Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
She nods softly. “There were two of them. But I never saw the second guy. He stayed behind me.” Her shoulders start to shake. “Luke dragged me out of the club and threw me in a van. They gagged me, where I couldn’t close my mouth, and pulled out my tooth.”
My hand tightens on hers. I’ve been going crazy wanting to know what happened to her while she was away from me. Now that I watch her break down reliving it, I want to tell her to stop.
“Said I could thank my husband for that.” Deep breath.
My chest tightens.
“Then they took me … somewhere.” She looks around, as if to see if it’s the same place she remembers. “Luke carried me inside while the other stayed behind. He said that I better hope you knocked me up. That I’d finally know my worth. I told him that wasn’t possible.”
I haven’t had the chance to tell her she’s pregnant yet. I look at Ryat, and he frowns. “So both her father and Luke wanted you to knock her up? Seems fishy to me,” Ryat states.
“What?” she asks, wide-eyed. “My father wanted me to get pregnant too?” Her eyes meet mine.
“So it seems,” I say vaguely, not really believing anything Jackson has to say right now. But some of what he said did make sense. Miller knew things he would have only known if he had been there in the very room with us. But Jackson also said that Frank had only given Luke that room to make sure she remained a virgin. And then sent him to give her fake birth control. So what is it? Stay a virgin or get pregnant?
She buries her face into her hands, and I crawl onto the bed with her. Wrapping my arms around her shaking shoulders, I pull her into my body while I rub her back.
Her sobbing fills the room, and my chest tightens. The world thinks she no longer exists. I’m not sure if that’s what they had planned or if that was just what they wanted me to think. Either way, I’m going to find out.
LAIKYN
The pain isn’t as bad as it was last time I opened my eyes, but I still feel sluggish and weak. I’m warm, something hard pressed against me.
Opening my eyes to the dimly lit room, I blink a few times before I realize it’s Tyson in bed with me. His arms curled around my body. Taking a quick look around, I see Ryat has left us alone.
I snuggle into my husband and close my eyes once more, trying to keep the tears at bay. I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. Or anyone, for that matter. I’m flooded with emotions. I sniff, burying my face into his T-shirt, hoping I don’t wake him, but when I feel his lips on my forehead, I know I’ve done just that. “You’re okay, little darling,” his soft voice says.
It’s like a dam, breaking and I can’t hold the tears back anymore.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers. “I’m here.”
“You … found me,” I choke out.
How did he find me? How did he save me? I was sure I was going to die. Or pray that Luke would just kill me. I couldn’t live a life without Tyson. I wouldn’t want to know a life without being his wife. Even if that’s all I am for the rest of my life, that’s enough for me. His Lady.
“I would have never stopped looking, Lake,” he assures me. “Never.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, swallowing the knot in my throat.
“Don’t thank me, little darling. It’s my job to protect you and I failed you. I’m the one who’s sorry.” His chest vibrates against my cheek at his words. “It’ll never happen again.”
I lift my face from his shirt, and his baby-blue eyes meet mine. He cups my wet cheek, and his lips gently touch mine in an innocent kiss, but it makes my breath catch. Pulling away, his eyes are back on mine. “I love you, Lake.”
“I love you.” My lips tremble as I say the words, but they’re the truth. I’m in love with this man who forced me to marry him. The only regret I have is that I wish he would have made me do it earlier in my life so I could have spent more time with him. Because even I know this isn’t over. Luke is out there looking for me, and when he realizes Tyson saved me, he’ll come after both of us. And what are the odds we both survive?
I’m sitting up in bed while Tyson sits next to it, typing away on his cell. It’s been ringing nonstop since he turned it on a couple of hours ago. I’m finally feeling better. My eyes aren’t as heavy as they were, and my head isn’t pounding as bad. Just a dull ache now, but my jaw is still sore. Tyson explained to me what had happened and that Gavin removed the brackets from my mouth. Thankfully, it didn’t damage to my teeth. They should start feeling better soon and he’s bringing in a dentist to replace the tooth that Luke removed.