Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
"I'm not going to hurt you," I tell her, taking a step back so she can feel a little more comfortable.
My jaw flexes, irritation beginning to settle inside of me. What has she been through that her first thought is that she's going to be hurt? I know for a fact she's been away from Nathan and Xan Adair for over a year, but I'm also all too aware of how long abuse and trauma can cling to a person. Some people never recover no matter how much they want to.
"I'm just getting some clothes. Is that okay?"
She nods but seems to fold in on herself even further when I reach for one of the hangers above her head.
Instead of closing the door, I leave it open. I don't want her to feel as if she has to stay in the closet. I figure if she wants it closed she can pull it shut.
My shower is quick, the relief I feel from being able to take my sling off leaving me in a rush of breath as I roll my shoulders. The ache in my muscles is worse than the occasional pain I feel in my right wrist, but I've complied with all directions given to me both by the doctors treating me as well as Kincaid. The man does his best to minimize risk to everyone in the club. Not following orders could mean life or death for me or someone else on my team if my injury isn't properly healed before returning to work.
I dry off, making enough noise so hopefully, if Brielle is still in my room, she knows I'm going to be done in the bathroom soon. I grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of sweats from the closet because I feel like I always have to be ready to face someone no matter the time of day or night.
The first thing I notice when I open the bathroom door is that the closet door is standing open in the exact same position it was when I left the room for my shower. I expect her to be gone, to have fled from the room with how terrified she was, but she's still curled up in the corner of the closet.
I sit on the end of the bed, leaving about ten feet between the two of us. I don't want her to feel crowded.
"Are you hungry?" I ask, frowning when she shakes her head.
I'm fairly certain that she's been in there since not long after I dropped her off, and that was hours ago.
Instead of arguing or trying to make her see reason that she needs to eat, I simply point to the far corner of the room.
"Em packed all of your things. They're right over there if you need them."
She licks her lips like a terrified dog as she looks across the room, but she doesn't speak.
"I'm going to go grab something to eat," I tell her before standing from the bed and walking toward the door.
Once again, I leave the door open, giving her the option of whether she stays inside or comes out.
Chapter 8
Brielle
With an urgency that feels like life or death, I pull the closet door closed the second he walks out of the room.
My hands tremble, but even locking them together and pulling them to my chest doesn't ease the vibration in them.
I know I'm not safe. I've never been safe. With Nathan's threat hanging over me like a dark cloud, I know my days are limited. The only comfort I'll allow is knowing that the man has always been the type to exact his own justice if he feels like he was personally betrayed. The list of my betrayals will keep him from sending someone else after me. Although he was handcuffed to the gurney when he was taken away in the ambulance earlier tonight, he'll eventually get free, either through escape or calling in favors to the many people he has on his payroll, including police, politicians, and judges.
It would probably be in my best interest to take my suitcases and leave while my stepfather is in custody, but dreams of disappearing in some off-the-map town and living my best life are only a fantasy. I've been under the protection of the Cerberus MC, and yet Nathan was still able to get to me.
I'm still on high alert, my body jerking with adrenaline, despite having somehow managed to fall asleep for a little while. I freeze, trying not to even breathe, when I hear the bedroom door open again. I instantly chastise myself for not getting out of here when I had the chance.
I stay frozen when the knock sounds against the closet door. Despite not answering, he doesn't tap on the wood a second time. He knows I'm in here just as well as he has to know that I'm not going to respond.