Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
There is every possible chance that Jewel might have gotten the final order, and she might kill me, but I’ll be fucked if I’m willing to die at the hands of anyone but my soon-to-be wife. I knew it. I knew she’d run. And I have no doubt that’s exactly what she’s done. But I’m floundering; a part of me is terrorized by the idea I might not reach her in time.
And even if she does make the hit on me, at least it’ll put me out of this fucking intense sense of fear I’ve never before felt in my life.
I’ve never met a woman so infuriating that I just want to strangle the life out of her and, at the same time, make sure no one could ever hurt her. And I know full well that she can protect herself; she proved that time and time again. I don’t think she’s had anyone other than herself to protect her in a very long time.
Yes, she has Craig, and I’m not denying he’s a special part of her life. He looked after her when she had no one else, but now she has me to depend on, and I don’t know how to prove that to her.
So she fucking drugs me and runs away like a coward. I know she sees this as just a contract. And, yes, that’s exactly what it started off as. But I kept pushing myself closer and closer to her until all I could breathe was her.
I dial one more number before calling Will.
Dutton doesn’t answer, so I call again. On the third try, he answers. “My nose is fine, in case you’re wondering.”
“She’s gone,” I say, defeated, and it’s the first time I’ve let the noticeable change in my voice show. As the fog of whatever she drugged me with clears, I’m facing a startling reality that someone else might get to her first. Or maybe I’m deluded in thinking I could really make her stay. To make her mine.
Dutton’s quiet for a moment, and I consider maybe I really fucked up. I know I’d acted on impulse, hitting him, but we’d come to that point multiple times in the past. But was this time different? Was I wrong to call him for help?
“Have you already called Hawke and Ford?” he asks, and I can hear he’s moving. I take his cue, dressing myself, the sense of urgency crippling me. But it’s his voice that steadies me as we begin to place everything into motion.
“Yes, and I’m about to contact Will.” I tighten my belt.
“Let me work on my end and see what I can find. We’ll find her.” He hangs up, and I let out a shaky breath because I hear what he didn’t say. We’ll find her… dead or alive. But there’s the possibility we won’t find her at all. Because my woman, if nothing else, is cunning and used to running through the shadows.
And I refuse to believe that I was the only one in the quicksand of whatever this is we’ve fallen into.
If I die because of that delusion, then so be it.
I grab the engagement ring before I storm out of the apartment, willing to rain hell on New York if only to smoke her out.
CHAPTER 53
Jewel
I’m going through the small collection of photos of my father and me. There are a few of my mother and me when I was younger, too, but I ignore them. I’ve never entirely had the heart to throw them out, but neither do I care for her in any capacity.
I have the last of my items packed and plenty of cash stuffed in my bag. Craig has organized a private jet for me. He hasn’t told me the location of where I’m going, which was always the plan if one of us got in trouble. I sling the backpack onto my shoulder and look at myself one more time in the mirror. I’m more determined than ever to flee the country.
My deadline to offer Eli’s body is in twelve hours. By then, I’ll be out of the country, and no one will be any the wiser to where I am.
I hear Craig rummaging in his gun closet. I frown, stepping out behind him as he holds a rifle and opens the door. “Wh—?” The question dies on my tongue.
Eli is standing there, looking like a deadly god, as he always does. But, for once, his hair seems a mess, and the shadow of scruff on his chin is heavier than usual.
His gaze finds me where I stand frozen in the hallway, then moves back to Craig. Eli offers him his hand, and Craig looks at it, confused.
“I’m Eli.”
“I know who you are,” Craig says, then goes to slam the door in Eli’s face, but Eli wedged his foot between the door and the jamb despite the crushing force Craig used to close it.