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)
That’s right. Cash was only here out of the goodness of his heart, right?
Although she couldn’t really understand why he cared so much. Why was he putting himself at risk? Was it really just because she climbed into the back of his truck and he felt responsible for her?
That didn’t make a lot of sense.
“You’re going to need people to watch them. I’m free. I have the skills to take care of them. So does Ralen. So put us on the roster.”
“And what about the person you actually work for? How would he feel about all this?”
Were they keeping Cash from his actual job?
She couldn’t let him do this. He needed to go to work, or how was he going to pay all his bills?
“Let me worry about that,” Cash said.
“The last thing I need is your boss coming for me,” Ink replied.
“He won’t.”
There seemed to be some subtext that she didn’t understand, or maybe she was just too tired to figure it out. Exhaustion was pulling her under, and it was all she could do to keep her eyes open.
She couldn’t fall asleep here. She still wasn’t safe. No matter that her body seemed to think otherwise with Cash around.
“Just put me on the roster. I’ll figure everything else out,” Cash said.
Ink shook his head. “I can’t have you pulled away to go do something else.”
“I won’t be.”
There was a tense silence between them.
“If I get called away, I’ll let you know, and I won’t leave until there is someone there to protect them,” Cash said. “Look, you don’t have to put me on the roster, but I’m going to be there, all right?”
“Yeah, all right.” Ink sent him a knowing look that she didn’t understand, then he turned back around and glanced over at Stone. “We’re not being followed?”
“Not as far as I can tell,” Ethan Stone said. “I’ll check in with Captain but I haven’t seen anyone who looks like they’re following us and have taken a roundabout route.”
“Good. Then let’s go to the safe house.”
28
Cash didn’t like how quiet Addie was. Well, she was always quiet, but at the moment she seemed completely withdrawn.
They were in the living room of the safe house. Dotty was asking a million questions while Monroe just stood in the middle of the room and stared at everyone. She seemed dazed. Addie was curled up in a corner of the sofa with his jacket over her, trembling. Stone and Captain were outside, keeping watch, while Ink tried to answer Dotty’s questions and Ralen stared at Monroe in concern.
Butch was prowling through the house as though he thought there might be a threat hiding under the bed.
Cash walked over, crouching in front of Addie. “Ahh, Stowaway. You’re exhausted, aren’t you? And hungry. I can make something soft for your throat. What would you like?”
She just stared at him, shaking. Shit. He had the feeling that she couldn’t make any decisions right now. That she was completely overwhelmed.
And that was okay with him. He didn’t mind making the decisions. In fact, he preferred it. The only problem was he didn’t have enough information to take care of her properly.
And that annoyed him.
“I’m going to make you some soup, all right?”
Surely that would be okay on her throat.
Addie shook her head and pointed at her stomach, pulling a face. Was she trying to say that she had an upset stomach?
“Your tummy is upset?” he said.
Addie nodded.
“Did you get your period yet?”
Unfortunately, right as he said that, the whole room had gone quiet. Addie went bright red, and she ducked under his jacket so her face was completely covered.
Shit. He hadn’t meant to embarrass her.
“Good one,” Dotty told him.
Fuck. How did he put his foot in his mouth so badly?
“Addie? Addie, will you look at me?”
But she didn’t move the jacket away from her head.
Cash sighed. “All right, Stowaway. I’m going to make some soup and see if that helps. Even if your tummy is upset, maybe having something in it will help. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
She reached out from under the jacket and grabbed hold of his upper thigh, squeezing it. That seemed to be an acknowledgment of his apology.
Getting up, he headed into the kitchen to make some soup.
That seemed to be the very least he could do.
Addie’s stomach was a mess, rolling and rioting, but she dipped her spoon into the soup since Cash had gone to the trouble of making it for her.
It didn’t help that he was sitting across from her, watching her every move. She felt like she was a bug under a microscope. She took a sip, swallowing it.
Addie couldn’t help but wince as it scraped against her raw throat. Had she injured her throat? She’d been using her voice a lot, not to mention she’d screamed several times in the last twenty-four hours. Was that it? It had hurt badly earlier today but after being chased by those men today . . . yeah, that had to be it.