Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Suddenly, she noticed how much her cheek was throbbing, and so were her wrists.
Ethan tensed.
“It will be Rhodes,” she whispered after taking her pacifier out.
“Who is it?” he called out.
“Me. Is Cate okay?” Rhodes asked frantically.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I’m coming out.”
“You sure, baby? We can stay in here longer,” Ethan told her.
“I want to check on Rhodes.”
Ethan helped her stand before he stood and grabbed her hand. He held onto her hand tight as he led her out of the closet.
Rhodes’ gaze ran over her. She moved to him and Ethan let her go so she could wrap her arms around him.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” Rhodes told her. “She’s mad because I told her last night that I wanted her out of here by tonight. I thought she was going to be out all day getting things set up to move into a hotel. If I’d known she was back, I wouldn’t have gone into my office with Kevin. Are you all right? Please tell me you’re okay.”
Rhodes leaned back and stared down at her.
“I’m all good.”
His gaze narrowed in on her cheek. “Polly said she slapped you. Fucking hell. There’s a red mark on your cheek. And she grabbed your wrists? Are they all right?”
“I promise, I’m fine.”
“We’re pressing charges,” Rhodes said. “She can’t get away with this.”
“Where . . . where is she?” she asked instead of answering him.
Cate wasn’t sure it was a good idea to press charges.
“She’s in my bedroom. I told her to pack a bag and get out. Then I’ll have someone get all her stuff and deliver it back to her place.”
“What about the stalker?”
“Cate, you don’t need to worry about her. She’s not your problem,” Rhodes told her.
No.
However, while she might not like the woman, she didn’t want her to die.
“And she can take the local bodyguard we hired,” Rhodes told her. “Go to a hotel. I’ve offered to pay for it all.”
“That’s nicer than I’d be,” Ethan grumbled.
“It’s still my fault that she’s in danger.”
“It’s also your fault that you brought that bitch into your home around your sister,” Ethan said.
Rhodes flinched as though he’d been hit.
“Ethan!” she said.
“No, that’s fair.” Rhodes ran his hand over his face. “I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you, Cate.”
“I’m fine. Really.”
“I’m going to go and make sure that she’s leaving. I’ll let you all know when the coast is clear.”
Shoulders slumped, he stood and left the room. Ethan gathered Cate close.
“It’s not Rhodes’ fault. You shouldn’t blame him.”
“He’s supposed to protect you. Therefore, he is at fault. And I don’t like that woman getting off scot-free. We should press charges.”
“I just want her gone. If I press charges, it means I have to keep thinking about what happened. And I just want to forget.”
“She’ll still have to pay. I’ll find a way.”
47
“Rhodes wants us to meet with him in the living room,” Ethan said after his phone beeped.
There had been plenty of screaming. So much that Ethan had taken her back into her closet and put her headphones on with some music to block it out.
Still, she felt shaky and overwhelmed.
“I’ll tell him no, if it’s too much for you.”
“No.” She shook her head. “Rhodes might need me. That can’t have been easy on him.”
Ethan lifted her and then held her hand as they walked out into the living room. Kevin was there. So was Seth. There was no sign of Polly or Butch.
“She’s gone?” Ethan asked as Cate let go of his hand and walked over to Rhodes.
He opened his arms, letting her come to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed.
“Yeah. The new bodyguard agreed to guard her until we find this stalker and in the meantime, they’re staying at a hotel downtown,” Seth replied. “Butch took Polly home. She was shaken up.”
She felt Rhodes grow tense. Stepping back, she looked up at him. “Are you all right? Did you break things off with her?”
“Yeah.” Rhodes grimaced. “She didn’t take it well.”
“Of course she didn’t take it well!” Kevin threw his hands up in the air as he paced back and forth.
Cate tilted her head to the side, trying to work out why Samantha didn’t take it well?
“I’m not sure why she put up so much protest,” Cate said.
“Seriously?” Kevin asked.
“Watch your fucking tone,” Ethan growled at him.
Cate was emotionally overspent, and she was struggling to follow all the subtext of what everyone was saying.
“She had to have known Rhodes was going to break things off. She seemed to know earlier before she slapped me.”
Both Rhodes and Ethan growled at that.
Was it that she really loved Rhodes and was upset because she didn’t want to live without him? Or was she just with him because of who he was.
“She told me that it was all my fault. That this house was supposed to be hers and I ruined everything. So, see, she already knew things were ruined.”