Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Not really, but Damon and I box, and I run.”
“Once I ran a mile in gym class. It was the worst day of my life.” Okay, that’s a lie; it wasn’t the worst, but still it super sucked.
“I take it you did not enjoy it.”
“I did not.”
“Then you should be happy I didn’t take you to school.” It should be a joke, but he’s dead-ass serious.
“You should have kidnapped me last year. I don’t have gym class this year.” Thank God.
“You should learn self-defense instead. It would be more useful.”
"Hey, I took that teacher out," I remind him and myself. I keep pushing that to the back of my mind. It makes me wonder if I’m more like my father than I know.
“Your first kill?” he says so casually. Binx rubs up against my arm, demanding pets if I’m going to be sitting here.
“Kinda.” Shit, that has Eros turning from the stove again.
“There’s more to that story?”
“I don’t know.” That life is gone. There isn’t supposed to be a story. Sure, it doesn't stop the dreams that I think should be nightmares instead of reminders. Ones I shouldn't have.
“You don’t know because you don’t remember, or you don’t know because you’re not supposed to talk about it?”
“Stop doing that. It’s freaky.” His brows rise. “Doing Jedi mind tricks or whatever.”
“I thought women wanted men to be better at reading their minds.”
“What are you making?” I ask even though I already see the pile of pancakes. He must have gone to the store too. How the heck did he get this all done? Holy hell. It is rather impressive.
“Pancakes and sausage, but I got some of the cereal and stuff you like.”
“How do you know what I like? Did you stalk my pantry while you were abducting my cat?” I try to act offended, but really, I’m impressed. “I mean, I’m kinda impressed that you accomplished two kidnappings in one day. Well, technically one kidnapping and one catnapping. Is that a new record for you?”
“No to both.” He shakes his head like I’m crazy. “I had Mac track your credit card; she pulled up your last few grocery orders.”
“Right, duh.” I throw my hands up. "That's the logical thing instead of just asking me."
"You were sleeping. You want something to drink?”
“Sure.” I go back to petting Binx. “You didn’t encounter anyone when you went to get him?” I ask out of curiosity. Sam and Kim really only go through the motions. At one time, they'd been a couple or were hooking up. Not sure what happened there, but I didn't ask.
“No, your pretend parents were asleep, in separate rooms.” I rub my eyes. “Would you rather I pretend I don’t know you’re in WITSEC?” I drop my hands.
“You guys can really get into WITSEC?”
“No, WITSEC is managed by several hubs, each with limited information shared among different leaders. It’s a very intricate system. Though facial recognition does change things.”
“Good to know, I guess, but how did you know?”
“Mac gave me your background run. It’s fake.”
“How do you know it’s fake?”
“It’s too clean and cookie-cutter. You look nothing like your parents.”
“Maybe I’m adopted.”
“I suppose you kind of are now.”
“Touché.” A small laugh leaves me. Eros sets a plate of food in front of me.
“After you eat, I need to check on your knees.” I place one of my hands on one. It was burning like hell when I washed them. I’d forgotten about scraping them.
“Why? You want to play doctor?” I try to sound annoyed, but I think I’m failing.
“They are likely fine. Superficial cuts can typically heal on their own without causing any complications. Just a little water is needed to wash them off. I thought I should double-check to be certain.”
"You always fix wounds of the people you abduct?" It's not really a question, but he answers it, nonetheless.
"If I'm trying to keep them alive."
"Oh, so I'm not the only one that made it out of the hole. I don't feel special anymore." I say it sarcastically, but deep down, that darker part of me is kind of sad about that. I guess I'm not so special after all. See, I'm just the current obsession.
"I didn't say that. You keep them alive so that you can torture them more." Did my father do that? I shake that thought from my head.
"Pass the syrup." That feels like the correct response. Eros slides it over to me, watching me. "Why are you staring at me?"
"I like doing it." That is kind of sweet.
"It's creepy." I shove a bite of pancake into my mouth.
"Then I'll only do it while you sleep. You didn't complain then." I almost choke on the fluffy goodness.
"Drink." He pushes a glass of milk toward me. I chug it down.
"Oh, I was not ready for you to crack a joke."