Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
“Did you serve my wife alcohol?” I know it was him because Andrew had been up here with me.
He swallows. “I did, sir.”
“Tyson.” She jumps to her feet.
“Take her home,” I order him.
“What?” he asks, blinking.
“Tyson—”
“She’s drunk,” I bark, interrupting her. “Drive her home in her SUV and take an Uber back.”
“Tyson…” He steps forward, and I hold out my hand, stopping him.
“Either take my drunk wife home right now, or you’re fired.” I look over at her, and she’s got her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at me. She stumbles back into my chair and lets out a huff.
He nods. “I’ll take her home.”
“Give us a moment,” I tell him, and he steps out of my office. I walk over to her, and she gets to her wobbly legs and goes to storm past me, but I grab her upper arm, bringing her to a stop. Her eyes narrow on mine. “Don’t wait up, little darling.”
Her eyes soften, and she leans into me. “Is this a punishment?” she asks as her eyes grow heavy. She’s about to pass out any second.
“No,” I answer, frowning. “This is for your safety, Lake.”
“I saw you,” she whispers.
“Saw me do what?” I push some dark strands behind her ear.
“Kill that guy in the basement.”
My hand pauses, my eyes on her clouded ones. “Lake—”
“Why?” she asks, licking her lips. “Why do you care what happens to me?”
I’m not the guy that her family made me out to be. Although, I can’t say I’ve tried to make her think any differently. “I’ve always cared,” I answer honestly.
She’s too drunk to remember this conversation tomorrow. She’ll wake up even more mad because she’ll be at our house, where I’ve got more security than this place. Plus, I’ve got people constantly there, living on the property. Eyes on her twenty four seven. I should have never let her come here. Put her out in the open like I did. Someone is after her, and now I have to put her in hiding.
“Sir?” Beau calls out behind me.
I lean in and kiss her forehead. “I’ll be home soon, little darling.” Taking her hand, I walk her over to Beau. “Take her upstairs to get her things.” She will need sone clothes, her cell, and car keys. “Then take her straight home. Text me when you drop her off and get your ass right back here.”
“Yes, sir.” He nods and then I watch her get on the elevator, her head down, staring at the floor. She can’t even look me in the eyes, and my chest tightens.
I hate that she’s mad at me, but as long as she’s alive, that’s all that matters. And I’m prepared to fucking blow anyone away who threatens her life. Once everyone is eliminated, I will make sure she understands how much she means to me.
LAIKYN
For a week, I’ve been locked in our house. I haven’t spoken much to my husband, and he hardly comes home. Now I know why he lives at the club. When he does show up, it’s around five in the morning most days. And then he spends hours of his day in his home office. And then he leaves around six in the evening to go back to Blackout.
If he’s mad at me, he hasn’t shown it. There hasn’t been any anger, yelling, or hurtful words. It’s like we’re my parents—married for most of our life and ignoring one another. And still no sex. Gavin has come over twice to give me a checkup, and both times he told me everything looked great.
Another night alone in this house. Our home. It feels weird being here after spending so much time at Blackout. And the more time that goes by that he makes me stay here, the more and more anxious I grow about the damn cell phone that my father gave me.
I enter the spare bedroom and turn on the light. I look over my wedding dress that William had put in a glass case. He asked me yesterday where I wanted it to go in the house. I didn’t have an answer for him. It wasn’t what I wanted, but does that even matter? It is a pretty dress, and I’d hate to just burn it. Although setting it all on fire would make me happy.
Walking over to one of the boxes, I open it to find all the candles along with the champagne flutes from the hotel room. If I could go back, I’d take that drink that he offered me after the wedding. Who knew he’d cut me off afterward?
I open the other box next to it and see something inside that catches my eye. It’s a small vial of liquid. My teeth grind when I realize I’ve seen it before. It was quick, but I remember it.