Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
54
Rock stood in the entrance to the playroom.
His girl was upset and he didn’t like it. He’d do anything to protect her.
Anything.
And not just from physical pain. But emotional pain as well. If he could be in two places at once, he’d have been with Quaid, hunting down this asshole.
But he needed to be with his girl more.
Although he wasn’t quite sure why she was so upset. This was good news.
That fuckwit, Billy, was dead. Quaid messaged Slade to let them know.
He’d also said that he wasn’t returning home straight away. After Indie heard that she’d grown quiet. And now she’d retreated into the playroom alone.
She had trouble slipping into Little headspace. She needed Spencer or Slade to help her.
Or you.
Rock knew he needed to step up in their relationship. He just felt like he wasn’t on an even footing.
His job was to protect her.
To protect all of them. He was the foot soldier in this relationship and he didn’t care as long as he was in it.
Too often he’d felt like the outsider looking in, until these guys had taken him in. Made him part of their group.
Now, he owed them forever.
But he owed her more.
What was she doing? She was sitting at the table with Gary on a chair next to her.
Gary. What kind of name was that for a gargoyle? He needed some strong name like Granite or Goliath or Griffin.
Not freaking Gary.
He watched her make a movement with her fingers. Was that sign language?
“I’m not getting this, Gary. I’m just not smart enough!”
What. The. Fuck.
He knew she had hang-ups from her time with Billy. That fucker had demolished her self-esteem and confidence. They were working to build it back up. Slowly and surely.
But she had to know how fucking smart she was. She’d gone to university and graduated in the top five percent of her class.
She was fucking amazing.
Also, she was trying to learn sign language. For him.
“Indie,” he growled.
She jumped, turning to face him. There was a decidedly guilty look on her face as she glanced up at him.
“Um. Hi. Ah, how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.”
“Uh-oh.”
“Stupid?”
Frustration filled her face. “I just can’t get this right. I’m just . . . I don’t know. I can’t shut everything else out to learn this. It shouldn’t be this hard.”
Stepping into the playroom, he closed the door behind him and crooked a finger at her.
She stood and walked over. He drew her close and hugged her. Maybe he should have been scolding her. Or trying to tell her that everything would be fine.
But he thought what she needed was a hug.
For a moment she was stiff and he thought he’d gotten it wrong. But then she melted into him, sobbing her heart out.
His own heart started to splinter.
His girl should never feel this upset. Should never feel this sort of pain.
After a while he grew alarmed that she wouldn’t stop. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her to the rocking chair and sat with her in his lap.
It felt so right having her here.
He still owed her for the way he’d turned his back on her. He never should’ve believed that she could betray them. If only he’d listened to his heart and taken her side, she never would have been hurt.
He’d regret that forever. But she was here now and he had to show her that he could take care of her too.
Deciding she might feel more secure wrapped up, he stood and laid her on the bed.
“Rock!” she cried.
“Da,” he told her firmly.
She swiped at her tears and nodded, watching curiously as he spread a thin blanket out on the bed.
“I feel like I’m falling apart and I don’t know why. I didn’t love him. He was evil. I don’t care that he’s dead. I just thought that after he was dealt with that Quaid might . . . might . . .”
Rock got it. “He’ll come.”
“That’s what the others say too.”
But she was losing hope.
“It’s not like you guys aren’t enough. You are. I love you all. I want to always be with you. So it shouldn’t matter.”
Reaching over, he put his finger on her lips. “Shh. Does.”
Relief filled her face. She shouldn’t be trying to make them feel better. It should be the other way around.
He picked her up and laid her on the blanket, wrapping it around her. He didn’t do it too tightly, not wanting her to feel trapped.
Grabbing a couple of tissues, he wiped her eyes and held it to her nose. “Blow.”
She wrinkled her nose but did as she was ordered.
“Good.”
Picking her up, he sat back in the rocking chair and held her cradled against him. And he started to rock her back and forth. Reaching for his phone in his pocket, he drew it out, typing a message that he showed her.