Total pages in book: 214
Estimated words: 199879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 999(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 199879 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 999(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 666(@300wpm)
After she fell asleep last night in my arms, I thought about it. And I wouldn’t change it even if I could. If whoever is after her thinks she’s dead, then they can’t hurt her.
Stepping off the elevator, I come up to his office door but pause when I hear his voice on the other side of it. “What do you suggest I do?” He sounds irritated.
I don’t blame him. One of his brothers is missing. Our fathers are as close as me, Kash, Haidyn, and Adam. Although I’m pissed off at Adam right now because he left the love of my life behind to die for his sins. There’s still no word on her father or Adam. At this point, I don’t expect either one to show up at the gates of Carnage in one piece.
“I have connections.” I hear a woman’s voice answer, and my hand tightens on the doorknob, recognizing it. “There’s a facility…”
“No,” he growls, interrupting her. “Saint will never agree to that.” I almost smile that he thought of me. He doesn’t give a fuck about her. But he doesn’t want to piss me off. Last time I spoke with him in his office after he found I was hiding her in my room, he told me I could have her. Of course I didn’t give him much of an option.
She snorts. “You’re in charge here. Not Saint.”
“It’s complicated,” he states.
“Look...” She sighs. “I’m not trying to harm her.”
My jaw clenches at the lie. I know what she’s done and what the bitch is capable of. I put nothing past her.
“I can prescribe her medication. Place orders to keep her so high that she won’t even realize where she’s at…what’s going on. She will be in a safe place under twenty-four-hour supervision. You’ll have full access to her. And if Altus shows up…”
“I don’t know,” he says conflicted.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not!” I shove the door open, and it slams against the interior wall.
My father jumps up from his seat, and she spins around to face me. Face tight. “Saint—”
“You touch her, and I’ll slit your fucking throat.” I interrupt whatever bullshit she was about to spew.
She gasps and looks at my father. “You’re going to let him speak to me like that?”
“Leave us.”
“What—?”
“Get the fuck out,” he barks at her.
She lifts her chin and stomps out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
I walk over to his desk, slapping my hands down on it. “She’s not going anywhere,” I say through gritted teeth. Ashtyn’s life may never be what she wanted, but she will have one here. With me. I can make her happy. I can give her everything she wants except freedom. I won’t risk her life. Someone wants her dead; I refuse to let anyone get that close to her. “We have a deal,” I remind him.
“Saint…”
“I mean it, Father.” I don’t give a shit what her excuse or concern she has regarding Ashtyn. She’s here under my protection. “If anything happens to her—”
“She’s safe.” He raises his hand, cutting me off. “I gave you my word.” At least he remembers our last conversation.
Ending this current one, I turn to leave when he calls out my name. “Saint?”
“Yeah?” I ask, my hand on the doorknob to leave.
“We gave her to you, but she only gets one chance. If you can’t control her, she goes down to the basement where she’s free game.”
“But—”
“That’s all I can promise you, son. One chance.”
Coldness rushes through my veins at the threat, but I nod. “Understood.” Yanking the door open, I exit, shutting it. Free game? Means anyone will get a piece of her. They will rip Ashtyn to pieces down there. I can agree to whatever the fuck he says, but I’ll never let it happen. Even if I have to keep her tied to my bed or locked in my closet, I will not let it get to that point.
“She’s unstable.”
I come to a stop at the woman’s voice behind me. I turn to face her.
“She’s unpredictable. Her entire family was. I’ve been seeing her mother for years. Ashtyn too. I have a long list of reasons as to why she should be medicated and locked in a padded room.” She steps closer to me. “Remember that the next time you threaten me.” She goes to walk by me, but I reach out grab her dark hair with one hand while the other slaps over her mouth before she can scream. I slam her back into the wall, placing myself in front of her and pinning her to it.
Wide eyes stare up into mine. “If you’re going to threaten someone, you better make sure they don’t have something they can use against you.” She sucks in a breath through her flared nostrils. “I know what you did.” She tries to shake her head, but my hand on her face tightens, making her whimper into it. “I have a video of it.” Her body sags against the wall. “Touch her, and I’ll make sure it’s released.” Removing my hand from her face, she gasps in a breath.