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)
Jack let out a grunt that sounded almost like pain as Ian mumbled something under his breath.
They didn’t believe her. But she’d show them.
Jack watched her sleep.
She was frowning in her sleep. The IV was hooked up to her arm while her hair was back in a braid, thanks to Ian. The bruises on her face stood out against the paleness of her skin.
He’d failed to protect her. He wouldn’t fail again.
Ian stepped out of the bathroom behind him.
“Jack, fuck. I was hoping you’d stop doing this once she got home.”
Ian had caught him several times just staring at her bed in the middle of the night.
“I was doing this long before she was taken.”
There was a beat of silence followed by Ian swearing. “Fuck.”
“I’m fine,” Jack insisted.
“You’re obsessed with her.”
“And you’re not?”
Ian let out a long sigh. “No, I am. You’re right, I am.”
“She’s ours. Our girl.” Jack ran his fingers lightly over her arm. So delicate.
“Come on, get into bed with us. She needs us both tonight.”
“I should stay up. Keep watch.”
“No one is going to get to her again, Jack.”
No. Because he’d be watching. He’d keep her safe.
“Just eat a few bites, Little girl,” Ian coaxed.
She just shook her head at him, smiling slightly. “I’m all right, thanks.”
Frustration bit at Ian. But it all came from a place of worry. It felt like she was fading away from them.
Two days had passed since they’d gotten her back, and the most she’d talked to them had been that first night. Since then, she’d started drawing away from them.
He could feel it. But it felt like there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t force her to eat, to talk, to fucking live. She’d just been fucking kidnapped.
Ian would never do anything that might remind her of her kidnappers.
So all he could do was gently coax her. Try to convince her to let them care for her.
She’d asked about her uncle once, but they’d managed to distract her. He guessed she knew something was wrong and that she also knew she wasn’t strong enough to cope with it. She spent most of her time daydreaming.
Even Ziggy didn’t garner much interest.
She was slipping away from him and it felt like there was nothing he could do.
Turning, he glanced over at Jack, who was sitting on the corner. Just watching. Waiting for something. Jack hadn’t really left her side since she had been returned to them. He was completely obsessed and it wasn’t healthy.
“If she doesn’t want to eat, then she doesn’t have to eat,” Jack told him.
Fucking hell.
Jack was in uber-protective mode. But what he didn’t realize was that he needed to protect Maggie from herself.
“She needs to eat, Jack.” Jameson had removed the IV, but he’d kept the needle in her hand and had been threatening to hook it back up if she didn’t start eating and drinking properly.
“She can do what she likes,” Jack said.
“I’m fine, Ian,” Maggie said. “Stop worrying so much. I’m just . . . really tired. I think I’ll go to sleep.”
He didn’t point out that it was ten in the morning and she’d only just woken up.
Instead, he sat there and fucking prayed that they were all going to get through this.
53
Jameson was concerned.
Everyone in this house was spiraling. Hard.
He needed to help them. But he just wasn’t sure if they would welcome his help.
Stop fucking second-guessing yourself.
He was preparing a lunch tray for Maggie. And he would get her to eat it even if he had to get strict with her.
He didn’t want to. But her health came first.
“What are you doing?” Ian asked, coming into the kitchen.
“I’m making Maggie lunch.”
“She won’t eat it.”
“She will eat it. Or will admit her.”
“You can’t do that. She’ll be terrified.” Ian stepped in his way.
Jameson took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Fuck. He wanted to tell Ian that he knew what he was doing. That Ian couldn’t interfere.
However, he didn’t really have the right to do this. “You’re right. And I know she’s not mine. I don’t have the right to do what I’m about to suggest. But . . . I’m fucking worried about her Ian. About all of you.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Ian huffed. “Maggie is . . .”
“She’s not in a good way. She’s in her head and she can’t get out. She’s exhausted and not eating and scared. I want to help her. But if you tell me this isn’t the way to go, I’ll listen to you. Because you know her better.”
“Tell me,” Ian said.
“I know you guys want to give her whatever she wants. So do I. But I think she needs someone to take over and make the tough decisions. At least until she can do that again herself.”
Ian let out a harsh sigh, running his hand over his face. “It should be me who does that. I’m her Dom. Her Daddy.”