Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 73043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
It literally made me sick to my stomach to think about.
“I’m a grown man,” Rafe repeated. “A grown ass man that has been taking care of himself for far longer than anyone can imagine. She was a slip of a girl. She was also naked and vulnerable. There is no way in hell she could overpower me. None.”
I chose not to point out that at this point he was repeating himself. That probably wouldn’t go over well.
“Well, I don’t agree. That could’ve just as easily been a robber with ill will toward you. Someone with a gun. Someone that didn’t want your dick, but your fucking wallet.”
“Well, then I’ll die.”
It was the words “I’ll die” that did it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I just couldn’t.
Getting my bag off the floor where I dropped it in my haste to get Elspeth out of Rafe’s house, I picked it up then shouldered it. “Fine.”
“Fine what?” he asked, anger lining his features.
“Fine. I’ll fucking grow up. At my own house. For a few goddamned years.”
With the way I was going, it’d be at least a year before I got over my anger. I was a grudge holder. I couldn’t help it.
He just shook his head. “And maybe get rid of some of that childishness while you’re at it.”
My mouth fell open.
Then I just shook my head and turned to leave. Whistling as I did.
The final betrayal was Kimber refusing to leave Rafe’s side.
I would’ve left her, too. But then Rafe had to go and show his superiority by telling her to go with me. Which she did.
And, as we drove away, she sat in the back seat and refused to look at me.
That was the final straw. I pulled over and cried.
***
Rafe
I found her on the side of the road crying. She’d made it literally four houses down before she’d pulled over.
I felt like an asshole for saying what I had. But goddamn. I was so tired of everyone acting like they knew what was best for me.
They didn’t.
I did.
But Janie at least had my best interests at heart. That was more than I could say for the rest of my so-called friends and family.
I started walking to her car instead of taking the bike like I’d intended to do and arrived at her door within about a minute.
I looked at her through the glass and immediately felt like shit.
She was crying her eyes out, and she wasn’t a pretty crier.
Which endeared her to me even more.
I tapped on the window, and she looked up.
She looked like I’d broken her heart.
I opened her car door, and she fell into me before I could even bend down.
She hadn’t even taken the seatbelt off first.
“I’m sorry!” she wailed. “I was just so scared.”
I reached across her body and released the belt, then disentangled her from the webbing before gathering her into my arms.
She buried her face into my neck, and I felt her tears sliding down my chest.
“You’re not wearing a shirt,” she murmured.
“I didn’t have a chance. I wanted to catch you before you got to your dad and he decided to off me,” I teased her.
Janie started to giggle. “He’d never do that. I think he secretly likes you. Or, maybe, what you can do for them, that is.”
I laughed.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I agreed. “Do you want to…”
Janie’s phone rang, and she pulled away with a frown.
“Who is that?” I asked curiously.
She showed me the screen readout, and I winced.
“Don’t answer it.”
Janie threw the phone down on the seat next to her without answering it.
“Turn around and drive back to my place?” I asked hopefully.
She nodded, and I stepped back far enough so she could close her door.
Moments later she pulled slightly forward, turned around, and headed back my way.
I walked back a lot slower than she drove, but she waited for me on my porch steps.
With her phone ringing again.
“Just answer it,” I told her.
She handed it to me. “You do it.”
I sighed and answered the phone. “I’m taking care of it.”
“You better, motherfucker.”
Then James hung up.
I sighed and handed her the phone, then turned back around. “Let me check the mail really quick while I’m out here.”
Janie nodded but didn’t move from the porch steps.
I passed Glock and rubbed his head, smiling when he tried to lick my hand.
“Gross,” I told him.
He let his mouth fall open.
I’d just pulled out the mail—bills and a reloading magazine—when Janie’s voice sounded.
***
Janie
“We should talk about what just happened,” I murmured, dashing my hands one more time across my cheeks.
Rafe’s lips kicked up. “Yeah. No. I think we’ll just chalk what just happened up to Elspeth being a bitch and call it a day.”
My smile wobbled. “I kind of…”
Rafe’s face changed. His eyes, which had previously been smiling and soft, turned hard and angry.