Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“This is one time you have to let go. Please. Let me handle this. Ally isn’t a little girl anymore.
“She’s made her own decisions whether right or wrong. This ship has sailed. She’s in the thick of her choices and I’m doing everything I can to keep her and you safe. Trust me,” he says.
“What’s going on?”
“Your sister is brilliant. She just needs to pick better friends,” he says, releasing me and shifting in his seat. “And before you go there. I’m not talking about Cane. My brother has his issues, but he cares about Ally’s well-being more than you think.”
I fold my arms across my chest and start to mutter to myself. I hate having my questions answered with riddles. Ally has been acting strange for months. Her dropping out of school almost made me lay hands on her.
I should have seen it coming. At first, I thought it was just me while I was in Dubai. She was always so short and… I don’t know—something was off whenever we spoke. It’s been more of the same thing, if not worse, since I’ve returned.
I continue to fuss under my breath until we reach home. Gregor remains silent, but I can feel the tension rolling off him. He has nerve.
He knew Ally dropped out way before I did—something I found out during one of our fights. Her tuition was cleared. If I were here instead of off with him, I would have made sure she took her butt back to school right away.
Why are my little sister and husband trying to make me break my foot off in their asses?
When we come to a stop in front of the apartment building, I’m out of the car before anyone can come to open my door. I don’t wait for him to get out or to get the sleeping baby from her car seat.
I march straight for the lobby and the elevator. I roll my eyes when I hear Gregor and Ethan’s heavy footfalls behind me before the doors open. Stepping onto the elevator, I ignore them both. Too bad Gregor doesn’t take a hint.
He steps behind me, splaying a hand across my belly. I chide my body for melting into him. I’m still too pissed off for words.
Usually, I’d help get Chloe ready for bed, not tonight. I need some space to think. It seems everyone around me knows what’s going on with my sister except for me.
I pace the living room, mumbling to myself, trying to figure out what I’m missing. Ally has always been a bit of a handful when she wants to be, but she’s so talented. I’ve done everything I can to keep her focused on her talent.
“What am I missing?” I huff.
I make my way for the kitchen in search of my chocolate-covered strawberries and dulce de leche ice cream. I’ve been stress eating whenever it comes to Ally. She better get her shit together before my hips start to spread.
“Where the hell…” I say as I rummage through the refrigerator. I open the freezer and come up empty there as well.
Someone is trying to make me commit murder. Why?
I slam the door shut and place my palms on the cool surface. I scowl when suddenly my hands are covered by white ones, and I’m caged in by strong arms. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll run. I’m about to snap.
“That’s why the two of you ran out of this kitchen this afternoon,” I say. “You ate my ice cream and strawberries and made that little baby an accomplice.”
He doesn’t reply, causing me to tug my hands free to turn and look at him. I try to take a step back, knowing that look on his face. I had wondered if I’d ever fully see it again.
Gregor is an alpha to the core. I’ve known since Dubai that he has been restraining that impulse because of the circumstances. It looks like that restraint has snapped.
“I’ve done this dance with you because I owed it to you. But it ends now,” he says firmly. “I’m telling you to trust me because it’s best for everyone. Trust. It used to be so simple between us. I take responsibility for my part in its loss, but I’ve done everything in my power to gain it back—”
“Except for telling me what’s going on,” I snap back.
“Because you don’t need to know!”
“Fuc—”
“Don’t. We’re beyond that now. Don’t disrespect me. You know how I feel.” He moves in closer, crowding my space. Then licks his lips. “Maybe we’ve been doing this wrong. I think I know what we both need.”
“I’m not going there with you,” I whisper.
“Why?” he asks, tilting his head. “Are you afraid that it will feel right to let go? We’ve both been thinking too much. In our feelings about the past. It’s time I free us both, baby.”