Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
“You thought someone took us,” Theo said in an all-too-understanding voice. “Don’t worry, Mom. I know you think I’m too young to fight, but I promise I won’t let anyone take me or Sebastian.”
“Besides,” Sebastian piped up. “Cain said we didn’t have to go anywhere we didn’t want to. And we wanna stay with you.”
Theo stood, despite my urging him not to, and crossed to me, putting his arms around me. He hugged me for a long time, then pulled back. “I know better than to believe everything adults say. I’m still on guard. No matter how nice they are to us.” He looked up at me, then gave Carnage a glance. The boy wasn’t apologetic about it either. He meant for Carnage to understand the big man’s words meant little to him.
“You’re a brave, intelligent young man, Theo. You’ll make a good MC president one day.”
Theo didn’t acknowledge Carnage. Just looked back up at me. “Do you want me to stay with you awhile, Mom? I can come back to bed after you get to sleep.”
“No, Theo. I’m not that helpless.” I knew I was blushing bright red. Thank God for the dark. “I’m fine on my own.”
“I know,” Theo said. “But you worry about us. You know, we can camp out in your room. It wouldn’t take much to make a bed on the floor.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“I’ll get a couple of inflatable beds,” Carnage said. “We can set them up in your room and you boys can camp out.”
“Can we make a blanket fort?” Sebastian asked, the light from his game highlighting the excited look on his face.
I felt Carnage shrug. “Don’t see why not. Give me a minute to get some supplies. Theo, can you heat up your mother’s supper?”
“Sure.” Then everyone was getting out of bed.
“Wait! You don’t have to do this. I’m fine. And I’m not hungry. What time is it?”
“Not even midnight,” Carnage said. “You need to eat, and I don’t think either of the boys were asleep. If this puts your mind at ease, it’s worth a little effort on our part to take care of you.”
Theo nodded. “He’s right. Besides, I think it’d be fun to make a fort. It’d be like being in a separate room, but we’re still with you.”
“I feel like an idiot,” I muttered, turning to go back to my room and change my shirt. I’d slept in it and my shorts. While I wasn’t concerned about the shorts, I was sure my T-shirt smelled funny. Until right then, I hadn’t paid attention. Now? With Carnage standing beside me, his arm still around my shoulders, I was acutely aware. He was definitely close enough to smell my sleep sweat.
I turned to shut the door while I changed, but Carnage was hot on my heels. I could hear the boys in the kitchen area, talking as they worked. I backed up a couple of steps, and he entered the room, closing the door behind me.
“Now. Talk. Why do you feel like an idiot?” That was the last question I expected him to ask.
“My kids are up at midnight. Fixing me supper. Getting ready to make a blanket fort in my room so I don’t have a panic attack when I wake and they’re not with me. My eight-year-old kids. Theodore acts more like a protector than a child. I’ve made such a mess of their lives I wouldn’t blame Chase for taking them away from me.”
Carnage’s hand shot out, gripping my chin and tilting my head up. He didn’t hurt me, but I could feel the anger in his touch. “You listen to me, Calliope.” He bared his teeth at me slightly. His voice was soft, but he wasn’t pleased at all. “This isn’t your fault. So you chose an asshole boyfriend. You can’t know someone for sure until you spend time with them. Sounds like he pushed his way into your life, then things went horribly wrong. You’re not responsible for the actions of others.”
“Your president said it himself. I should have left sooner than I did. They’re gonna let Chase do whatever he wants, and I can’t say I really blame them!”
“Stop!” he snarled. “Just stop it!” He slid his hand to the back of my head, his other hand still gripping my chin and forcing me to look up at him. “I will not let anyone take those boys away from you. I talked with the two of them at supper. Cain was there, too. You just saw the boys. Did they act like they were scared of me?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“We weren’t mean. We didn’t pressure them or push them or in any way make them feel like we wanted to take them away from you. You can ask them once we get them settled and I’m in the other room. Get me?”