Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
I should run straight to Astrid so she could see that I was okay, but a part of me didn’t want to face her. Didn’t want to face her disappointment. When I texted her, I barely said a few words to her because I didn’t want to open up the conversation. Should have called instead of texting, but I wasn’t man enough to do it.
My phone rang in my pocket, and when I looked at the screen, I saw it was a blocked number.
Expected it to be Astrid, but it was Bolton.
I took the call. “I hoped you choked on that poison gas.”
“And I hoped you broke your spine. Life is full of disappointments, isn’t it?”
My brother wouldn’t be disappointed that I’d sacrificed his remains. But he would be disappointed if I didn’t put this motherfucker in the ground. If I let him kill me, Killian would give me an earful if we saw each other again. “What do you want, Bolton?”
“It’s not what I want. It’s what you want.”
“I wanted you dead, but I didn’t get my wish.”
“But I’m sure you want your butler back.”
More than anything…almost.
“He took the cash and booked it. But I have a tracker on the bag, so I know where he is.”
I wasn’t gonna play this game.
“I’ll give you the tracking information, but you know what I want in return.”
Not gonna happen. “Your girlfriend just died, and that’s all you care about?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend. I have a wife—and I want her back.”
“Why do you want a woman who doesn’t want you?”
“Because she’s mine!” His calmness evaporated, and he turned maniacal like he had in the past. “Give her back or—”
I decided to take the advice I’d given Astrid and hung up on him. “I’ve got to kill this asshole.”
Chapter 13
Astrid
Hours passed, and we didn’t hear from Theo. He didn’t come to the house to get me. It was radio silence.
Scarlett sat with me in the living room, her kids playing with their toys on the floor.
Axel couldn’t keep his eyes open much longer, so he’d gone to take a nap.
Scarlett watched her kids play before she looked at me again.
“I know he’s okay, but I don’t know what’s taking so long.”
“Call him.”
“He would have called me if he wanted to talk.”
“Anytime I called Axel, he always had time to talk to me. You know he’s okay, so call him.”
I was a bit disappointed that he hadn’t called. All I’d gotten was a quick text and nothing else. I left the couch and stepped out of the room to make the call. With the phone to my ear, I listened to it ring.
He didn’t pick up on the first or second ring. But he did pick up. There was a long pause because he didn’t say anything right away. “Hey, sweetheart.”
I closed my eyes as I treasured the sound of his voice.
He remained quiet as he waited for me to speak.
It took time to form words. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
He said nothing.
“Axel told me you were shot.”
“Don’t worry about it. I get shot all the time.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
There was no smirk in his voice. Just the same seriousness. “I failed you.” His voice was strong but full of defeat. “I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t fail, Theo.”
“He’s alive, isn’t he?”
“You’re alive. That’s all I care about.”
“That’s why I haven’t called. Didn’t want to have this conversation.”
“Theo…” My heart ached for him.
“Axel told you what happened at the house?”
“Yeah.”
“I want to come get you, but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I need to transfer you in secret again. Just in case anyone’s watching. And they probably are.”
I was disappointed. So disappointed that I wouldn’t get to see Theo. Feel those big arms encircle me and make me feel safe. But I didn’t complain. I didn’t make it harder for him than it already was. “I understand.”
“I’ll make a plan with Axel.”
“He’s asleep right now. Was up all night.”
“I’m dead tired too.”
“Where are you going to go?”
“Home.”
“Even though Bolton’s guys broke in?”
“They didn’t break in,” he said. “They were let in.”
“What are you going to do about that?”
“Kill him. But that’ll have to wait. Got too much shit going on right now.”
There was nothing else to say, but I stayed on the phone with him, just wanting to be with him over the line, to feel connected in some way. I should let him go and get some rest, but I wanted to be selfish. “I’ll let you get some sleep.” It hurt me to say it, hurt to loosen my grip and let him drift away.
“I’ll call you when I wake up.”
“Okay.” I knew I shouldn’t say it. Just needed to keep my mouth shut. But I couldn’t help it, not when a bullet could have hit him somewhere else…and taken him from me. “Love you. Bye.” I hung up before he could say anything because I didn’t want to make it awkward, make him feel pressured to say it back.