Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“I appreciate that Shadow, I really do, but I think it’s best if we just get her out of town.” I scoop the bags up in my arms and head toward the door. “I haven’t even asked her yet. I’ll let you know what the plan is.” I open his door but turn back to him. “Get with Wrench and have him get everyone breakfast. We’re going to ride in a couple hours, and I have no intentions of stopping until we get back into New Mexico.”
Making my way back into the room I barely slept in last night, I notice the bed is empty. I can hear the shower running from the bathroom. I tap on the door gently, but she doesn’t respond. I try the doorknob, and it turns. I push the door open a few inches.
“Emmalyn?” I hear her gasp.
“What are you doing in here?” Her voice is slightly frantic.
“I knocked, but you didn’t answer. I had Shadow grab some things for you last night. There should be a change of clothes in here and some shampoo and other girly shit. I have your purse here also.”
“Umm… thanks,” she mumbles.
“I’m just going to leave it here on the counter for you. I’m locking the bathroom door behind me.” I step in far enough to set the things down on the counter and do as I told her I would. After locking the door behind me, I collapse on the bed, exhausted.
***
A loud banging pulls me from unconsciousness. I groan as I roll over on the bed. Looking up, I see Emmalyn with her knees to her chest and her head resting on top.
“Kincaid!” I hear Shadow yell from the other side of the door.
I slowly get off the bed. I’m fixing to ask her why she didn’t open the door, but I notice the tremble in her body as her eyes dart from me and back to the door.
“It’s just Shadow, sweetheart. You can trust him.” She nods but doesn’t look like she believes me. “I trust him with my life; you can trust him with yours.”
The knocking comes even louder this time.
“Coming,” I say loudly.
I pull the door open once I reach it. Shadow’s frustrated face falls when he looks past me and sees Emmalyn wrapped around herself in the chair.
“I fell asleep.” I pat my pockets realizing my phone is across the room. “What time is it?”
“Almost one.”
“Fuck,” I groan. “Let me talk to her,” I say softly. “You guys hold tight.”
I close the door behind me. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” I ask making my way back to the bed where my phone is lying.
I see several missed texts. I didn’t turn the ringer back on from last night.
“You looked tired,” she says weakly.
“I appreciate it, Emmalyn. I’d planned on riding out before noon.” I grab my boots off of the floor and sit back on the bed and begin putting them on.
“I didn’t know,” she says softly. It sounds more like an apology. It crushes me that she thinks she has to apologize to me for letting me take a nap. He did this to her. I don’t even want to think what the outcome would be in their household had it happened there.
“No big deal. Just means we’ll get a little later start.” I begin to lace up my boots.
“You’re leaving?”
I cut my eyes back to her. “We’re going home.” I want to smile when I see her face fall fractionally, but I restrain myself. “We’re here in Denver to help my cousin, but we’re done. Heading back to Farmington, New Mexico.”
She’s silent, so I look up at her. She doesn’t say anything, just watches me. I imagine her mind is racing with my news.
“Wanna go with us?” I shoot for nonchalance and hope that she believes I just came up with the idea on the spot.
“I don’t know anybody in New Mexico,” she whispers against her knees.
“That makes it perfect then doesn’t it? New starts are always best when you’re anonymous.” I wink at her and stand. “Besides, you know me. I’m a good listener if you’re lonely.”
I see her eyes brighten marginally, but she doesn’t fully commit emotionally. “Just leave?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. Just leave.”
She lowers her legs to the floor and stands. “Okay,” she says with a mild shoulder lift. “I’ll just leave.”
“Full disclosure?” Her small smile fades. “I know your ribs are injured, and there’s no way you can ride for seven plus hours on the back of my bike. Kid is in the van with all of our gear and you’ll be more comfortable in there with him on the way back.”
“Not with that Wrench guy?” she asks. Smart girl.
“No. Wrench will be on his bike, and Kid is harmless.”
She nods in agreement and begins to gather the things from last night. Even in the sweats and loose t-shirt that Shadow grabbed last night, her beauty couldn’t be hidden. It’s not until I pull open the door and we walk out into the sunlight do I get the full effect of what that piece of shit has been doing to her.