Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“So, you’re pretty much passed out in the back seat, and when I cuff you to the armrest, your first thought is what round two is going to be all about. Meanwhile, I’m out of the car and halfway to this nice little lobby here and all you can do is sit and watch over your shoulder as I walk into what could very well be a trap.”
“I’d break the fucking armrest,” I growled.
JJ nodded. “Sure, you could do that. Or you’d stop and think how it feels to watch the love of your life walk into a place that you may never see him walk out of. You think about how your life ceases the second his does. You forget that you’re a sharp, talented, focused man who knows how to deal with high-pressure situations because all you can see is every possible scenario of how you’re going to lose the love of your life play out. Don’t forget, the love of your life asked or insisted you stay behind for your own safety.”
“It’s not the same—" I started to say.
“The only part that isn’t the same is the fact that you wouldn’t think to blow me beforehand so that I’d at least have a few seconds of pleasure before I realized what a lying dick you are before I GOT OUT OF THE CAR ANYWAY and followed you because you are the fucking goddamn love of my life and we agreed there is no you or me anymore. It’s us. We. So you’re going to shut the fuck up, do what you do best which is protect me, I’m going to do what I do best which is protect you, and then we’re going to figure out what the fuck is going on. Then and only then will you get to fulfill your fantasy which is to fuck me in your 1969 Must—”
I silenced JJ with a kiss. “You win,” I conceded. As hard as it was to admit, he was right. He would have suffered just as much torture as me if I’d been left behind so I’d be “safe.”
JJ nodded in satisfaction and began to leave the alcove. I grabbed his arm and dragged him back to me. “What the hell do you mean, a few seconds of pleasure? When I get my mouth on your dick, it’ll—”
“You guys ready?” Sully asked. The asshole was standing five feet away, his steely eyes directed at me. “Or do you want to keep eye-fucking my baby brother while I take care of the rest of this shit?”
“Jesus,” I muttered.
“If you need someone to do the eye-fucking…” I heard Boone say. He was a few steps off to the side, his back to us so he could keep an eye on the lobby.
JJ stepped in front of me before I could go after the good-looking man. I already wasn’t the man’s biggest fan because not only had he partnered with JJ, he’d also played a role in keeping Sully off our backs while JJ had been helping me deal with my shit in Sully’s office.
Boone took a few steps back but didn’t turn around. “I checked with the guards, boss,” the man said as he continued to survey our surroundings.
“Is he here?” Sully asked.
“Upstairs, in his office,” Boone responded.
Hearing confirmation that the man who’d destroyed the lives of everyone around him and who was likely behind the deaths of three innocent people as well as the shooting that had nearly stolen JJ from me forever was in the building with only an elevator ride separating me from him had me seeing red. I’d promised myself and JJ that I wouldn’t make assumptions about my father’s criminal behavior, but deep down, I knew it was a promise I couldn’t keep.
Not with the knowledge that the man standing next to me was only there by the grace of God and a lot of talented medical staff.
“Did you show him ID and explain about the weapons?” Sully asked.
“Didn’t have to,” Boone responded. Before I could ask what the hell he was talking about, Boone quoted, “‘Mr. Ashby and any armed or unarmed members of his protection detail are free to pass. The senior Mr. Ashby has been waiting for them.’”
“What?” JJ asked, his verbal surprise echoing my own shock, though mine was instantly rooted in suspicion.
“It’s a trap,” I growled. I had no idea how my father had known I was coming, but I wasn’t completely surprised, either.
“Only one way to find out,” Sully said. He strode forward. I looked over my shoulder at JJ, who gave me a nod and a small smile that he’d probably meant as encouragement. It only added another layer of dread to the shit pile of it sitting in my gut.
Not caring how it looked, I wrapped my fingers around JJ’s hand and kept him tucked up against me as I followed Sully. I still didn’t believe a word of what the guards had said to Boone, but sure enough, as soon as Sully reached the metal detector, one of the guards waved him around it instead of through it. He didn’t ask for ID. Not for any of us. We still had our weapons on us by the time we reached the elevator. There was no one waiting inside the elevator that only went to the top floor of the building, and despite drawing our weapons as it raced upward, there was no immediate need for them when the door opened because no one was waiting for us.