Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I stare at the broken man, and my heart aches for him.
And I feel so guilty, even though I know I haven’t done anything wrong.
“Can we go?” I whisper.
“Yeah,” Finn says. “Yeah, let’s go.”
We turn to walk away and Slater looks up. His eyes connect with mine, and a flash of surprises passes through them, before that surprise is replaced with anger. He stares at Finn, and then stands.
“Fuck,” Finn mutters.
“What do we do?” I say, panicked, because it looks like Slater is about to come out here and lose his mind.
Panicking, I turn and just rush off down the hall and practically dart out of the door and back into the crowd. I need to get out of here. As if seeing Slater fight wasn’t overwhelming enough, knowing that he’s suffering the way he is, makes it even worse. And all the people. And the necklace. And seeing him like that. I can’t think. I need to leave.
“Ellie!” I hear Finn yell, but I don’t stop.
I know how to get out of here, and I’m going to do just that.
I rush past people, some of which give me rather startled stares, as if they’re wondering what the hell I’m doing in here. Then I run into a hard form, and hands go up to my shoulders, stopping me. I jump backwards quickly and look up to see a blond man with a really rugged, worn out face, staring down at me. His eyes scan over me, and then widen in surprise, and his fingers tighten around my shoulders.
“Well, I didn’t think you’d actually run into my grasps, but I’ve been looking for you, Raven.”
Raven.
What?
What did he just call me?
That’s not my name.
I jerk backwards, trying to get out of his grips, but he squeezes so tightly I wince.
“No, let me go.”
I frantically thrash, but to no avail.
“Let her go, right fuckin’ now.”
Slater’s voice booms even over the chatter of the crowd, and the man holding me lets me go immediately.
“Sorry, man, I was just helping her out. She seemed lost. You know her?”
Slater walks over, grabs the man by the shoulder with little to no effort, and slams him up against the wall. “Who the fuck are you?”
“H-h-h-h-he called me Raven,” I whisper. “He’s...he’s working for him.”
Slater’s eyes flare and he stares at the man, then he turns to Finn, “Get Lincoln, now.”
Finn moves quickly, disappearing into the crowd. Slater looks at me. “You know him?”
“No,” I tremble. “But he’s looking for me.”
“I don’t know what she’s fucking talking about,” the man protests. “She ran into me.”
“You’re coming with us, and you’re goin’ to talk.”
Lincoln and Finn appear, and Lincoln’s eyes go to Slater, and then to everyone who has stopped to watch Slater.
“What’s goin’ on?”
“He’s one of them. Lookin’ for Ellie. Was tryin’ to drag her out.”
Lincoln’s eyes flash to the man. And then he walks over, curling his big hand around his shoulder. “Take Ellie home. He’ll be here when you return.”
Slater looks at Lincoln, and he nods, letting the man go. Lincoln spins him around, jerking his hands behind his back. “You’re comin’ with me.”
The man protests as Lincoln disappears into the crowd with him, Finn following. I watch Finn desperately. He’s leaving me to Slater. After everything he just showed me? My heart is racing, and I stare at the ground, hands trembling.
“Let’s get you out of here.”
Slater guides me gently to the exit and we slowly make our way out of the huge building. People stop and try to talk with Slater, but one angry look from him has them pulling up pretty quickly and disappearing. Once we’re back at the garage, Slater stops and I hesitantly turn to him.
I can hardly breathe.
What was that man doing down there?
Do they know that the Knight brothers know me? If they do, that means everyone is in danger, not just me.
I can’t imagine the lengths he might go to, to get his hands on me.
Including wiping out anyone in his way.
“You good?” Slater asks me, his dark eyes scanning my face.
He’s still covered in blood, though his face is wiped clean.
He’s terrifying.
“I just want to go home.”
He nods, and points to a truck parked around the side of the garage. “That’s mine, let’s go.”
This is going to be one hell of an awkward drive home.
And yet, I’m kind of glad Slater is the one taking me.
Go figure.
~*~*~*~
THEN – SLATER
“Why do you stare at her like that?” Tracey moans, clinging to my arm as we move through Ellie’s party.
Damon threw her one, and there are way too many fuckin’ people here for my liking.
But, I wasn’t goin’ to not be here. Lincoln is working, at least, I think he’s fuckin’ working, so somebody had to make sure this party didn’t get too wild. And that lucky someone is me. Tracey showed up, and I literally had no excuse to get rid of her, so she’s been clinging to me like a damned leech ever since.