Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“You do know you’re strong too, right?” Blade asked.
“I just deceive and run. That’s not so hard.”
“It is actually. Being convincing in a deceit is a great skill. I don’t suppose you’ve thought about joining the CIA?”
I snorted. “I don’t think they’d like my work history.”
“They wouldn’t give a fuck if you could get the job done.”
“I’m sure my family would love that.”
“An insider connection? How could they not be pleased?”
I shook my head. “No thanks. I really just want…”
“What? Tell me.”
I’d never said this to anyone. It was as much a secret as my parentage and my mom’s plot to improve her income. “I’d like to own a café. The kind where people come and sit all morning. The kind where old men come and play chess. I shook my head. I know that’s—”
“Perfect for you.”
“What?”
“You love to talk. You enjoy hearing gossip, and you can charm anyone. You’d be perfect for that.”
I smiled, and warmth spread through my chest. “I would be, wouldn’t I? And Cam, that’s Angelo’s man—”
“Angelo is Lucien’s brother, right?”
“Yeah. How’d you know?”
“I listen, and I know it’s a good idea to keep up with friends of X.”
“That’s true enough. Cam owns a bakery, and I thought… No, I shouldn’t be planning this like it could happen.”
“I thought you didn’t want to be in Boston.”
“I don’t want to be the man my father wanted me to be, but being here, I think I’ve realized I could be whoever I want anywhere as long as my family would let me.”
“I’d like to see them try to get through me if they try to keep you from it.”
“Aw. That’s sweet.”
“No, I promise it’s not.”
Blade’s expression shifted from ferocious to worried, and he let go of my hand. “I shouldn’t make promises like that. I’m not sure I still have the skills I once had.”
“They’re in you. I know you could use them if you had to, but that doesn’t mean you have to want to.”
25
BLADE
My phone rang, saving me from the awkward conversation with Carlo. It was Grant.
“We all need to be on high alert. We’ve seen someone on the property. They seem to be alone, but we’re not taking any chances. Ghost, TJ, and Rhys are going out to find the bastard.”
“And you?”
“I’m staying at the house to keep watch here.” If the situation hadn’t been so serious, I would have laughed. Jacob wanted him there, and he wasn’t going to defy him.
“And Rogue?”
“I’m sending him your way.”
“I don’t need—”
He hung up before I could finish my statement.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s someone on the property. We have to assume they’re here for you.”
“Shit. I don’t want to put you in danger.”
“That’s why this place exists.”
“But you didn’t come here for that.”
He was right. I’d come here to try to find some shred of myself again, to be some place where I wouldn’t be pestered to just get back to normal like I was with my mom. “I didn’t know you when I came here.”
His shy smile made my heart flutter. Then his eyes went wide. “Shit, what’s that?”
I’d heard the sound too, even though I wished to hell I hadn’t. Another branch had snapped.
“Do you think it’s Biscuit again?”
I shook my head.
I got my gun from the side table and stood. At least now I was steadier on my feet.
Carlo tried to follow me like he had before. “No. Take cover and do not come outside.”
“But you—”
“I’m fine. I can take care of this.” I wished I believed those words as much as I meant for him to.
I moved toward the door, wishing there was one at the back of the cabin. Of course that would leave two egresses to defend, and I could always go out a window if I had too.
I was hoping for the element of surprise. Did the man out there know how many people were in the cabin? Did he know who I was?
It was possible but not likely. More likely the scout they’d sent had simply told them Carlo might be here. If they’d been doing more surveillance, we would have figured that out.
I stepped onto the porch. Weapon raised. Heart pounding.
I stared into the shadows, trying to see anything that would indicate a person hiding there. Then I saw the shadows move. I took aim.
The person ran. I could have made the shot and taken them down, but I couldn’t make myself pull the trigger. I stood there frozen as Carlo came up behind me.
“Go inside.” I growled.
I had to stay there to see if they came back. If they aimed at me, could I shoot them then? What if they aimed at Carlo?
I pushed him back. I didn’t need him out there when I couldn’t trust myself to protect him.
“What happened?” he asked from just inside the door. “I heard what sounded like running. I was afraid you were chasing someone.”