Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“The room is well secured,” he replied. “This can’t wait.”
I looked at Sebastian, willing him to meet my gaze. He was too engrossed in a conversation with one of Scotlin’s cousins to notice. Fuck. I’d be quick. She was fine. Right now, she had Sebastian at her side, and Storm was only a few feet away.
“Okay,” I clipped, turning to follow him from the ballroom.
He continued walking until we reached the study, then opened the door, stepping back for me to enter before closing it behind us. For his sake, I hoped he wasn’t about to correct me for watching Rumor. I didn’t give a flying fuck who he was. I’d watch her if I wanted to. She was mine. No one was telling me otherwise.
“How do you know this Rumor Beauregard?”
My jaw clenched. “She’s mine.”
His eyes widened. “I see. But where did she come from? She’s not from our circle.”
“Why?” I bit out, deciding on how I could kill the next governor of Georgia and hide it.
His eyes narrowed. “I have my sources, King. I can very easily go get your father and ask him these questions. I chose you as a sign of respect since it was very clear she belonged to you. You’ve yet to stop watching her since she arrived.”
Count to fucking ten. Don’t break the man’s neck.
“Rumor was brought to Maeme’s and kept under our protection. I don’t see how this affects you at all.”
“She’s not from Georgia then?” he asked.
I shook my head. I’d walk out of here if the man’s interest in what was mine didn’t raise the hairs on my neck. She shouldn’t be on his radar, and I would be damned if he started asking around about her.
“You can either tell me about her or I can have a background check done. I have my reasons for asking these questions.”
“Because I am engaged to your daughter for the moment? That’s not a reason, Jefferson. That’s you poking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Our job is to get Scotlin’s stalker. Protect you and your family’s name and make sure you are the next governor. That is where it ends. You aren’t family. Rumor is.”
The shocked expression on his face at the last part annoyed me. This entire fucking situation was pissing me off.
“She’s family now?”
“Yes,” I snarled, unable to control the rage he’d ignited inside my chest.
“I see. That makes this even more of an issue. I need to know where she came from.”
“No.”
“Why can’t you tell me that? Wouldn’t you rather I come to you than go to Stellan or your father?”
I took a step in his direction, wanting to wrap my hands around his neck. He must have read that clearly in my expression, but he only tensed up. He didn’t back away. Fucker knew I couldn’t kill him, no matter how badly I wanted to.
“What is it you want to know?” I demanded.
“Did you find her in Louisiana?” he asked.
He knew something. I didn’t like it. He was holding something from me about her, and I was close to snapping right here in this goddamn room. He was going to need backup when I did.
“No. But she was born there.”
His face paled, and he took in a deep breath. “What part?”
“You need to get to the fucking point, May. My patience is almost gone, and I can’t promise you that I will be able to control what happens next.”
“Her last name. It isn’t really Beauregard, is it?”
I thought for a moment, then decided I might as well give him what he needed to know if I was going to get to the bottom of this. I shook my head. “It’s LeBlanc.”
Jefferson backed up two steps, then sank down onto the chair behind him. “Fuck,” he whispered.
“You’re gonna need to say more than that,” I demanded, not liking this at all.
We’d had a complete background check done on Rumor before I ever laid eyes on her. I knew her story. Her past. There was nothing of concern other than she’d suffered a lot and I was still hunting down the bastard who had hurt her when she was younger.
“I knew her mother,” he said, staring at the floor. “When she walked in the house and I saw her, it was like I’d been thrown back in time. She’s a complete replica. Even the hair. For a moment, I thought … it was her. But then I realized that was impossible.”
I felt as if he’d just hurled a brick into my chest. “She doesn’t know her mother. She grew up in the foster system.”
He closed his eyes for a moment and whispered what fucking looked like, “Thank God.”
What the hell was that about? Her life had been a nightmare, and he was thanking God for it. Son of a bitch was stepping too far out of line.