Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Strong, unrelenting arms holding me tight.
Protecting.
Securing.
Loving.
We rolled to a stop in the darkness beyond the burn of the flames.
Our hearts battering and our breaths raking.
Our hands clawing to get to the other.
“Daisy. Fuck, baby. Tell me you’re okay.” Every word from his mouth was coarse. Roughened scraps that brushed over me like a caress.
Unable to speak, I nodded against his shirt before I let the sobs go.
Because it was finally, finally over.
FIFTY-FIVE
CASH
It was late afternoon as I balanced the tray and kept my footsteps light as I eased up to the door on the second floor of River and Charleigh’s house. Heart living in my throat as I paused to peer inside.
Soft, glittery light floated through the air, rippling over the bed and glinting over the cinnamon locks of Daisy’s hair that were spread out around her on the pillow.
Her breaths soft and her spirit strong.
This fierce, brave girl who had faced down death and fought with all she had.
I bit back the rage that wanted to surface. The old fury that I had forever been prisoner to.
It was strange, not having to feel it anymore.
I started to back away to let her sleep when she stirred, a long groan rolling out of her as she sat up.
“Baby, don’t get up,” I attempted, but she shook her head, that sweet smile rising to her gorgeous face. “No, I want to.”
She rested against the headboard while I moved to the left side of the bed. I set the tray on the nightstand before I sank onto the edge of the mattress. I twisted so I was facing her. My hand reaching out so I could trace my fingertips gingerly across her jaw. Her jaw that was bruised and swollen.
That motherfucker was lucky I didn’t have time to end him the way he deserved.
Slow and mercilessly.
Her injuries were all superficial, including the bullet that had grazed her shoulder, but that didn’t make it any less severe. That monster’s intentions so sickening I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.
“I’m so fuckin’ sorry,” I murmured.
Her head barely shook as she leaned deeper into my palm. “If any of us are sorry, it’s me.”
I brushed the pad of my thumb along her cheek. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about. You were so fucking strong, fighting him the way you did.”
“But I brought him here. Brought Hadley here.” With the mention of her sister, Daisy’s voice hitched in grief.
My chest felt like it would cave with the mention of her. Fact that I’d been so complacent. Thinking she was dead for all these years. Thinking I’d been responsible for it. Once I developed my hacking skills, I never even checked.
Had missed all the connections. The fact that Jaimie was Ethan’s stepbrother. Last names different, and with all the passing of time, I never had dug the way I should have.
If I had, I would have found that Ethan was the ringleader of it all. That he was the one who’d given the command for my brother to be killed.
Had I searched, I would have discovered Hadley had been living homeless for all these years. Hiding from Ethan, in fear of her life over what had happened with Jaimie, until the day Ethan hunted her down and convinced her he would protect her if she helped him uncover me.
“All of this was on me. Because of my anger. I thought I killed her, Daisy. I thought…” I choked off.
Last night, I confessed to Daisy everything that had happened that morning after I left the hospital, and I still kept waiting on her to tell me she didn’t want me in her life.
She lifted her sweet hand and settled it on the side of my face, cornflower eyes so intense. “You carried that guilt for all these years, even knowing my sister was involved in what happened to your family. Yes, I’m sure she was stuck. Tied to dangerous people without a way out. But she was still there, Cash. She didn’t warn us. And I know you never intended to hurt her.”
“Still makes me sick that it happened. Sick that I walked. Sick that I ran away from you when I should have run to you. Sick that I left you alone for Ethan to manipulate as a means to get to me. Sick that I buried my head thinking I was respecting your privacy.”
That unforgettable gaze wandered over me. “And we can’t regret our lives, Cash. Can’t regret that my children came from it or that you found this incredible family.”
“Just wish I’d done it differently.”
“I know. I…” She trailed off, wetting her lips before she muttered, “I’m so sorry about the cabin.”
“Don’t give a fuck about the cabin, Daisy. Only thing that matters is that all of you made it out. That this family is whole. Was so fuckin’ scared we were too late.”