Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Unable to move.
A motherfucking hook in my back.
This interest that I couldn’t shake had me making a U and creeping back toward Unit B.
Creep.
A smirk threatened at the edge of my mouth.
She had no idea.
I stole around the perimeter.
The lights were off downstairs, though I could see a muted one glowing up high in the loft from above.
Couldn’t help from wondering what Piper was doing.
If she was curled up in the bed under the covers.
What she was wearing.
Or maybe she was soaking in the tub.
Fuck me.
That was not a direction a wise man would let their mind travel down.
But when it came to her, I wasn’t feeling so wise.
The woman had already caused me to break one of Sovereign Sanctum’s rules. One that could be bent. But I needed to remember the others.
I reined the errant thoughts and forced myself to shift gears and head back down the pathway.
I rechecked along the main part of the motel before I cut across the parking lot and headed to where my cabin was in a secluded spot tucked in the trees, my hands fucking frozen as I let myself in my place.
I flicked on the lights and the switch to the fireplace, letting the flames jump to life so I might be able to thaw out my ass.
I peeled off my leather jacket and tossed it to the rack, then I kicked out of my boots and socks.
My jeans were soaked to nearly the thighs, so I shucked out of them, too, then I went ahead and tossed my tee onto the growing pile on the floor.
Wearing only my underwear, I leaned over and grabbed my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, then strode over to the fire and plopped onto the leather lounger in front of it.
My place was similar in style to the rest of the cabins on the property, though larger. Everything full scale and not meant to be temporary.
The kitchen on the left side of the great room and the living area to the right.
A wall of windows with a massive sliding door led out to the balcony that overhung the placid waters that lapped underneath.
On the left of the kitchen were stairs that led to the second floor.
Thanks to Raven, the baby sister of one of my crew, the décor was done in warm cabin browns, the same as she’d insisted upon for every room at the motel since she’d been the one to help me decorate.
Ensuring the cover was legit and this motel didn’t look like some run-down hovel.
Most of the guests were legit.
But the ones who weren’t? They were the only ones that counted to me.
My stomach fisted as my mind went sailing right back for the one staying in Unit B. Some strange thing inside me warning me how easily she’d come to count. Invading all logic in a beat.
There was no stopping myself from flicking into my phone to the text that I’d sent her earlier. One that had remained unanswered all evening, not that I’d expected a reply.
Me
This is Theo.
When I’d delivered the food, she’d basically snatched the bags out of my hands and slammed the door in my face.
Now, I stared at the three simple words, wondering why the fuck I couldn’t seem to evict the woman from my brain. My fingers hovered over the screen.
I was only checking on her, I rationalized. That was it.
What could that hurt?
I tapped out a message.
Me
You have everything you need?
So much time passed that I didn’t think she would reply, five minutes dragging by like a fucking eon before my phone finally buzzed where I balanced it on my thigh.
Piper
We’re fine.
Could feel the tumult that came with her response. Like it took her everything to offer that tiny bit.
A storm.
That’s what she was.
With that flowing river of white hair and the fire in those eyes.
Me
How was dinner?
Piper
Um, I expected fast food, and you sent steaks. Why was I even surprised?
Me
Because you don’t quite know me yet.
Another few moments went by before she finally responded.
Piper
I’m not going to be around long enough to get to know you.
It was a clear dismissal.
One I should respect.
But I couldn’t shake the sense that there was something more going on with her.
Didn’t matter what lies and obstacles she tried to toss out.
I just wasn’t wired to turn my back on something like that.
Not when I knew firsthand the atrocities of this world. Knew how sick and deranged fiends could get.
That fear radiating out from beneath that ferocity urged me to look closer.
Me
Maybe I want to take care of you while you’re here.
A moment in time to help her if she would accept it.
It was all I could give.
Hell, just that was really pushing past the boundary hedged around my being.
No piece of me truly left because I owed it all.