Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 83800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
"Who is it?" Ellis demands as if he'll raze the entire earth for vengeance.
"He was a little creepy, but I don't think he'd do something like this," I answer.
"Why are you protecting him?" he growls.
"How do you know this isn't connected to your marriage-for-sale scheme?" I challenge back.
Why is this man so quick to point fingers and place blame when clearly his lifestyle has put Kaylee in danger?
"He's not the bad guy," Kaylee says, her words coming out on a sob that makes me feel like a complete asshole.
"Sweetheart," I whisper as I go to her and wrap my arms around her.
Screams from downstairs drift up, and the fear that has been building inside of me triples as I hear pounding on the stairs.
Ellis lifts his gun, pointing it back at the door as he repositions himself to where both Kaylee and I are blocked from whatever danger may be coming.
The tension in his back eases when a man walks in wearing full combat gear and carrying a rifle bigger than anything I've ever seen on television.
For some reason, in all of this, the anarchy patch on his vest draws my attention for the briefest of moments.
"She was attacked and tied up," Ellis says just as another combat guy enters the room. "The suspect climbed out the window before I could get to her."
The newest guy repeats the information into a black device on his chest.
"We need medical," Ellis snaps as he looks back at Kaylee.
"Have you been hurt, sweetheart?" the guy asks.
Ellis snarls, sounding like an animal preparing to attack.
"Not the time for that shit, man," the guy snaps at Kaylee's husband.
"I'm not hurt," Kaylee assures him.
"Your ankle," Ellis challenges, pointing to the mark the rope left behind on her skin.
"Can't be healed by a paramedic," she mutters.
"Did he—" I begin
"No!" Kaylee snaps.
"What happened?" Ellis asks.
Kaylee shakes her head, tears still streaming down her flushed cheeks.
Guilt swims inside of me like acid, trying to find its way out of my body.
"Kaylee?" Ellis pleads.
"I don't want to talk about it," she says. "Later."
"This is all my fault," I sob, unable to control the tears streaking down my face.
I believe her. If she thinks it was the guy I had to cut loose recently, then it had to have been him.
His behavior was a little off, and showing up here last night was beyond rude. But I never imagined he'd be the type to hold someone hostage.
What in the world would've happened if Ellis hadn't scared him off first? What would he have done to the two of us if I had gotten up here first?
"We need to get you out of here," Ellis says, holding his hand out to Kaylee.
I tremble beside her.
"You, too, sweetheart," the first guy who came into the room says as he moves closer to the bed.
"The party isn't over," I say absently.
"We've already started clearing the house," the second guy who joined us says. "Waitstaff and the catering company you hired have been instructed to return in the morning. It's all taken care of."
I don't know if I should feel relieved not to have to deal with any of it or what, but I know terror is filling my blood with an urgency that's telling me to get very far away from this house.
I stand from the bed, placing my hand into his before looking back at Kaylee to make sure she's going to be taken care of.
Ellis looks less than impressed with me, but now is not the time to argue that I can't be held responsible for what other people do. Had I known this was going to be the outcome of the night, I would've canceled the whole damn party. I'd never do anything to put anyone else in danger, especially not my one true friend.
Sobs are threatening to take over as we walk from the room, and when this stranger wraps his arm around me and draws me close to his chest, I don't hesitate to lean into him for comfort.
Two hours later, I've been given a room at the insane villa where Kaylee's husband and his friends live. I feel like a brat with Kaylee sitting across from me on the bed as if I was the one who was traumatized tonight, not her.
"I'm fine," I vow. "You should get some rest."
"You're sure? I can stay here with you tonight."
"I appreciate the offer," I tell her, trying my best to smile. "But if you don't go get in your husband's bed, I might just have to."
Her lips attempt a smile, but my attempt at a joke lands pretty flat considering what happened tonight.
"I'll see you in the morning," she says as she leans forward and gives me a quick hug. "I showed you the room we're in if you need me. You're safe here."