Malones look after their own.”
“No one fucks with the Malones,” Tanner added.
Linc held his hand over the baby’s ears. “Don’t swear in front of the baby.”
The funny thing was that Alec had said it at the same time.
Both men glared at each other.
Tanner glanced down at Ryleigh, who was starting to look increasingly worried as she gazed from one to the other.
“I mean, maybe we could spend time at both,” Ryleigh offered.
Both men frowned.
“They’re being jerks,” Lilac whispered to Tanner.
“The main thing is that I’m not being a jerk,” he replied.
“You can be,” she informed him.
“Ouch.”
“You know what,” Linc said with a strange look on his face. “You’re right.”
“I am?” Alec asked.
“You shouldn’t stay here, Ryleigh.”
“Oh?” she said.
“No, I should come stay with you,” Linc said. “I’m moving out to the Ranch.”
“Oh, fuck no!” Tanner said.
“Stop swearing in front of the baby,” everyone but Opal told him.
Tanner rolled his eyes. “He is not coming with us, Alec.”
Alec was quiet.
“He’s a cop!” Tanner said.
“With a gun,” Alec said. “Trouble is coming.”
“Yeah, and he’ll make us stick to the rules.”
“If I need to, I’ll look the other way,” Linc said with obvious reluctance. “Only in this instance and only to protect the girls and Kye.”
Alec nodded. “Fine, you can come too. But you’re not staying in the house with my sister. And if I catch you looking at her, touching her, or making fucking eyes at her, you’re out!” Turning, he walked out.
Silence filled the room.
“Huh,” Opal said. “I’m glad I don’t have any long-lost brothers coming out of the woodwork, it seems like they’d be a real downer on my love life.”
40
“I really don’t need a nap.”
Tanner just gave her a firm look. “Yeah, baby. You do. You’re only just out of the hospital and you’ve already had an eventful day.”
“You wouldn’t even let me do anything. I was only allowed to sit and supervise.” She hadn’t even been allowed to pack her own underwear, for goodness’ sake.
And now they were at Tanner’s family Ranch. Apparently, Tanner usually lived in the bunkhouse on his own. All the rest of the brothers had their own places. West and Flick had built a house on the property. Butch and Lara had moved into a house they’d had transported onto the Ranch. Jaret, Beau, and Maddox lived on other properties close by, while Raid lived in Haven.
But Alec wanted them all in the main house. Ryleigh and Kye were in a room across the hall while Opal was next to them.
Linc was in the bunkhouse. Alec wasn’t letting him stay in the house. In fact, he’d even told him that he wasn’t allowed upstairs.
Lilac was beginning to agree with Opal. Alec was over-the-top protective.
A different breed of brother than she was used to.
Crap. How was she going to convince Tanner to let her deal with Stefan? It would be so much easier for everyone. Right now, Alec was calling all of his brothers in to explain the situation.
And to tell them about Ryleigh.
She wondered how the heck that would go.
“Shouldn’t you be downstairs with your brothers?” she asked.
“Why?” he asked as he tucked the blankets around her. “I see their ugly faces all the time.”
“But . . . don’t you want to talk about everything. About Ryleigh?”
“What is there to talk about? She’s our sister and we’re gonna take care of her. She’ll move in here and she’s never allowed to date until she’s fifty. Done.”