Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“You’re not in your room,” he says.
I almost laugh. It’s the most absurd thing in the world. “You mean that crazy place next door?”
“I thought you’d like it.”
“You recreated my old apartment in your family’s mansion without telling me.” He only narrows his eyes like he doesn’t understand. “Carson, it’s weird. We’re not together anymore.”
“I did it in case you ever had to come back here. I wanted you to feel comfortable, to have something comfortable around. Instead of throwing it all away.”
I chew my lip. That is kind of sweet, actually, in a psycho kind of way. “Well, thank you, I think.”
“You don’t have to stay there. I can arrange another room for you.” He turns to leave. “It’s your choice now. Whether you want it or not, it’s entirely up to you. I won’t choose for you anymore.”
“Wait,” I say, not sure why. He looks back at me, expression softening. “Are you okay?” I ask, and realize that I’m stalling, purely because I don’t want him to go yet.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry, Ashlyn. I should’ve seen this coming.”
“You stopped it in time. That’s all that matters.”
He tilts his head but doesn’t look convinced. “I told you I’d never let them hurt you, and I meant it. Even if you think you don’t want to be with me, I’ll still protect you, always.”
I open my mouth to argue, but instead let out a pained sigh as I lean against the doorjamb. “I should be flattered. Instead, I’m just confused.”
He turns to face me, reaches into his pocket, and produces something in his palm. I stare down at my ring, glittering in his hand.
“For you,” he says.
“You went into my office.”
“Yes. I did.”
I reach out and take it. “I should be angry.”
“Maybe.”
“I’m not, in case you were wondering. I’m just tired. And freaked out. And a little scared.”
“You’re in the safest place in the world right now. You don’t have to feel afraid anymore.”
I nod slightly and grip the ring tightly. “Thank you for saving us.”
“I’d do it again, even if you hated me.” He turns away. “But you don’t hate me.”
He begins to walk away.
“I can flush the ring again, you know,” I call after him.
He only waves as he disappears into his own room.
“Shit,” I whisper, shutting the door. I stand there for a moment in the darkness before sliding the ring onto my finger.
I haven’t worn it in nearly a month, but for some reason, it feels good. I leave it there for a moment before taking it off, curling back up on the couch, and falling into a deep sleep.
Chapter 40
Carson
Liam nods at me, his gun held up, five fingers splayed between us. He drops them, one by one, and when his hand is only a fist, we come around the corner together bursting into a crowded living room.
Gunshots deafen. They boom, they scream. I aim and fire, aim and fire, until four dead Polish men lay in a heap on the floor. Liam kills too with a strange, ruthless detachment, sending three more to their graves. By the time we’re finished, eight in all are slaughtered. One manages to get away out the back.
“Good work,” Liam says, kicking at a corpse, rolling it over on its back.
One of Jan Minda’s top lieutenants, the fourth in the command structure. Around him are his crew, all of them dead.
The getaway men from the night before also told me about this little meeting. I wasn’t sure they were telling the truth so I brought Liam as backup as a little brother-brother bonding session. Since there’s nothing Liam loves more than killing his enemies.
Or just killing in general.
“I hear the girl is back at the family mansion,” Liam says, rifling through the pockets of the dead men.
“Ash and her friend. I’m keeping them safe.” I reload my gun. “What are you looking for?”
“Something useful.” He flips through a wallet, pockets the cash, tosses it aside. “Did you show her the room yet?”
“She saw it.”
“Even I think that’s strange, you know.” He frowns at a business card he found, holding it up to the light. “Club Swank. Ever heard of it?”
“No, I haven’t. And I don’t care if it’s strange.”
He hands me the card. “But you do care what she thinks. That’s the whole point of the room, isn’t it?”
“I wanted to give her a safe space within the mansion.” I frown at the bodies as if they might judge me. “I might’ve gone overboard.”
“We have a tendency to do that.” Liam stands and stretches. “I’m glad you invited me on this little trip. It was a good time.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”
We leave back out the front together. Sirens wail in the distance. Nearby, Fitz is sitting behind the wheel of a black SUV, idling in the street.
“What took you two so long?” he asks, a hint of anxiety in his tone as he peels out. “Cops were getting too close.”