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)
“They shouldn’t be,” Benito said. “All women should have someone to take care of them.”
Lord, he was old-fashioned.
Then she noticed that Rock and Slade were nodding.
Seriously? They agreed with him?
What was happening right now?
“Right, you guys need to step out of the Stone Age. I was taking care of myself just fine until Billy found me.”
Total and utter lie. But she still felt like she needed to stick up for women in general. And she wasn’t helpless.
Everything had just been stacked against her.
“Billy,” Benito spat out his name. “That is the name of the stronzo who did this to you?”
“Um, yeah. My ex.”
“We’re taking care of her,” Slade said. “Because she’s ours.”
Indie sucked in a breath and turned to glare at him. Why did he keep making it sound like they were all an item? Benito was going to get the wrong idea.
“Yeah?” Benito said.
“Yeah,” Slade replied.
“That’s what you want, Indie?” Benito asked.
Why was he acting like this? He’d always been a bit over-the-top. But this seemed nuts even for him.
“Yes. The guys are taking good care of me. They let me move in with them and they’re trying to find Billy since the cops aren’t having much luck. I’m safe with them.”
“I want to talk to you alone,” Benito stated.
Slade let out a huff of unamused laughter. “Not happening.”
Benito crossed his arms over his chest. “Why? Because you say so?”
“Yep, exactly,” Slade replied.
“What are you so afraid of?” Benito goaded him. “That I might steal her away?”
Slade laughed again, this time it sounded more genuine. “Nope. Not worried about that. But you don’t deserve to speak to her alone. You let her work long days on her feet knowing she was pregnant and ill. You fed her once a day. She often had to take some of that home with her so she’d eat at night. No, you don’t deserve any time with our girl.”
Oh hell.
Benito grew pale. “She always said she was fine. I could have given you more food, bellissima.”
Slade stiffened.
Oh heck.
Indie was beginning to see that this was a really bad idea. How had she thought it wouldn’t be?
“No one calls her beautiful but us,” Slade stated as he and Rock flanked her.
Benito’s eyes narrowed. “Us? Two men, bellissima?”
Oh hell.
Why was he trying to provoke them?
Men.
They could be so freaking annoying.
“We should go,” she said, without answering his question. Because she wasn’t actually theirs. They were just acting this way because . . . well, because they were possessive assholes. “I just wanted to let you know in person that I was all right. And I’m not going to be able to work anymore, I’m sorry. You should find someone else. It’s just not safe with Billy, my ex who did this to me, still out there.”
“Plus, we won’t allow her to be on her feet for hours on end,” Slade spat out.
Yep.
They needed to get out of here.
With a quick goodbye, she rushed them out of there.
“Was that really necessary?” she asked, glaring up at Slade who was walking beside her.
For some reason, Rock was walking behind them and she had to turn to glare at him.
“It was,” Slade replied. “That guy wants you.”
“He is my boss!”
“Was your boss. And he definitely wants you.”
“You are losing your mind,” she told Slade. Then she turned to look at Rock. “And why are you walking behind us?”
“He’s guarding you,” Slade said.
“Guarding me? Is he expecting Billy to appear?” She glanced around, suddenly more nervous.
Why had she insisted on coming to see Benito? She should have just called him.
“Hey, listen to me.” Slade stopped and reached out to cup the side of her face. “We’re not expecting Billy. Actually, we think he’s in Wales, hiding. However, we want to be prepared for anything because it’s our job to keep you safe, okay? And even if Billy did appear, we would take care of him. He would not touch you. Understand?”
She nodded and Rock reached around and opened the passenger door of the car. Slade helped her in and drew a blanket over legs. As if he was worried she’d get cold. Then he buckled her in, checking the belt.
Slade placed a kiss on her forehead and she shivered. Then he closed her door before climbing into his seat and they drove away.
“Anything else you need while we’re out, Boo?” Slade asked as they headed into traffic. It would have made more sense to take the underground but both men had taken offense when she’d pointed that out.
Men.
“Uh, well, I was going to ask if we could stop at a charity shop or a budget store.”
“Why would you want to do that?” Slade asked.
“I really need a coat since it’s getting close to winter and I can’t wear Spencer’s all the time. And I wish I had some concealer or something to cover the bruise on my face.”