Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 757(@200wpm)___ 606(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“You gotta . . . catch me . . . first,” she told him.
“Somehow, in this state, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.” He clasped hold of her hand. “Go to the hospital? For me, Twinkles? Please?”
“Well . . . when you . . . say please . . . I have . . . to.”
“That’s the rule. Good girl.”
Her eyes flared open and he realized he was doing it again. Maybe visiting the club wouldn’t be a bad idea. Perhaps Abe and Isaiah would like it too.
After so many years of feeling out of control of everything in their life, this could be a way to take control back.
But he pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, he needed to get her to the hospital.
“The money . . . though.”
Fuck it all.
He hated that this was a factor in her care. All he wanted was for Immy and the rest of his family to have whatever they needed and desired.
To do that, you need money.
He was gaining some traction in his singing career, but he still had a long road ahead of him.
One day, he was moving them all out of this place to somewhere safe. Somewhere where they’d all be taken care of.
And he didn’t care what he had to do or what toll it took on him.
They’d be happy and safe.
Immy would be happy and safe.
And that was all that mattered.
1
Three years later
That was it.
This time she was quitting for real. She was going to go find Maeve and live with her.
She stared down at her phone in shock.
Jenner: Sorry, Immy. Can’t make dinner tonight. Got to take care of some VIPs.
Take care of some VIPs? What did that even mean?
Did it . . . did it mean that he . . .
Nope. Don’t think about it, Immy.
Don’t think about how you got all dressed up because he said that he’d take you to dinner tonight after the concert.
Don’t think about how much you wanted to go out with him.
Getting up, she walked over to the mirror, staring at herself.
She had on a deep emerald dress that brought out the color in her red hair. Hair that she’d curled and pinned back.
Pretty gold earrings dangled from her ears and were her only jewelry. Cat had bought them for her, but she rarely got to wear them.
Her dress had a sweetheart neckline that might just show a touch too much of her chest. But, hey, men liked boobs, right?
She’d put on a wide, tan belt that emphasised her waist. The frayed, scooped end of the dress ended at her knees and she wore a pair of boots that matched the belt.
The whole outfit had cost a fair chunk of change, but it wasn’t like Immy didn’t have healthy accounts. Jenner paid her well. He refused to charge her for rent or utilities. And she’d given some of her savings to Isaiah, who had invested it well.
So, yeah, she’d treated herself.
All for freaking nothing!
A knock on the door had her hopes rising and she rushed to the door, opening it.
Abe stood there, not Jenner, and her heart sank.
“Imms? Everything okay?”
She forced herself to smile. “Of course.”
“Did you check who it was before you opened the door?” he asked.
“Umm. I don’t think I should answer that on the grounds I might incriminate myself.”
“Immy,” he growled. “I fought for you to be allowed your own hotel room when Sampson and Jenner both wanted you to stay with someone else.”
“I’m a grown woman.”
“Who knows better than to open a door without checking who is there first.”
“Well, I don’t have anything to say to that,” she huffed.
He grinned. “Because you know I’m right.”
Urgh. Yes.
He ran his gaze over her, one eyebrow raising. “Looking good, honey. Is that a new dress?”
Some men wouldn’t notice, but Abe was a details sort of guy.
“It is. Do you like it?” she asked shyly.
“You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.”
“Were you going out?”
“Um, I was supposed to go out for dinner with Jenner. But he’s gotten caught up with some other stuff.”
Abe’s face tightened. “What a dick.”
“Don’t call him that! He has to work. That’s why we’re here.” They were on a short, two-week tour. Tonight was their second-to-last concert.
“Why don’t I take you out for dinner, then?”
Great. Now, Abe felt sorry for her. “I’m fine.”
“Imms, I came here to ask you to go out to dinner with me. Don’t make me eat alone.”
“All right. That sounds good.”
She grabbed her keycard before walking out and down the hallway with him.
“He’s an idiot, you know,” Abe commented in a quiet voice.
“What . . . what do you mean? Who is?”
“Jenner. For not seeing how amazing you are.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said, gazing down at her feet. “Jenner is always kind and protective and caring. He’s a good friend.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t seem to notice that he could have more.”