Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“You should live here,” Celeste muttered, throwing a glance over my shoulder. Immediately, I turned. Wrath, Celeste’s husband, entered the room with a lazy stroll. With him, Razor and Jekyll made their way to our little group. Both Jekyll and Razor had been kind to me, helping me with the popcorn stringing and organizing the kids to make salt-dough ornaments. I’d been incredibly comfortable with both of them, but they felt more like brothers or trusted friends than anything else. I had to face it -- my heart had seized on Warlock. And he wasn’t attainable.
“What’s going on?” I stood. Jerrica retained hold of my hand.
“Sweet Hope.” El Diablo and Jezebel entered from the other side of the room. I felt like I was being surrounded. “We want you to stay. If you’re uncomfortable here, you need only say so, and I’ll make it better.”
“No. Everyone’s been incredibly nice.” I looked away, remembering the woman from the restroom. Of course, El Diablo didn’t miss much. Neither did Jezebel.
“If the club girls are harassing you…” Jezebel began, but El Diablo put his hand on her shoulder, and she stilled.
“It’s time I left. This was a fantasy when it started. Now, it’s pitiful.” There. I’d admitted it out loud. I took a deep breath. “You’ve all been so good to me. I can’t thank you enough.”
“At least stay through Christmas.” Esther took my other hand, bringing it to her cheek to rub against her skin like a cat might. As if she really cared about me. There were tears in her eyes, and she seemed to be silently pleading with me to do as she asked. “You’re my friend. I’m not ready for you to leave.”
“I can’t stay, Esther. I --” Tears threatened, and my throat closed up.
“You know,” Razor spoke as he approached me. “There’re more men here than Warlock. He’s an ass on the best of days, honey. More than one of us is willing to make a try for you.” He shook his head. “And I ain’t just talkin’ about a physical relationship. You’d make a good, strong ol’ lady. Give me a chance, and I’ll prove I can make you happy.”
I sucked in a breath. “Razor? Why would you do that?”
“I don’t know what bullshit Warlock’s been feedin’ you, but you’re worth takin’ a chance on. His loss is my gain.”
“Oh, Razor.” I launched myself into his arms. “You’re such a good person. I knew it from the day I met you. You were so gentle and patient with me.” I let him go, but he kept his arms around me when I pulled back. “You know I can’t do this. Much as I love it here, much as I love you, it’s not like that.”
He grinned. “Bet I could change your mind.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed even as tears overflowed. “You’re crazy.”
“Ain’t denyin’ that, but I’ll say this. Any man who doesn’t want to make you his own is a fuckin’ fool.”
“You don’t want Razor, what about me?” Jekyll moved in beside me, taking me from Razor’s arms and pulling me into his.
“I can’t believe you guys.” Maybe I’d underestimated the friends I’d made here. “I thought everyone was only nice to me because of Warlock.”
“Honey, why in the world would you think that?” Jekyll frowned down at me but didn’t let me go.
“Because I don’t belong here.”
“Again,” Jekyll said, his frown deepening, “why would you think that?”
“If anything, we all like you despite Warlock.” Razor buried his hand in my hair, massaging my scalp affectionately. “He’s the asshole to make assholes ashamed of being assholes.”
“There are many more in line, Hope.” El Diablo put his arm around Jezebel and kissed her temple as he spoke. “You need a strong protector. A family of your own. I hope you’ll grow to think of all of us as a family, but I want you to have the one thing you’ve never had for yourself.”
The tears did come then. Steady streams of the vile things. Jekyll pulled me close, his strong arms comforting. But it didn’t feel right. I knew I was safe, and that he’d give me whatever emotional support I needed, but he wasn’t what I wanted. Or needed.
“I appreciate all you’re trying to do, but --”
“Get your motherfucking hands off her, Jekyll!”
Warlock. He stormed into the common room looking positively enraged. My heart leapt. I wasn’t frightened. Not of Warlock. Looking at him now, coming for me, was like looking at my dreams all coming true. A miracle. I had no idea why he was here or why he was angry, only that my heart wanted him to be coming for me.
“Well, I guess that answers that question.” Razor moved in front of Warlock, preventing him from reaching me. I struggled to get free from Jekyll, but he leaned down to whisper in my ear.