Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Right, so, I’ll go get a shower now,” she says before heading toward the bathroom.
As soon as the door shuts, I prop up and stare over at my brother. I wait until I hear the shower start running before I speak again.
“Got her trained right, I see. Do you pat her head and give her treats when she obeys?” I ask with a fuck-the-patriarch grin.
“She gets plenty of treats. Don’t worry about that,” the misogynist prick volleys as he takes a seat on the edge of the bed. His eyes fix on mine again as he adds, “There’s a lot I need to catch you up on.”
Chapter 7
KARA
I exhale harshly, scrubbing a hand over my face, two hours later after Drex has broken down just the hellacious shit that’s gone down lately. Eve is tucked in bed, sleeping soundly like she’s not bothered by any noise at all.
I suppose she’s used to all this by now. I can’t help but notice how he occasionally reaches back and rubs her leg through the covers, even though she can’t feel it. He’s showing a weakness, and it’s a fucking fragile burbs girl.
“You’re an idiot,” I point out, gesturing at Sleeping Beauty.
“You’re not going to use some girl like Eve against me,” he says with an unapologetic shrug.
“No, but Herrin or one of his flunkies will destroy her just to fuck with you. How good is her trigger finger and what’s she carrying?”
He clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck. “Eve’s not exactly qualified for carrying any sort of weapon. She’s trying, but it’s like she misses the targets on purpose, because she’s that bad.”
I shake my head in frustrated disbelief.
“She’s the one who needs twenty-four hour surveillance,” I inform him.
“If I’m not on her, Dash or Snake fills in for me,” he answers as if that makes it a nonissue.
“She needs a team of protectors, Drex. Don’t be reckless. Herrin knows you think about as far ahead as you can throw a cannon ball.”
“Careful, Kara. You don’t really know me anymore,” he counters very seriously. “I’ll bring you in on tomorrow’s meeting, but watch your mouth. Pop’s not running the show, and I need my guys comfortable with my lead. Don’t make me look bad.”
Again, same shit. Different P.
I just give him a tight smile. “Can I sleep now? Is that fucker really going to cuff me to something?”
He shrugs as he stands and pulls his shirt over his head, tugging the covers back on the empty side of the bed like he’s turning in for the night.
“It’s up to him how he manages you. He’s spent months watching you. He knows more about you than I do,” he states.
I hate the normalcy that comes with stalking, kidnapping, and captivity. I’ve spent so long in the real world that I’d forgotten how very desensitized they all are about everything.
I’m also uncomfortable with the vibrator show I’ve been putting on now that I know it’s been Rush this entire time.
There’s a knock before the door swings open like he’s been summoned by my thoughts. Rush’s eyes are on his phone as he runs a hand through his hair in frustration, which is at least one thing that hasn’t changed.
“Have fun with that,” Drex says to me with a cold smirk.
So far he’s told me everything, except for who this Eve chick really is to him and why he’s so affectionate toward her. Also, he’s left me in the dark about the brooding ex of mine, who is apparently about to seize custody.
Wordlessly, I stand and walk to the door, feeling like the intrusive interloper when Eve turns in Drex’s arms. I’ve never pictured my brother as the cuddle-when-sleeping type.
I feel like I don’t know him right now.
My gaze lands on the distracted Rush as he keeps his attention trained on his phone, and he steps aside when I get close. He makes me walk in front of him again, gesturing toward a door at the end.
I push through it, finding a plain, white room with a single bed pushed all the way against the wall. A few beer bottles are stacked along the edge of a nightstand, and a pile of clothes are in the corner next to my bags.
I eye the bags that were holding my small arsenal of weaponry, noting they’re flat and empty.
Damn.
“You can get changed for bed. I need to get some sleep,” he says without ever glancing up from his phone.
“I’m not sharing the bed with you,” I point out.
“You’ll do as you’re told. You’re not the untouchable princess anymore, Kara. You’re a ward of the clubhouse until Drex says otherwise,” he answers with too much nonchalance.
I study his profile as he runs another hand through his dark hair in frustration, blowing out a breath as he reads something on his phone.