Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 209(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
“So their priority was projecting that ideal family image,” Jax mused. “Which means Hadley was expected to support their image by conforming to what was demanded of her.”
“Exactly.” My mind spun as I tried to understand Hadley’s life so we could come up with an explanation for all the red flags Jax was finding. Except the background taking shape in my mind only spawned more questions. “I’m sure she has been told her whole life what was expected of her—how to behave, how to speak, and what to want. Even what she wore, how she carried herself, and who she associated with. With people like them, nothing is left to chance. Every aspect of her life would have been structured, controlled, and managed.”
Jax was watching me with a raised eyebrow. “Sound familiar?”
I scowled and shook my head. “Think what you want about how I live my life, asshole. I don’t give a shit. But it’s my choice. I doubt anything in Hadley’s life was about what she actually wanted.”
Jax removed his baseball cap and ran a hand through his hair before putting it back on his head—something he did when he was thinking hard. “Gonna do a deeper dive into the parents. I think they’ll be the key to answers more than Hadley.”
I already had a bad taste in my mouth from how she was treated by her parents, but if whatever they were mixed up in put Hadley in danger…
My blood boiled, a fierce protectiveness burning inside me.
“Get me anything and everything on them,” I growled as I pushed away from the wall. “I’m gonna loop in Kane and Edge.”
Jax barely acknowledged my statement, his mind already hyper-focused on the screens in front of him as his fingers flew across the keyboard.
Without another word, I left the room, closing the door behind me and heading down the hall toward the offices of our prez and VP. Kane was in Tallahassee at Redline Speedway, so I went straight to Edge’s door.
He sat behind his desk, flipping a knife between his fingers, leaning back with his boots propped casually on the edge. His green eyes lifted to mine, amusement flickering there as he read the tension radiating from my stance.
“Well, look who’s prowling,” Edge drawled, the knife never faltering. His movie-star grin widened knowingly. “You look like you just learned something interesting.”
“You could say that,” I grunted, dropping onto one of the chairs in front of his desk. “You remember the woman who got hit by debris at Brake Point Run last night?”
Edge nodded, and I exhaled, running a hand over my jaw. Then I launched into the whole story, only leaving out personal shit between Hadley and me. But somehow, the bastard read between the lines and studied me closely, a knowing smirk curving his mouth.
“Jax is digging deeper,” I finished. “She’s in danger. I can fucking feel it.”
Edge’s grin faded, replaced by something colder, a glimpse of the lethal and slightly psychotic man lurking beneath his easygoing surface. “You know your brothers have your back. Your woman’s too. I’ll fill in Kane tonight.”
“Thanks.” I got to my feet.
His smirk returned. “Gonna need to order a property vest?”
I didn’t hesitate, meeting his gaze head-on. “Yeah.”
Edge chuckled, twirling his knife once more. “Fuck me. Never thought I’d see you drop your guard this fast.”
I shook my head, turning to the door before he could needle me further. “See you later, brother.”
I ignored the satisfied laughter in Edge’s voice as I stepped out into the hall, leaving him chuckling softly behind me.
8
CAGE
By the time I got home, the scent of something rich and savory drifted from the kitchen, wrapping around me the moment I stepped through the front door. It was warm and inviting as I moved quietly through the entry to the kitchen, stopping short in the doorway when I spotted Hadley. She sat at the table, her legs crossed beneath her and eyes focused intently on the laptop in front of her.
Her hair partially hid her face as she absently tucked a strand behind her ear. She still wore my sweats and my old T-shirt that hung loose around her slender frame. Fucking hell, I didn’t think seeing her wrapped in my clothes was ever gonna fail to light me up. My cock instantly strained against my jeans in a painful surge of possessive heat.
I cleared my throat softly, not wanting to startle her, but Hadley still jumped a little as her gaze jerked toward me. A bright blush immediately tinted her cheeks, spreading down her neck as she closed the laptop and offered me a shy smile. “Hey, you’re back.”
“Yeah.” I stepped fully into the kitchen, drawn closer as if by a magnetic force. I sniffed the air again, and my mouth watered. I didn’t even realize how hungry I was, having forgotten to eat lunch. Leaning down to brush my lips lightly over hers, I asked, “You making something?”