Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 64640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Before I can say anything, his arms circle around me, and he lifts and carries me to my couch. After gently putting me down, he pulls my shirt up without even asking and removes the bandage. “I need to rebandage it. Stay still.” I didn’t realize I was moving until he said the words. Taking a deep breath, I nod and tip my head back. “Do you plan to tell me who did this? Or are you going to make me guess?” he asks.
“Who do you think did it?” I bite back.
“Why did you let her in?”
I shake my head. “She was in here already.”
“So she waited for you.”
“It appears so,” I say dully. “This is all your fault, you know that, right? You got her fired, and now I have to deal with the damn consequences of that. Thanks very much!”
“I know where she lives.” My eyes find him at his declaration. “Did you forget what I do, Trouble?” He smirks. “I know where she is.” I go to sit up, but he pushes me back down. “And you aren’t going fucking anywhere.”
“Well, bring her to me, then,” I snap.
“That can’t happen either. I would be a fool to put someone in front of you who wants to hurt you.”
A knock at the door has Zuko pulling my shirt down and standing. “Stay there. I’ll get it.” He walks with determination to the door and pulls it open.
Kyson enters, and his eyes find mine before they quickly go back to his brother. He leans in and whispers something to Zuko. Then Zuko nods and comes back to me, where I’m lying on the couch. “You’ll stay there. You can’t risk tearing those stitches open again. You’ve already almost succeeded.”
“That wasn’t my fault,” I argue.
“That’s fair. But stay here… Kyson will sit with you until I return.”
Kyson is still standing near the door, seeming bored and checking his phone.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I beg to differ.” Zuko leans down and kisses the top of my head. “Stay here, and don’t move.” My gaze follows him as he approaches his brother and says something to him, then walks out the door.
I drop my head back onto the couch pillow and pick up the other one and scream into it.
I was meant to have a normal life.
Eventually, at least.
Or whatever is considered normal.
Instead, I have a complete and utter bitch after me, I’m fucking a serial killer, and now I’m being babysat by someone who probably wants to kill me as well.
I scream again, and the pillow is torn from my grasp. My eyes fly open to find Kyson staring down at me.
I growl at him. “Give me back my pillow.”
“I can’t let you suffocate yourself. My brother would kill me. And trust me, he knows several ways to make it hurt a lot more than it should.” He moves to the single recliner and sits, pulling out his phone again and playing a noisy game. I give him my best fuck-you glare, which doesn’t even phase him.
Attempting to get up, I manage to get to my feet. But when I lift my head, Kyson is now in front of me.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He’s stopping me from even moving one inch.
“You aren’t allowed to walk, so sit back down. If you need something, ask.”
“Why are you all so bossy?” I groan. “I can walk to my own kitchen and get my own shit.”
“No, you can’t. Now… What. Do. You. Need?”
“I’m not telling you.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“Well, you aren’t moving either,” he says, still blocking my path. We stand there, eye-to-eye, and I know he isn’t going to give in. He clearly has orders from his brother, and he doesn’t seem like one to go against Zuko.
I wonder why.
“Do you always take orders?”
“I don’t take orders.”
“But you do, from your brother,” I push.
“That’s not the same. He’s blood. It’s not an order from him. It’s a suggestion. But he will fuck you up if you don’t listen.” He winks. “Do you plan to get fucked-up today?” I check my clothes, running my eyes down my body.
“I’m already fucked-up,” I whine.
“Touché. I guess you are.” He laughs. “Now, what do you need? And sit down like a well-behaved woman and tell me.”
“I need painkillers.” He nods and locks eyes with me, and I notice he and Zuko have the same color eyes, except Kyson’s seem a little darker. “And water.”
“Okay. Now sit.”
I do as he says and slowly lower myself back on the couch. Sliding the pillow behind my back so I’m not bent over, he watches me do it before he heads into the kitchen.
“Am I the first girl he’s instructed you to watch?” I yell.
“No.”
Hmm...
“What was the last one’s name?” I ask. “Is it a pattern for him?” He comes back with a glass of water and pills in one hand. After he offers them to me, I place them in my mouth and take the water.