Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“The leverage we have on Clark Jewel has its limits,” King went on. “We already know what he is willing to do to protect his daughter.”
I inhaled deeply, slowly letting smoke out through my nose. “You let me worry about Clark Jewel,” I told him.
“Yeah, well, that doesn’t ease my concern.”
I chuckled as the doorknob began to turn. “It’s under control,” I told him, then ended the call and shoved my phone into my back pocket. The door opened slowly, and I took another pull from the cigarette. Waiting. When my reason for living stepped outside, I took my first deep breath before my gaze locked on her face. Throwing the cigarette down, I put it out and silently moved closer to her. Something was wrong.
What had that motherfucker said to her? I’d be paying him a visit. But right now, I had my doll to take care of. She needed me to put her world back in order. Erase the bad that took her smile away. After a night of watching over her and hours out here alone, I’d had time to think. Consider what it was she needed from me.
Sanity or a form of it was clearly important. I could do that for her. It would take work, but I wouldn’t survive another night without her in my bed. Whatever she required me to do, I would do it.
She continued toward me, not even looking up. Her gaze locked on the ground with each step she took. When she crossed her arms over her chest protectively, it took all my willpower not to go wrap her in mine. This was the kind of shit that made it difficult for me not to react in ways she couldn’t accept. Because when she wasn’t fucking smiling, happy, those gray eyes weren’t twinkling, then I became unsettled.
Five more feet and she’d run right into my chest. Her thoughts were deep. She wasn’t aware of anything around her. I was about to clear my throat to keep her from being too startled when her head snapped up, and her eyes met mine. They didn’t widen in fear. They didn’t show anger or frustration. They just looked at me as if seeing me for the first time.
“Morning, little doll,” my voice deep and raspy from the sheer emotion she stirred in me.
She blinked as if coming out of a trance, and her arms tightened around her. “I’m that easy to find,” she said, then blew out a breath.
“For me. I’m sure others would have been thrown off by the grocery store parking lot,” I assured her, my voice teasing in an attempt to get her to soften. Or hell, something.
“How… how long have you been here?” she asked me.
I shrugged. “A while.”
Her face finally gave some kind of reaction. Those eyes flashing at me as if she knew better. “How long?” she repeated.
I took a step toward her. “All night.”
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then let it out. “You killed Beauden Redd.”
He’d actually told her. That motherfucker had the balls to tell her. As if I didn’t have enough shit to atone for with her. Clark Jewel had to go and tell her about something he’d been paid well for to keep quiet.
“I did,” I replied.
She opened her eyes and looked at me. “Why? You didn’t know me, did you? I mean, I was a kid. You wouldn’t have been… stalking me.” She said the last words with caution.
Truth. She needed truth. The part of me I didn’t want her to see had been laid bare already.
“I was walking back to my truck. I’d stopped to pick up some things at the pharmacy. I heard a noise. Turned and saw Beauden Redd holding a girl much younger than him against a dumpster. She was fighting against him, and he had her mouth covered, muffling it. It wasn’t my fucking business, yet I stood there watching, not sure if I should stop it or move on. Then you turned your head, and those gray eyes met mine. The terror there was something I recognized. I’d seen that in many sets of eyes. But yours… it hit me like a fucking bolt to my chest. I don’t think I was in control much after that moment. I told him to let you go, I told you to run on home. And you went. I could have left then. It was over.
“Beauden began walking away. I followed him. Not sure why, but unable to stop. Your eyes kept flashing in my head. He stopped at his car. I believe he realized I was behind him because he spun around then. Staring at me. His eyes now held the terror. I wondered then if he could see it. The evil inside me. But it was a fleeting thought because I then reached up and snapped his neck.”