Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“I just thought you should know,” Jameson said, looking unhappy. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Right, and when we came to you about Elizabeth, you were happy to listen to us about our concerns,” Jack pointed out.
“I should have. I made a mistake, Jack. And I’ve apologized for that. I don’t want the same to happen to the two of you.”
“Not all women are like that bitch,” Jack spat out.
Fuck. Ian had to find a way to rein them both back in.
Jameson looked away. “I was humiliated and angry after everything that happened. I came here for a fresh start. But I miss you guys. So fucking much. I want what we had. The feeling of belonging somewhere. And I want her. If she’ll have me. And if . . .”
If she’d stay? But why did she have to move here?
“We could move to be with her if she can’t come here,” Ian told him.
Jack nodded. “Yep.”
“You’d move from here?” Jameson looked shocked. “But she lives in London, right? People there aren’t accepting of harems like here. Or of Littles.”
“We’d make it work. For her,” Jack said. “She’s worth it.”
Ian wondered if Jameson would pull back. It was a test of sorts, even if it wasn’t a nice one. He loved the bastard, but he had to know that he was all in.
No matter what.
That he wouldn’t let past demons stand in his way.
Jameson took in a deep breath. “I didn’t think about that. But you’re right. If there’s a reason she can’t come here, and she wants to be with us . . . then we move.”
“Even if we might face tough challenges? People who don’t understand and criticize? People we know?” Ian said carefully.
Jameson nodded. “Even then. I’m not being dictated to by my parents and their ideals anymore. Time I lived life how I want. What I need. And that’s the three of you.”
“About fucking time,” Jack said.
Ian agreed.
“What about the fact that she’s a Little,” Jack said.
“I know I said I never wanted to be involved with a Little again, but I’m re-evaluating that. It’s something else I missed. That Elizabeth took from me.”
“Elizabeth wasn’t a real Little,” Jack spat out. “She was a liar.”
Jameson nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. She was just trying to give me what she thought I wanted. Well, what I did want. But not like that.”
“Let’s go back,” Jack said. “We shouldn’t have left her alone.”
Fuck. He was right.
Although plenty of other people were around to watch her, he’d feel better once he had eyes on her. As Jack walked off, Ian turned to Jameson. “It’s good to have you back. We missed you. And I know Maggie has feelings for you too. Just remember, she’s not Elizabeth. She’s sweet and loyal and crazy and fun.”
“I know. I know she’s nothing like that bitch.”
“Ian! Fuck, Ian!” Jack yelled.
Ian turned around at the sound of Jack’s panicked voice.
“Jack never panics,” Jameson said as they started running toward him.
Ian raced harder, his heart pounding at the look of fear on Jack’s face. “What is it? What’s happened? Where is Maggie?”
Because he just knew that the only person who could put that look on Jack’s face was their girl.
“I can’t find her anywhere. She’s fucking gone!”
49
Gone.
She’s fucking gone.
Where the hell was she? Why had he left her alone?
Ian needed to find her. Fucking now.
“What do you mean that no one can find her?” Jameson asked incredulously. “She can’t just have gone missing, right? A person doesn’t just go missing.”
Ian blocked out the rest of what he was saying.
This was his fault.
She was his to watch. His responsibility and he’d failed her.
“Whoever took her is going to die at my hands. Slowly,” Jack said in a dark voice.
Ian ran his hand over his face. Fuck. Jack was close to the edge. The edge that he was always trying to keep him from falling over.
It had been twenty minutes since they’d discovered that Maggie was missing. He’d kept expecting her to appear. To say that she’d gotten distracted and hadn’t meant to worry anyone.
Then he would have dragged her somewhere private, put her over his knee, bared her ass, and spanked her until he felt better.
Only that hadn’t happened.
Because she wasn’t . . . fucking . . . here.
“The royal family are all at the palace under armed guard,” Beck said, striding into the tent where Ian, Jack, and Jameson waited. “Caleb is nearly here.”
Where the fuck was she?
And why hadn’t he watched her more closely?
Ian should have stuck to her side like glue. Instead, he’d let himself be distracted.
All he wanted was to wrap her up in layers of his protection. To keep her close and safe.
And everyone else away.
Good job you’ve done of that, fuckwit.
“I sent William home with Hux,” Beck added. “I think we can safely rule him out of anything. Plus, he was getting upset. We need to interview everyone else here.”