Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Slowly, Carina moved, twisting to check out who stood behind her. Spotting Marcus, she let out a heartrending sob before throwing herself into his arms. She sagged with relief as he held her close. “Daddy!”
“I’ve got you, Little girl. I’ve got you.”
His arms wrapped around her, squeezing her tight to his hard frame. Carina clung to his powerful shoulders as tears of relief burst from her eyes. She was safe with Marcus. He wouldn’t let anyone harm her.
“Daddy, I was so scared! Did they hurt you?”
“No, sweetheart. Your Daddy is fine.”
“Did you kill them?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. I don’t want them to do that to anyone else.” Carina’s anger surprised her. She hadn’t ever wished bad things to happen. Not even to her worst enemies. Those guys went way beyond being adversaries. She suspected they would have killed her in a flash.
“They can’t hurt you again, sweetheart.”
She nodded against his chest. Sirens sounded in the distance, growing closer. Carina looked around. Her shivers rekindled. “What do I say to the police?”
“Nothing. Hold on, Little girl.”
When do we visit Costa? Donovan asked.
He’ll wait. I need to take care of Carina, Marcus stressed as he scooped an arm under her legs to lift her fully into his arms. He wouldn’t wait for a car. Marcus needed to get her home.
When you are ready, we’ll go, Alaric promised.
Chapter
Twelve
Marcus carried her a safe distance from the attack. “Little girl, open your mind for me.”
Unsure how to do that, Carina looked at her Daddy’s dark green eyes and nodded. His eyes glowed red as he focused on her. She could feel him gliding through different spaces in her brain. Bits of the attack faded from her mind, easing the lingering terror. Was he erasing her memories?
“You are fine, mate. I am concerned that the accident injured your brain. I merely smoothed over a few rough spots and blunted tonight’s trauma. Do you have a headache now?”
She shook her head gently and discovered the pain had evaporated. “I’m okay. Thank you.” Carina promised herself she’d consider how she felt about Marcus monkeying around in her brain another day. For now, he’d eased her discomfort and that was all that mattered.
“Perfect. Hold on tight, Little girl. I’m going to whisk us back home.”
She barely had time to tighten her arms around his neck and nod before he set off. Marcus ran so fast her eyeballs dried out from the breeze. Carina closed her eyes with a gasp, as the rapid movement completely disoriented her. Marcus cupped the back of her head and pressed her face into the curve of his neck. “I’ve got you, Carina. You’re safe.”
She imagined she was on a roller-coaster ride that went at a supersonic speed. The blare of the sirens vanished. Not that they cut off, but the sound faded abruptly. As quickly as his rush, Marcus slowed to a walk.
Carina peeked up to see his mansion looming in front of them. She smiled against his chest. While she hadn’t stayed with Marcus for long in the impressive house, Carina loved being a part of this place. His presence and impact filled every space. He’d designed an amazing nursery for her. Everything she’d fantasized about was here.
A thought disrupted her happy reflections. His place was miles away from Nightfall and their race through the early morning, vacant streets of downtown flew past. “How did we get here so fast?”
“Home is the best place for you, Little girl.”
He’d evaded her question. Carina allowed that to slip by as she celebrated that he referred to this as her home. She’d never been so happy to walk into a house in her whole life. Just as she always felt safe with Marcus, his mansion seemed like a castle fortified for protection. Only a moat with alligators would make it more threatening to attackers.
“Want me to start the digging tomorrow?” he asked. The corner of his mouth tilted up with amusement.
“You really shouldn’t read my mind,” she told him, not meaning a word. Strangely, she’d gotten used to Marcus’s presence in her brain. “How come I can only talk to you in my head when we’re together?”
“Our connection is not complete, Little girl. Soon, you will choose whether to deepen our bond or leave it as it is. That is for another day. Now, I need to get you clean and make sure you’re not hurt.” He headed toward his bedroom.
“I can still feel their hands on me,” she said and shuddered.
“Never again, Little girl. I should have protected you better. The glamour I put on your hiding spot should have kept you undiscoverable. The clan will need to research what special skills this group has to see through my efforts. I endangered you. I won’t ever forgive myself for that.”
She could hear the self-blame in his words. Carina’s heart sank deep. She had to tell him but didn’t want to let him know she hadn’t obeyed his directions.