Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 678(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 452(@300wpm)
“There’s something we need to discuss. I can give you half an hour but no more.” He hung up before I could argue, and I wondered what was going on. They’ve both been very secretive unless it had something to do with me and my situation, and I was so focused on getting her back that I didn’t really mind or pay too much attention to what else they had going on.
But now that I think about it, they were always very interested in the phone calls going in and out of my house between Janie and the others, not to mention their interest in the church. I wondered before why they insisted on me going there to meet with Matt without question or the fact that they let me see Scott whenever he asked, and yet they never asked me what went on in those meetings, though they always seemed to know or have some inkling.
Was this about more than money? That was the impression they’d given me that I was being used for money by all involved. So why do I have the feeling that there’s something more at play here? Even with what Saunders had shared, I still don’t know enough.
At least I know that she’s safe, that she has more than me looking out for her, and that’s all that really matters to me right now. I hated like hell having to wake her up, but there was something I needed to tell her before I left. I wish I had more time, and maybe I should’ve told her this sooner so we could deal with it together, but there was so much more to get through.
“Elena, baby, wake up. I have to go soon.” She fussed as she always does when awakened before she was ready to get up. For a moment, she looked like the innocent young girl I’d met so long ago with none of the worry lines I’d no doubt help put on her face, just fresh-faced and innocent with that heart of gold that shone in her smile.
My heart, which was already filled with her, burned with the newly awakened love, and I couldn’t help pulling her in and holding on for dear life. Please don’t ever let me hurt her again.
Chapter 49
*Ryder*
“Ryder?” Her voice sounded groggy with sleep.
“I’m here, baby girl.”
“I thought it was a dream.” For a few seconds more, she held on tight until she came fully awake, and reality set in. Then she tried easing away from me, but I wasn’t yet ready to let go.
I knew that once I did, the fear would be back in her eyes, and it was killing me that, once again, I’d handled things so poorly. I should’ve waited until things were settled, but still, how could I have done that, knowing she was in trouble?
There was no threat of immediate physical danger, and I knew I had to take things slow and be extra careful with how I handled things in the next few days. I came here knowing that I would have to leave her physically for at least a few days, but I couldn’t wait to rekindle the bond that had been broken. Now, I was having second thoughts about my strategy.
There was no hope for it, though, no turning back, and all I could do was make sure she knew that I wouldn’t ever leave her again, that I was here for her and with her, and that we were back together as one again. That I will never abandon her again in this life, no matter what. To me, that was more important than anything else and still is.
It sucks that we had to go through what we had in order for me to get to this point, to come to the realization that hurting her hurts me more than it does her, and now that I know, I’d rather cut off my right arm before harming a hair on her head. Still, here we are, and once again, I have to play the bad guy. I’m going to be the bearer of bad news.
It never once entered my mind that she wouldn’t believe me. If there’s one thing I have going for me, it’s the fact that I never lied to her, not even when it hurt like hell. But this, I know, is going to sting, and I wish like hell I didn’t have to do it. I wish I could spare her more heartache, but my hope is that now that she has me again, it will somehow soften the blow.
“Baby, wake up, I have to leave soon, but before I go, there’s something I need to tell you.”
She came fully awake, maybe alerted by the tone in my voice, and when she tried to sit up, I let her go to face me. “What is it?” I could tell she expected me to say something bad, maybe that I’d been using her again, and that hurt, but not as much as what I was about to say.