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)
“Fuck,” Rhodes muttered.
“I’ve got her,” Ethan told him.
“Don’t let her out of your sight,” Rhodes growled.
“I won’t.”
“Fine. We’ll stay. But I want to know if anything at all happens. And promise me you’ll stay home, Cate.”
“I won’t go anywhere, I promise,” she replied.
“I love you.”
“Love you too.”
He ended the call as they turned into the driveway of Rhodes’ place.
“Ethan? Are you all right?” she asked as he waited for the gate to open to Rhodes’ place.
They hadn’t had any more issues on the way home. So either that asshole had given up or they’d lost them. If he hadn’t had his girl with him, he’d have been tempted to go hunting for them.
But he did have her.
When they pulled up outside of the house, he turned the vehicle off.
“Stay there. I’ll come around and get you.”
She nodded.
Walking around, he opened the door and undid her belt before picking her up.
Ethan had to fight the urge to carry her inside, lock her in his room, then stand guard.
Easy.
You can’t go all crazy on her.
Yet.
“You don’t need to carry me. I can walk.”
“I do need to carry you, no arguments.” He was aware that he was being overly bossy. But he needed to hold her.
To his surprise, she patted his back. “All right, then. I will allow it.”
Ethan kept an eye on Cate as he spoke to Ink on the phone.
The cops had already been, taking photos of the car and asking the same questions a hundred times. He’d wanted to tell them to stay away from Cate, but he knew that would just create delays and more questions.
She was now sitting on the sofa, talking to her brother. Seth had told him that Rhodes was still talking about coming home and that Samantha was losing her shit.
He was glad he wasn’t there.
“How is Cate?” Ink asked.
“Tired. She held it together well, but I think it’s going to hit her.”
“Fucking bastard. All right. Some guys from the MC will watch outside on the street for tonight and through the weekend until Seth gets back.”
“They must owe Reyes one hell of a favor.”
Ink grunted. “Yeah. I’m going to see if I can free up anyone else to come out and help. Are you going to be all right?”
“Yeah. Even if that asshole was the stalker and knows where the house is, between the guys outside and the security system, I’ll be fine.”
“I just don’t get why this asshole would come after Cate,” Ink said. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“I know. I need to go check on her.”
“Sure. Keep checking in.”
“Will do.”
26
Once he ended the call with Ink, Ethan turned to Cate just in time to see her stand and stumble.
He leaped over and grabbed her.
“Baby? Are you all right?”
Her trembling grew almost violent, her teeth chattering. Delayed reaction. She’d done so well at holding everything together, but now it was time to let him take over.
“Oh, baby. Everything is all right. You’re fine.”
Moving slowly so he didn’t frighten her, he drew her into his chest, holding her.
“T-tighter,” she told him.
He tightened his hold and felt her relax slightly. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you into your room.”
She was breathing erratically. Fuck, he couldn’t take it anymore.
He had to get her somewhere that she felt safe. Lifting her into his arms, he cradled her against his chest.
“I . . . I’ve never b-been carried l-like this before.”
“You’re freezing,” he grumbled. “I should have done this as soon as we got home.”
“I had to talk to the police.”
“They could have waited.”
“Ethan.”
“Yes?” he asked as she patted his chest.
“You’re all right too.”
He let out a deep breath as he opened her bedroom door and walked in, carrying her.
“Not sure I am, baby.” He was rattled, upset, angry. “But I’m doing better now that I’ve got you home and safe and in my arms.”
“You l-like holding me?”
“I more than like it.” He sat on an armchair in her room and positioned her on his lap, keeping his arms banded around her.
“You’re good at this,” she told him.
“At what? Taking care of you? Not sure if I’d agree after what just happened.”
Leaning back, she frowned up at him. “That’s not true. What happened wasn’t your fault. And you got us both out of there, safe. That means you did a very good job of looking after me.”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “So fierce. You’re good for my ego, you know.”
“I am?”
“Hmm.”
“I didn’t think you would have self-esteem issues. Is it related to your small penis?”
“What? No! I don’t have a small penis.”
She went red. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that. It was because of what Samantha said the other day about your penis. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She attempted to get off his lap.
Shit! What was he doing? He was supposed to be making her feel more at ease and secure. Not upsetting her.