Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“I’m headed to your apartment now. I’ll pick you up and take you,” Uncle Neil told me before hanging up.
This was not ideal, but I could survive it. Uncle Neil could still find someone to replace me. Gage hadn’t said he wanted me the entire time. Right? Or was that what he had decided? Better question was, why had I been involved or even known a guy that age? One who my uncle was scared to tell no? What kind of person had I been?
I pulled out my notebook and pen, then began to write these things down. I’d make a list and see if I could figure out the answers without asking questions. Perhaps I could do some research another way. I chewed on the end of the pen while trying to decide if I should make a list for that too.
Huck opened the door before I reached it. His gaze wasn’t as harsh today as he stared at me. I wondered if he was going to mention showing up at my apartment last night. I hadn’t told Uncle Neil because I was trying to keep him safe from these people even if I wasn’t.
“You came back,” Huck said, looking surprised. “Wasn’t sure you would.”
I shrugged. “Did I really have a choice?”
If Huck could smile, I’d think he almost did—maybe. I wasn’t sure. He was hard to read.
He stepped back so that I could go inside. I walked past him and then turned to see if he wanted to say anything more before I went upstairs to face the patient.
“About yesterday evening,” Huck said. “Trinity told me about your wrist. She was worried and wanted to check on you. She was appeased when I told her I saw you on a date across the street.” He paused, then added, “Don’t tell Gage we were there.”
That hadn’t been a date, but I didn’t correct him.
“I won’t,” I replied but wondered if he was scared of Gage too. Couldn’t Huck just pick him up and toss him across the room?
“Hold out your wrist. I want to see it.”
I didn’t want to show Huck, but this hadn’t been a request. His tone had been a clear demand. I pulled up my sleeve and held it up.
His eyes narrowed, and he muttered a curse. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t touch you again.”
Then, he walked past me and back down the hall that led to the kitchen. Guessed our brief conversation was over. I had no doubt Huck could ensure my safety with Gage. I started for the stairs just as a door to the left—which was always closed—opened, and Levi walked out, followed by a younger guy. He had pale blond hair with more tattoos than Huck.
“You came back,” Levi said with a grin that caught me off guard.
Did they think I wouldn’t do as told? According to Uncle Neil, it was dangerous to anger them.
“This is Shiloh,” Levi told the guy with him. “Shiloh, this is Kye.”
“Nice to meet you, Kye,” I replied, then turned back to Levi. “Yes, I came back. Although I’ll probably regret it,” I replied honestly.
Levi looked surprised, and then a bark of laughter followed. Glad this was funny to him. I did smile, however, because his laughter was kind of infectious.
“He’ll be better today, I think.”
I doubted it, but I was willing to hope. “Good,” I replied.
He continued to smile as they walked away.
When I reached Gage’s floor, I noticed his door was open. I walked down the hall, then stopped before reaching it. I took a deep breath, then reminded myself this would be fine. I could do this before taking the next few steps that would put me in his doorway.
The light was on, but he was sleeping. Uncle Neil had said he had given him some pain meds when he was here. Maybe they would keep him asleep for a while. I walked into the room and set my bag down by the sofa, took out my e-reader, then went to sit down on the leather chair closer to the bed.
Although I wasn’t looking at him, I knew the moment he opened his eyes. The fact that I could feel his gaze on me was disturbing. I shouldn’t be that aware of the man. Yesterday, even after he’d looked at me with disgust and bruised my wrist, I had still found him attractive. I was starting to think the fatal attraction scenario might have some truth to it. God, I hoped not.
I met his gaze. “Good morning,” I said as politely as I could.
He didn’t respond, so I turned my attention back to the e-reader.
“You came back,” he said.
I looked back up at him. “You demanded I return,” I pointed out.
He frowned. “That’s a harsh description.”
No, it wasn’t, but I didn’t say anything.
“Do you need something? Ice water? Food?” I asked.