Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“You could say that,” I laugh softly.
“Has the pain eased?”
I nod. “Yes, thank you.”
“I’m sorry.”
I didn’t need to tell her, she just knew. I guess women are like that, we understand things in a way that a man simply couldn’t.
“Thanks,” I whisper, staring down at my soup and fighting back the tears.
I don’t even know how far along I was, or if the baby belonged to Ethan or Fury, but I do know that my heart had begun opening to the idea, and it hurts to know that it will not be.
“You should get some rest while you wait for Fury.”
I need to lie down, there’s no doubt about that. “Will you send him in when he arrives?”
She nods. “Of course.”
I finish up as much soup as I can, then I take my water and follow Luna as she leads me to a spare room. The moment she’s gone, I pull back the covers and slide into the soft bed. My body is beyond exhausted, and I can’t fight sleep a single second longer. Without so much as a single thought, I drift off into a place where it doesn’t hurt. Just for a little while.
I’m woken to a warm, hard body pressing against mine.
For a second, I think I’m dreaming, until the familiar scent washes over me.
Big, burly arms enclose me and pull me against the chest that brings me so much comfort. His mouth presses against the back of my neck, and he holds me in a way that makes me feel safe, needed, cared for. Tears burn my eyelids, and I can’t fight them for a second longer. They roll down my cheeks as I sob silently, my body trembling. He hangs onto me, not releasing me for even a second as the pain rushes out.
Rolling, I turn towards him, pressing my face into the crook of his neck.
“I got you,” he murmurs, his lips trailing over my hair. “You’re safe.”
“I lost it,” I whimper, the tears coming fresh again.
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
I know he is.
So am I.
“You saved my girl.”
My heart swells. “I wasn’t leaving without her.”
“You’ll never know how grateful I am, Alexis.”
I know.
I feel it.
“Is it over now?” I whisper.
“No, honey,” he responds, his voice low and gravelly, “not yet.”
Oh.
“Why does he want that money so badly he would take Hope?”
“It’s not the money he wants. There was a USB drive in the safe that Ethan stole, too. It has information Marek doesn’t want in anyone else’s hands.”
I completely forgot there were two USB drives in the safe.
“What kind of information?”
“Higher ups, who he is trading with, who he has sold to. I don't know how your husband got his hands on it, but it’s why he’s fuckin’ dead.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice shaky. “I shouldn’t have run off.”
“Could have gotten yourself killed, but I was a fuckin’ dick to you. I can’t say I blame you.”
He’s right, he was.
“I was afraid of him, Fury. I didn’t sleep with him because I wanted to...”
Pulling me tighter, Fury rests his chin against my head. “I fucked up.”
“It’s okay.”
“He’s gone now. You never have to think of him again.”
“Do you think...do you think Marek might pin it on me if he doesn’t get what he wants?”
The thought hadn’t crossed my mind, until now.
I made him angry. I took Hope. I escaped. I screwed up all his plans. He could effortlessly bring me down for Ethan’s murder, and he’s powerful enough to do it. The thought has cold chills running up my spine.
“Not goin’ to lie,” Fury answers, his tone icy, “it’s a possibility, but we’re goin’ to do everything possible to get to him first.”
What if it’s too late for that?
My bottom lip trembles.
I don’t want to go to prison. If they link me to Ethan, it won’t take much to link me to Ella. Then, I’ll never see the light of day again. Not even the club can save me from that if Marek decides to act out his revenge.
Fury pulls me closer, an attempt at comfort, but right now, nothing is easing the anxiety filling my chest, making it seem as though a hundred pounds are sitting on top of it. I want this to go away, but I also know the club isn’t just going to sit back and let it slide. Marek took Hope, and they won’t stand for it. They’ll start a war, and that war could destroy my life.
There has to be another way.
“You didn’t come for me.”
The words come as a shock, even for me. The feeling deep down of hurt that he didn’t come for me, isn’t something I was willing to bring up, but it slipped from my lips before my brain could register that it’s a bad idea.
“I was comin’ for you, Alexis. Don’t doubt it. When we found the USB, we had to pull back. Needed to rethink the situation and use it to our advantage. We knew he wouldn’t kill you because he wanted it so badly. That is until he took Hope, and that’s when I knew how much I had fucked up because your life wouldn’t matter anymore. I misread the situation, but don’t ever think I would have left you there.”