Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
I blew out a heavy sigh. I could certainly attest to that.
He was here.
Lurking.
Watching.
Waiting.
“But of course, the prick has someone posted there. Sketchy much?” She scoffed it.
I almost laughed. “Taylor, Jarek is the definition of sketchy.”
“Um, he’s the definition of a lot of things. Skeezeball. Douchemonger. Fuckface. Shall I go on? Shudder.”
I could practically see her convulsing with revulsion when she said it.
“I think I got you.”
She giggled.
It’d been three days since I’d heard from my sister. Three days since Logan had curled up beside me and held me all night. Three days since he’d whispered that I was his, and he would do anything to protect me.
He’d murmured it would be fine, the way he used to do, though there had been an undercurrent to it that hadn’t existed in the man before.
He promised he was already digging. That he would find a way to free me of my chains.
One way or another.
I’d awoken to his side of the bed cold.
We’d tiptoed since, unsure of our standing.
His caresses were real but restrained, his gaze sure but his steps faltering, as if he were waiting for me to decide because both of us had so much riding on this fine, undelineated line.
I forced myself to focus on Taylor. “Does Dominic know who it is? Family or hired?”
“Definitely hired. Tatted dude on a bike who looks like he slits throats on the daily and gets a kick out of stomping on kittens with his boots.”
MC.
Nerves rattled through my being.
Those connections went deep.
My father tended to hire them to do the family’s dirty work—all depravities accepted as long as you were willing to pay the price.
It was also what brought me Logan.
A boy I never should have noticed but whose spirit had called out to me.
I paced as anxiety clamored beneath my skin. “Crap. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Um, dude? Do you think so little of me? Your baby sister has this handled.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m getting whatever is in that safe.”
“No—”
“Yes, absolutely, yes. I will find a way to get in there. Dom is trying to figure out a plan in exchange for a little dom play.”
“Ew, Tay.”
She cracked up. “Don’t knock it until you try it. Unless you have?”
She sounded way too excited by the prospect.
My entire life was submission. I’d pass.
Logan’s rough voice skated through my mind. The rasping scrape of a command.
It became clear in a flash, if he demanded it, I would gladly get onto my knees.
“Let’s just stick to the subject.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m a blast, remember? A total blast.”
“You will be when you’re happy. When your heart gets set free. I promise it.” Her entire voice changed, my careless sister so intuitive beneath her crass.
“Give us a couple days to figure something out, okay? We’ll get it. Somehow, we will get it.”
“Just be careful. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”
“Pssh, do you think I’m scared of a little biker?”
Exasperation heaved from me on a sigh. “I’m scared that you’re not.”
Tinkling laughter rolled from her, then she sobered. “I have one question for you, Aster. Are you afraid, right now? Are you safe?”
Emotion tightened my throat. “I’m afraid I’ve never felt safer in my life.”
Silence held for a beat before she whispered, “There’s our answer. Leave it to your baby sister to get the rest of this shit taken care of.”
Two days later, I was sitting at the round table in the kitchen, hand sweeping over the little sheets of paper I’d ripped from the journal, trying to process these feelings I wasn’t sure how to deal with. It had always been what I’d done, escaped into my thoughts and tried to process them on a page. Left messages from my heart and prayed the right soul would receive them.
That I could be heard.
Found.
The door buzzer rang.
So lost to the memories of this very day from years ago, I jolted back to the present. I didn’t know if it was a problem or a simple variant of self-preservation.
Gretchen was at the kitchen sink, and she dried her hands on a towel and started in that direction. “Oh, there they are. It’s about danged time.”
She sent an excited glance my way.
“Are we expecting company?”
Worried, I looked down at myself.
I was wearing sweats and another of Logan’s tees.
I loved the feeling of him surrounding me.
Holding me.
Even when he wasn’t there.
Clearly, I was getting too comfortable in this new, temporary skin.
“That we are, sweet thing.”
“Who?” I wondered if I should make a beeline for the seclusion of my room.
“Well, it’s a special day, and they want to make sure Logan knows it,” she answered without really answering at all.
It was a special day.
One I’d held like a treasured secret.
A small thrill rose from the depths, and I stood as she opened the door.
Gage and Juniper darted straight into her arms.