Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 253(@200wpm)___ 202(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“How did you get this number?” Bert Daniels demanded.
“Father! It’s Angel.”
“Is this some sick ploy to get money out of me?” her father demanded.
“I was rescued, Father. The Ravagers don’t have me anymore,” Angel told him.
“Where are you? I’ll send a car for you?”
Angel spoke quickly to cover Vex’s “Fuck no!” at the thought her father wouldn’t come to get her himself. “I’m staying here, Father. I’m with the people that freed me. The Ravagers had two captives. They freed me as well.”
“So now they’re holding you for ransom?”
“No, Father. I’m staying here because I’m safe.”
“Stop playing around, Angel. You need to come home.”
“Mr. Daniels, Angel will remain here with me. That is not negotiable. She called to let you know she’s safe. I will bring her to visit you if and when she decides she’d like to see you. Goodnight.”
Angel stared at him in disbelief. Vex had handled her father, a mover and shaker in the highest levels of business, perfectly. And, her father hadn’t gotten what he wanted. That never happened. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
Trevor was up next.
“Yes, who is this?” Trevor demanded. To her surprise, she felt nothing upon hearing his voice. No relief at finally talking to him. No joy at reconnecting.
“Trevor, it’s me. Angel. I wanted to let you know I’m safe.”
“I’m on my way to your apartment,” he said immediately. Keys rustled in the background, and the sound of a door closing leaked through their connection.
“I’m not there or at my parents’ house,” Angel said quickly.
“Where are you?”
“I’m with the man who rescued me. I’m staying here for a while.”
“I’ll come there. Give me the address.”
Vex shook his head. Angel couldn’t have supplied that information, anyway. She didn’t know where she was. She had not paid attention to the road names during their frightening escape from the Ravagers.
“Trevor, that’s not important now. I’m not up to seeing visitors.”
“I’m not a visitor, Angel. I’m your fiancé.”
Vex opened his mouth to say something, and Angel quickly leaned forward to place her fingers over his mouth. “Thank you for being concerned about me, Trevor. As you can imagine, being held captive was a terrifying experience. I need some time to recover before I reconnect with everyone.”
“And you’re hiding out somewhere you don’t want me to know?” He sounded astonished.
“For a while, Trevor. I wanted to reassure you that I am safe and free.”
“If you’re not being held somewhere, come home,” he demanded. “How do I know they’re not forcing you to say that to take the heat off? My rescue plans were coming together.”
That last statement exhausted the last of Vex’s ability to stay quiet. “Listen, cowardly asshole. Your unfinished rescue plans would have left Angel in grave danger. She could have died in there by the time you had the balls to make a move.”
Stunned silence met Vex’s declaration. Angel fell a bit more for Vex. He was right. Trevor would never have come to get her.
“Who are you?” Trevor demanded.
“The man who saved your ex-fiancée. Fair warning, I’m not giving her back.” Vex disconnected the call and exhaled an exasperated breath. “You were going to marry that spineless jerk? Come here. I need to hold you.” Vex scooped Angel up in his arms and hugged her on his lap, pressed tightly to his chest.
Cuddled against him, Angel ran that term ex-fiancée over and over in her mind. How could Vex have erased Trevor’s importance in her life so easily? The answer came quickly to her. Trevor wasn’t who she was supposed to be with.
“Vex? It’s okay. Trevor’s a good guy. He isn’t.… He’s not physical like you.”
Loosening his hold on her slightly, Vex growled, “That’s a polite way of stating he’s a fucking wimp who left the woman he’s supposed to love in danger.”
Angel met his gaze and shrugged. What could she say? He was totally correct. Neither her father nor Trevor had freed her from the Ravagers. Why had her father refused to pay Viper the ransom? She didn’t know what they’d done to rescue her or if they’d done something to help her.
“I’m lucky that you and your guys came to rescue someone else.” Angel leaned close to press her mouth to Vex’s. Instant heat flared between them. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to Vex as he kissed her deeply.
Vex’s kisses demanded a response. Angel met that challenge with enthusiasm. He made her feel alive, igniting a fire inside her she’d never experienced before. His hands stroked over her, leaving a trail of thrilling sensations. Need grew low in her stomach.
Hearing Trevor and her father reminded her how empty her life had been. Work and social events had filled her calendar. Neither had completed her life. Her time trapped by the Ravagers had changed her forever. Simply existing wasn’t good enough.