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)
“How so?”
I had to work up the nerve to get the words to form on my tongue. “She’s terrified he’s going to get to her and is worried about what would happen to her kids if he did.”
They all just kind of sat there, waiting on me to clarify, no question wondering why I looked like I was about to come out of my skin.
When I couldn’t sit beneath the pressure any longer, I forced out, “She wants me to marry her and find a way to start the adoption process so someone is there to care for them in the event that she can’t.”
Did my best at keeping the emotion out of my voice. Like it was no big deal. Just another part of the job.
Too bad every fuckin’ one of my words rattled with trepidation.
My secrets spilling out like my entire history had come out with the statement.
Air punched out of Otto’s lungs, a moment suspended, before he grinned a ridiculous, shit-eating grin. “Holy shit, bro. Tell me you didn’t agree to this?”
My lips pressed together while my knee bounced a million miles a minute under the table.
“Oh, fuck, dude said yes.” He looked around at the rest of our crew as he smacked his palm on the table.
I grunted, trying to deflect what he was implying.
River sat forward, shock rolling out of his mouth. “Wait, you actually agreed to marry her?”
Otto gave a low whistle. “Our resident recluse finally found himself someone to make him come out of his shell. Or more aptly, he finally found someone to get his poor, neglected cock out of his pants.”
A growl ripped out of me. “None of this is a joke, Otto.”
He rocked back onto two chair legs and canted his head to the side. “Nah, man. It’s not. Sounds to me like you finally found your girl.”
I scoffed. “She’s not my girl.”
“Really? Because it was clear from the beginning that you were missing something, and I’ve been pretty sure all along what you were missing was someone. By the look on your face and the fact you’re willing to marry her and adopt her kids, I think it’s clear exactly who you’ve been missing.”
Pain lanced through my being.
Holes gaping from my soul and the anguish bleeding out.
I was missing everyone.
Every fucking person who meant anything to me.
I’d failed in the worst fucking way, and still, somehow, Daisy had shown up at my door. But she didn’t know the worst part of it all. What I was responsible for. She would hate me if she did.
“Only reason I agreed is because it’s not going to come to that,” I gritted. “That motherfucker is already dead. And once he is, Daisy and I go our separate ways.”
“Yet you’re bringing her to my place to meet the family tomorrow?” Kane’s voice was full of irony.
Turmoil buzzed through my consciousness.
“Why don’t we all give him a fuckin’ break, yeah?” Theo said.
Otto raised his hands in surrender. “Sorry, brother. Not trying to give you a hard time. But it’s difficult to miss there’s something here that we’ve never seen in you before.”
It was obvious.
How wouldn’t it be?
So out of character they probably wondered who was sitting there.
I warred before the words were slipping off my tongue. “She’s…important to me.”
My confession seemed to blow everyone back in their seats.
Surprise raining down.
Yeah, I cared about my crew. All of them. In my own way. But I sure as fuck never uttered it aloud.
I gnashed my teeth. “And in order to give her what she needs, I need to play a part, and that begins tomorrow. So whatever you’re thinking beyond the plan, just fuckin’ let it go. Tell the girls to make them feel welcome, but not to get attached. This is temporary.”
Blowing out a heavy sigh, Otto reached out and squeezed my shoulder with his giant mitt. His expression turned serious. “Hey, man, know what you’re like, and I can’t help if this makes me excited. All of us want you to be happy. You’ve been alone for a long fucking time.”
Happy wasn’t in the cards for me.
“Just need you all to know where I stand, and I need to know you have my back when the time comes.”
“You’ve stood for us time and again,” River said. “You can be sure we’re going to be there for you.”
The rest agreed without qualms.
“Good,” was all I said.
“So that’s it then?” River raised a dark brow.
“Yup.” It came out hard.
He inhaled through his nose, then pressed on to more Sovereign business. Checking in about the two families I was currently surveilling, trying to figure out the best way to get them out of their inhumane situations and under our protection.
I gave them every detail I had, letting them know I should have a plan put in place within the week.