Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
It did wonders for his fury. And he had plenty of that at the moment.
Regent climbed into the car a few hours later. He’d changed clothes in the basement. And washed his hands.
“You’ll tidy everything up?” he asked Victor who was sitting next to him.
“Yeah. A concerned citizen is going to make a call to the cops about a hit-and-run. They’ll find Lowell’s body and Sasha’s car down a ditch, with her unconscious in it. We’ll have the car hit him to make it believable. And some CCTV footage. Oh, and Sasha is rip-roaring drunk and high on drugs. So, no one will believe what she says. Besides, she knows that if she does talk, she’s dead. And so is her mother.”
Good. Two birds. One stone.
Now all they had to do was find Patrick and things could go back to normal.
Well, as normal as it could be for the Malone family.
His thoughts went back to Jilly. He’d given her tonight’s spanking before he’d left. She had the perfect ass for spanking. Then afterward, he’d laid her on the bed and feasted her until she was begging him to let her come.
And because he was a pushover for her, he had.
He turned to Victor. “Have you noticed Jilly acting differently lately?”
Victor raised his eyebrows. “You mean how she seems to be on edge?”
Good. So he’d noticed it too.
“She’s acting strangely. She’s been dressing in clothes that don’t really seem like her. I know she doesn’t really know her style, though. So perhaps that’s something she needs help with.”
“Gracen and Aston could help her, Thea too. Could be good for her.”
Regent nodded. “True. But it’s more than that, though. She doesn’t run to hug me hello or goodbye. And she doesn’t seem to smile as much. I’m worried that she’s . . . that she’s not happy.”
“A lot has happened to her lately.”
“Yeah. Learning of Sasha’s betrayal was hard, so was Kimmy’s death. Growing up with Orlando Crane has left scars. Things I’m not sure she’s dealt with.”
“She could talk to that same therapist that Lottie spoke to.”
Regent nodded. He should talk to Lottie and see what she’d thought of her therapist.
Then he would speak to Jilly.
48
Jilly was so nervous.
She’d changed her outfit about a thousand times.
Finally, she’d settled on a blue blazer, white shirt, and black pants. She looked smart and sophisticated.
She hoped.
She also hoped she wouldn’t spill any food on her white shirt. Maybe she should wear a black one. She turned away from the mirror and headed toward the closet.
“Freeze.”
Jilly paused at the command.
“Where are you going?” Regent asked as he walked into the room.
“I just want to change this outfit again.”
“You are not changing again.” He walked over to her, cupping her face with his hands. “I told you that you don’t have to be nervous. Everyone loves you.”
She wasn’t so sure about that. And it didn’t matter if Regent told her not to be nervous. “I haven’t met your sister and her men yet. Well, not properly.” Sure, she’d seen them when they’d had to use the tunnels. But she hadn’t really met them.
They were arriving soon from New York and she was beyond worried.
Lottie meant everything to Regent. What if his sister didn’t like her? Would he reject Jilly?
“Okay. Deep breaths. I don’t like seeing you like this, so you’re going to stop immediately.”
Jilly had to roll her eyes. “You can’t just tell me to stop being nervous, you know.”
“Of course I can. I just did.”
“Okay, let me rephrase. You can’t command me and expect it to happen! Nerves don’t work that way. Of course I’m going to be nervous. This is your family. I want them to like me. I haven’t even met some of them yet.”
“Then mission accomplished because they already like you.” Reaching out, he pulled her into his chest. “How could anyone not like you?”
“Easily. Ask my father.”
He rubbed his hand up and down her back. “That had nothing to do with you. And everything to do with that asshole. Stop worrying. Everything will be fine. I promise.”
Right. Sure. Uh-huh.
Pulling back, she straightened her clothes and checked her hair and face one last time.
She looked presentable. She hoped.
Taking the hand he held out, she let him lead her out of the bedroom and downstairs. Jilly heard the front door open as they got to the bottom of the stairs. There was a squeal as someone raced toward them.
Regent stepped forward and caught his sister as she launched herself at him. “Reggie!”
“Darling,” he murmured, hugging her tight. “You’re here.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” Lottie told him, clinging to him.
Jilly watched on, feeling out of place. Perhaps she should just leave?
But then Liam walked into the hallway. He was built like a tank. His white-blond hair and ice-blue eyes gave him an almost angelic appearance. But she had the feeling he was anything but. Behind him was Nico. He was slightly shorter than the other man. With tattoos on his arms and up his neck.