Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
It’s the first thing he’s said to me since meeting outside my apartment. A nod, and then we went to the underground parking lot.
“You and Zoey,” he says. “I’ve never known you as a user. I’ve never known you to put desire over duty. There must be something else going on here.”
I swallow, remembering Zoey’s annoyance that I told Peter anything. My job is to ensure he doesn’t tell Mallory before we’re ready.
“The truth?” I say, driving from the underground lot and turning the car onto the street.
“Of course, the truth,” he says, sounding disgusted.
“You might think I’m insane.”
He laughs gruffly, a flicker of our old friendship. “Nothing new there, then.”
“It ends with Zoey and me getting married,” I say.
Peter gasps. “What?”
I’m glad I’m driving, giving me an excuse not to look at him. I can’t handle it if he looks at me as though I am ridiculous and as if my and Zoey’s budding relationship is absurd. If he knows the full scope, perhaps he’ll hold off.
“I know how it sounds,” I say, “but it’s the truth. I told you I knew I had to have her when I saw her recently. I knew she was the woman I’d been waiting for. These aren’t just empty words. I’m going to make an honest woman of her one day. We’re going to have children together.”
Peter says nothing. I push on, my voice getting fiercer.
“Remember the clarity before clearing a house, waiting for the charges to blow. Nothing but the mission.”
“I miss that sometimes,” Peter says quietly.
“So do I. So did I, I should say, because I feel it now. For Zoey, for the life I’m going to share with her.”
“Does she know you feel this way?”
“No,” I grunt, “and she might not get a chance to if…”
At a red light, I glance at him. He’s staring at me, every feature tight.
“I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do,” he says, “but this changes things. You said you knew she belonged to you, but marriage and kids… It’s a lot.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Right up here,” Peter says, gesturing at the road.
That’s a clear sign this conversation has ended. My temptation is to snap at him, to force him to say he’ll keep this secret to himself, but Peter’s his own man, and he’d never respond to bullying. Anyway, I hate bullies. I always have.
We drive quietly through the city, Peter tapping away at his phone. He’s probably responding to work emails, but even that reminds me of texting Zoey, tempting me to grab my cell.
We pull up outside the halfway house, a sad-looking building. I’d feel like a jerk for coming here to cause trouble if this Axel idiot hadn’t threatened Mallory and, by extension, Zoey, making her feel uncomfortable and scared in her own home.
“Okay,” Peter says. “I think I’ll go in and pose as a… wait… That’s him.”
Peter gestures to the door as a man emerges. He’s tall and well-built, with broad shoulders and thick muscles pressing through the fabric of his faded blue shirt. He’s bald and walks like wannabe tough guys do, swaggering and looking for trouble. Well, he’s just found it.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Definitely. Older than the photo I’ve got, but it’s the same man.”
“No time like the present,” I say, climbing from the car.
Peter follows me as I walk quickly across the street, right into Axel’s path. The tall, bald man stares at me, his eyes narrowed. I can read the urge to cause pain in those eyes, but something else. Like all cowards, he’s not willing to bully somebody who seems like they could actually fight back.
“Axel Todd,” I say.
He flinches. “Uh… yeah?”
I walk right up to him, staring at him eye-to-eye. It’s a strange feeling, looking at somebody who’s my height.
“I’m a friend of Mallory’s,” I growl.
Peter bristles beside me. Maybe it’s part of the intimidation tactic, wanting to appear as if he’s ready for a fight, or perhaps it’s me calling Mallory my friend after everything I’ve told him about Zoey.
“Oh,” Axel says, not so tough and scary anymore.
I walk even closer, enough to smell sweat, cigarettes, and fear.
“My name’s Jaxson Jordan. This is my friend, Peter. We were both in the Special Forces. Do you know what that means?”
Peter steps up next to me, glaring at the man. “It means we’re used to dealing with people far more dangerous than you, Axel. It means that if you ever bother Mallory or her family again…”
“There won’t be a fair fight,” I snarl, causing him to flinch again.
He looks ready to run away the first chance he gets.
“You’ll wake up one day to find us in your bedroom. You won’t know we’re there until we want you to.”
“And then,” I go on, picking up where Peter left off, “we’ll do what has to be done to keep Mallory safe. If that means burying you in an unmarked grave, we’ll do it. We’ve got no problem taking out scumbags.”