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)
“I should just leave,” Monroe said. “Then everyone would be safer.”
“Not necessarily,” Dotty said. “You don’t know that. We stick together, remember? If I have to quit my job and move, I’ll move with you.”
“You’re not doing that either. There are people relying on you,” Monroe said.
“None of them are as important as you are.”
“If Butch can stay here with Dotty, then Monroe should come with us. Ralen and I can keep her safe,” Cash stated.
“Really?” Monroe said, staring at Cash.
“Of course. You guys are all my family now that Addie is mine. I’m going to look after the two of you as well.”
Addie smiled at him and he kissed the top of her head just as Ralen stepped back into the living area, looking stressed.
“Pack up. We’ve got to go. We’ve all got to get back to Billings.”
“Why?” Cash asked. “What’s the issue?”
“Dante’s in Billings, and he wants to know where the fuck we are.”
56
Addie was nervous as they walked into LittleLand. They went in through the back again with Cash holding onto her hand tightly.
“Don’t be scared. I’m with you,” he said.
Right, sure. Only she was about to meet his boss, and from all accounts, he could be a bit terrifying. And she didn’t know how he was going to react to her, or what to think about the fact that he had insisted Cash bring her.
At least Ink had agreed that Butch could work for the next three months in Las Vegas, looking after Dotty. They’d come to some sort of agreement about payment. While Butch had arranged all of that, Ralen had organized their flight back to Billings.
Apparently, Dante had not been happy when he’d arrived here and found them gone. She could understand that since their job was to look after Bonnie. But surely he understood there had been extenuating circumstances.
Of course, they hadn’t realized those circumstances existed until they’d gotten to Las Vegas. But they also hadn’t realized that Dante was going to turn up in Billings.
Monroe had come back with them. Addie had been a bit nervous about going to the airport, wondering if somebody was going to follow them and try to grab Monroe or hurt her, but the whole thing had gone seamlessly. Ralen had had his eyes on Monroe at all times. Neither of them had even been allowed to go to the bathroom alone.
That part had been slightly embarrassing. Especially for Monroe.
They’d left Monroe at Callahan Security with Ink watching over her. She’d wanted to come with them to meet Dante and explain everything, but Ralen had told her it would be better if she stayed with Ink. Then they wouldn’t have to worry about her security.
They’d flown on a private plane. She had no idea how they had afforded that, although perhaps it had something to do with their boss.
Ralen walked ahead of them into Bonnie’s living room. She stepped in to see Titus standing by the kitchen island. In the kitchen Bonnie was pouring cups of coffee, and next to her stood a gorgeous, dangerous-looking man. A shiver actually ran through her at the sight of him.
Wow.
Was this Dante? If so, how did people spend time with him? Just looking at him was making her want to run and hide.
She tightened her hold on Cash’s hand and wished she could bring Snaggles out of her backpack.
Although even Snaggles might be intimidated by this man. Not much scared a saber-toothed tiger, but Dante might be the one thing.
They’d had to get by one scary-looking guy guarding the entrance and she’d kind of expected there to be more in here. But they seemed to be alone.
Ralen walked over to the terrifying Dante and held out his hand. For a long moment Dante just stood there and stared at him.
“Dante,” Bonnie said in a quiet voice. “Ralen is your cousin, remember?”
“I am trying to remind myself of that fact,” Dante said smoothly. “And how upset my mother would be if I murdered him.”
Addie couldn’t stop the small squeak of fear that left her at those words. She took a step toward Ralen, wanting to protect him, but then she also had to protect Cash. What if Dante wanted to hurt him too? She immediately regretted the noise and her movement as Dante’s dark gaze slid to her. She stood frozen like a rabbit in headlights as he studied her closely.
“This must be Addie, the reason why you left your post to fly to Las Vegas without telling me, or Titus,” Dante said in a drawl.
Oh, God. Oh, God.
She couldn’t move. She was frozen on the spot, paralyzed. This was the meaning of paralyzed by fear. She thought she’d been afraid before, but this almost seemed an extreme sort of fear.
His eyes seemed to hold hers, and she couldn’t even look away, let alone move.