Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
I disconnect and set the phone down, glancing down at Lily. She’s already asleep, milk dribbling from her lips. I swear, she’s the best little baby. She sleeps so soundly. It makes my heart happy to know that, despite the uncertainty in her world, she doesn’t sense it. She feels safe, content, and cozy. She knows love and security.
I’m not sure I ever knew that before Keegan. Uncle Danny got custody of me when I was just little. I don’t remember my parents. He told me once that my dad was just like him…which doesn’t give me a lot of hope for the man. But he seemed to like my mom, said she was good for him. I don’t know if they wanted me or if they loved me. Those weren’t really questions I could ask Danny.
In his world, kindness is transactional, and love is for the weak. He was only nice to me when he wanted something from me—my paycheck when I worked at the diner, extra cash to cover rent because he blew his money on his drug habit, or someone to keep cleaning up his messes.
I hated living with him, but you take what you can get when you have nowhere else to go. I saved every penny I could to escape. I thought I was just planning to escape the same sad cycle. I never imagined I’d use that money to flee from something so much worse.
And never in a million years did I imagine I’d end up here, with a husband who loves me, friends like Samara, a perfect baby girl, and an actual future stretching before me.
I carry Lily to her crib and settle her in before grabbing the baby monitor. Then, I head to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Eggs are cracked in a bowl, bacon sizzles in a skillet, and I’m slicing strawberries when the doorbell rings. I drop a berry into a bowl and head for the door to let Samara and Scout in, smiling.
I have to stop to disarm the alarm system and then undo the four locks before yanking it open.
“You’re just in…” My voice trails off, fear slithering through my veins.
“Niece,” my uncle growls, staring at me with bloodshot green eyes. “We’ve been looking for you.”
No.
No, no, no.
“W-what are you doing here?” I whisper, my voice shaking. My hands shake too. So damn badly, I nearly drop the kitchen knife.
“You know why,” he says, smirking at me. “You going to invite me in?”
I shake my head in a sharp denial, trying to think through the panic beating in my chest. It threatens to choke me, but I can’t let it. Not right now. Not with Lily inside and this asshole standing on the porch like I’ve done something wrong.
The panic button!
I peek toward the credenza table and see the button Giant gave me weeks ago sitting on top. It’s been in the same spot since Keegan and I moved out of the clubhouse. Giant said it was just an extra safety precaution, something I probably wouldn’t ever need. Except…I need it now. Because he isn’t here yet, and I sent Keegan to work.
“Y-you aren’t coming in here,” I tell Uncle Danny. “You need to leave.”
“Can’t do that,” he says. “You really fucked this all up for us, Landry.”
“I didn’t mess up anything!” I cry. “You sold me to the Sons of Loki, Danny.”
“Yeah, well, it was either you or me, kid.” He doesn’t sound the least remorseful or sorry. Not that I thought he would. In his world, he’s the only one who matters. The only reason he ever kept me around was to clean his house, cook his meals, and help cover his bills. That’s what I’ve always been to him. Not family. Just someone to use to make his life easier.
“They’re trying to take my daughter,” I hiss, furious in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been before. I’ve been afraid. I’ve been in survival mode. But I’ve never been this angry. “Because of you, I’ve spent the last two years in hell.”
“This don’t look like hell to me,” he says, glancing around. “Looks like you did just fine for yourself.”
“No thanks to you!” I shout, inching toward the panic button. “You have no idea what I’ve been through because of you.”
“Garrick would have treated you all right if you’d have just cooperated, Landry. He always liked you.”
I gape at him, horrified. But not really surprised. I guess after you’ve sold someone like cattle, you can justify anything to yourself.
“Guess that don’t make a difference now. Where’s the baby? She’s got to come, too.”
Hell no. I lunge for the panic button, determined to get help here before he gets anywhere near Lily.
“Goddammit!” he roars when he sees what I’m doing. He grabs the back of my shirt, yanking me backward.