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)
“Why don’t you crawl into bed with her? Like you did this afternoon.”
He shook his head. “When I do she tries to comfort me instead of the other way around because I’m just a kid.” He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal, but I could tell he didn’t like it that she wouldn’t let him help her because he was young. I wanted to tell him it wasn’t because he was young but because she was his mom. It was her instinct to protect him from everything, but that wouldn’t help my case here. The very last place I needed to be was in Calliope’s bed. Not now.
I scrubbed a hand through my hair and over my face. “She probably doesn’t want me there, Theo. A man doesn’t climb into a woman’s bed without her permission.”
“When my mom cries, you should do everything you can to make her not cry. No matter what she wants. Besides, unless you plan on hurtin’ her, she gets what’s best for her. Not what she wants.” Now, that was an ultimatum if ever I heard one. And I like the kid’s way of thinking. Protect my woman at all costs? I could do that.
“What are you sayin’, kid?” It was time to get down to business. For some reason, Theo had decided he wanted me in their lives, though it was impossible to tell for how long he intended for me to be there or why. I needed to find out both, so I could decide how to move forward.
“You need to be with our mom. To take care of her and Sebastian.”
“What about you?”
He waved me off. “I can take care of myself. I can take care of my mom, too, but she don’t think so. So I need you to be there until I’m older.”
That nearly made me laugh. “You know, you can’t just haul me into your lives, then dump me when you think you’re old enough to be your mom’s protector. I get involved with your lives now, I intend on stayin’ there a while. And you won’t have a say in when I go. Only me and Calliope.”
Theo nodded. “That might be OK. If you make it so she ain’t sad and crying. I don’t like it when Mom cries.”
“I take it Mark made her cry.”
He nodded. “All the time. I hate him.”
“Understandable.” I sighed. “All right, kid. You go back to bed. I’ll try to comfort your mom. But just remember. You asked for this.”
“Make her smile. I like it when she smiles. It’s like the whole world lights up.”
The kid was killing me.
I gave him a minute to get settled, then crept into the room. Sure enough, I could see Calliope’s small form shivering under the covers. She must have been lost in her own thoughts, because she gave a soft gasp and started when I sat on the bed next to her. The silvery moonlight filtering through the window hit her face, and I felt like I’d been hit in the bollocks.
The girl was ethereally lovely. All but the tears leaking from her eyes. Her eyes sparkled with moisture and her plump lips were parted. It looked like her teeth had abraded the bottom one as she tried to keep her weeping silent, because it was puffy and red.
“What’s wrong?” Her whispered question made my chest ache. If ever there was a girl who needed saving it was this one. She was on edge. Wound up. She needed to relax. In order for that to happen, she needed to feel safe. As long as the question of Chase and his claim on the kids remained out there, she’d never have that. Especially not in the Bones clubhouse.
“Was gonna ask you the same thing.” I brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “You’re crying.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said, and several big teardrops spilled from her eyes again. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“You didn’t. Thought I’d check on you. Glad I did.” Not a lie, but I didn’t want to out Theo either. “Scooch over.”
“What?” She looked adorably confused. I didn’t give her much of a choice as I climbed into bed with her. I stayed on top of the covers but pulled her into my arms just the same. “Carnage,” she gasped, glancing at the tent where the boys were.
“Don’t worry. I’m not gonna embarrass either of us. Just figured you could use some comfort. Don’t women like to cuddle and shit when they’re upset?”
“Maybe? I don’t know. Carnage, you can’t --”
“Can. Am.”
I got her situated so her back was to my front, her head lying on my arm, my arm around her middle. She was so still for a very long time. Still and stiff.
“This isn’t a good idea.”
“Because of the boys?”