Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Rubbing at his eyes, he pulled into the parking lot outside of his home. He lived about thirty minutes away from Beast. He could have easily lived with his brother, but he liked his privacy. Also, there were moments where he didn’t want to remember what he did for a living.
They were a crime family. The Carsons had run their section of the city with an iron fist. Blood and death were what he’d known all of his life. Where other kids were learning how to grow up, he’d learned how to handle a gun, knives, and to torture the answers out of everyone.
He was good, but Beast was better.
Caleb was more than happy for his brother to take the lead. Being the head of the Carson family was not what he wanted to do. He was more than happy with taking orders.
Staring up at his home, he caught the green-eyed beauty sitting near the library window. She always sat there. Always stared out across the gardens. Not for the first time, he wondered what she was thinking about. Climbing out of his car, he pocketed his cell phone and went straight toward the kitchen, where Anne was making dinner.
She’d been part of the Carson family for decades. She knew what they did but turned the other way, cooked, and organized cleaners for them. He wouldn’t have anything happen to her.
“Hello, Mr. Carson.”
No matter how many times he told her to call him Caleb, she wouldn’t do it. She liked to have that formality between them.
“Has our guest eaten something?”
Anne frowned. “She did. Nibbled on some toast, made her excuses, and she’s been up in that library staring out at God knows what. I don’t get it. She’s going to start wasting away.”
She’d been on the fuller side. Her clothes read a size eighteen, but in the past few weeks, he’d noticed those clothes were getting loose on her. He didn’t like it.
“Make us both a sandwich,” he said.
Anne didn’t question him, and began doing what he asked. He waited for her to finish watching as she placed a slice of ham, cheese, and pickles on one side, spread the other with mayo, and put them on a pretty plate.
“Thanks.”
He took both of their plates and headed straight toward the library on the second floor. Outside the door, he paused, wondering if she’d be able to cope with eating in the same room as him. He’d never hurt her, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid. Caleb understood fear, and he respected it. Just because he’d never hurt her didn’t for a second mean, he couldn’t.
Opening the door, he returned her wave. She sat near the window with her knees pressed up against her chest. He felt this overwhelming need to … protect her. He didn’t get it. She wasn’t his responsibility, but sending her out there in the world, it didn’t feel right, not to him.
“If you don’t eat something soon, Anne’s going to have a fit.” He moved toward her, putting their plates on a nearby table and carrying a chair to sit right in front of her. “Anne’s the cook.”
“I know who she is,” she said.
There was no attitude as she spoke. She offered him a smile. He liked the sound of her voice. It was gentle, kind, a little raspy from not being used.
Handing her a plate, he stared into her pretty green eyes. “You’ve got to eat.”
Without question, she took the plate he offered.
Sitting in front of her, he picked up a sandwich and took a large bite. “Eat.”
This time she did, and her eyes closed.
“You like pickle and mayo together?”
“Yep, love it.”
This time she took a bigger bite, and he couldn’t help but smile. Beast thought his sandwich combinations were disgusting. It may just be pickle and mayo, but as far as he was concerned, that equaled success.
“Can I ask you a question?” she asked.
“Sure.”
“How long will I be staying here?”
He paused mid-chew. “You’re not happy here?”
“It’s a beautiful place, but it’s not my home, and I don’t really know what’s going on. My dad just told me to go with you, be good, do whatever you wanted, and to stay out of your hair until you needed me.”
“You won’t be going back home.” Caleb watched as she paled.
“Ever?”
“Ever.”
“What … erm … what will I have to do?”
He saw her hand shake a little, and he didn’t like it. “You’re just going to have to learn the grounds a little longer. You don’t have to stay trapped up here in the library. You’re not a princess waiting for your prince to come.”
Her cheeks heated.
“I wasn’t waiting for that. I was just … I like libraries. They’re usually very quiet, and no one comes in here. I can go anywhere?”
“Anywhere you like. The gardens, the pool, anywhere.”