Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
So he forced himself to let go of the asshole and step back. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. To his shock, rather than looking at him in fear or horror, Addie moved closer and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing the side of her face against his chest.
“You’re all right,” she told him. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”
Was she trying to soothe him? Was she trying to do what he had often done for her? A wave of gratitude filled him. He knew he didn’t deserve Addie.
He’d lived a rather checkered life, and there was more of that to come. The things he sometimes had to do weren’t within the law. And that wasn’t going to change.
But there was no mistaking the way he felt about her, and the lengths he would go to in order to keep her.
Ralen took hold of the guy he’d been choking and spoke quietly to Monroe, who rushed off. Probably to grab something to tie him up with.
Addie’s hand cupped his cheek and he glanced down at his girl. When he stared into her eyes, he felt even better, more calm, more relaxed.
Shit. Had he scared her?
She didn’t look worried, but she might be hiding it from him. She might be concerned that he was going to turn on her.
“I’m so sorry, Addie. Are you—”
“Are you okay?” she asked, interrupting him.
Then she blushed. “Shoot, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
“No, no, baby. You didn’t. I want to know if you’re all right, though. Did he hurt you?”
“He just grabbed me, shoved me around a little bit. I don’t know about Monroe, though.”
Turning, she glanced at her sister, who had returned with a belt which Ralen used to secure the intruder’s hands behind his back. Ralen sat him up, leaning him against the wall. “Stay the fuck there.”
Then Ralen turned to Monroe. “Are you all right? Did he harm you?”
Monroe shook her head. “No, he just slammed me into the wall and tried to strangle me. It really wasn’t that bad.”
“Not that bad?” Ralen snapped. “We need to have a talk about what you consider to be bad!”
“It was bad,” Addie whispered. “It was really bad. I was so scared.”
Cash could feel her trembling against him.
Screw this. He lifted her into his arms and held her against his chest. If she acted scared or wanted him to let her go, he would, or at least that’s what he told himself. But she didn’t do either of those things. Instead, she just slumped against him, as though she was glad that he now had her in his arms.
“I have you. I have you now. You’re safe.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she told him. “I don’t know why you are, but I’m so glad you are.”
Fuck, he was too. He hated to think what might have happened if he and Ralen hadn’t been here.
Hopefully, they would have gotten away. They’d had a good head start, and Limpy probably wasn’t that fast, but he still didn’t want to think about that.
It was terrifying.
And it was further proof that she needed to be with him at all times, so he could look after her.
“Let me go,” the guy said. “I’m gonna tell the fucking cops that you assaulted me. He tried to strangle me.” He nodded toward Cash.
Cash let out a bark of laughter. Was this guy for real?
But then Addie made a small sound of fear and burrowed deeper into his chest.
“What is it, baby?” he whispered into her ear.
“I don’t want you to get into trouble,” she whispered back.
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m not going to get into trouble. He assaulted you and Monroe. I was just defending you. Not that we’re calling the cops anyway.”
She tensed and glanced up at him. “I did call the police, though.”
Shit. He glanced at Ralen, then at the guy. “Police will be here soon. He’s Limpy, isn’t he? He’s the guy from the video.”
Ralen studied him. “Yeah, I think so. Do you want me to get rid of him before the cops get here?”
Cash nodded. “We need answers from him. A guy like this isn’t likely to give them to the cops.”
“But he’ll give them to you two?” Monroe asked, looking confused.
“Yep, he’ll give them to us,” Cash said with surety. “Find something to put over his mouth, Monroe. We aren’t going to have time to get rid of him before they get here so we’ll have to hide him. Are you up to dealing with the police?”
“What should we tell them?” Addie asked as Monroe rushed off.
“We’ll tell them that the guy ran off when I got here and I decided it was a better idea to stay with my girl than chase after him.”
Addie stared up at him. “Your girl?”
He cupped the side of her face. “All mine.”