Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94686 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“So we’re trying to find them now,” I added.
“Because you think Dawn or Lucy has the gun?” Troy asked.
“Yes.” Chase sat back down on the bed.
“I don’t like this waiting-for-a-motherfucker-to-come-kill-my-sister shit. She’s not prey or some bait for a trap.”
“Of course not,” Chase said.
Troy looked at me and pointed at Chase. “This guy isn’t for you, Jazz.”
Chase interrupted before I could say anything. “It doesn’t matter. You’re going to have to understand two things about me, Troy. One, I’m going to spend my life protecting Jasmine whether she desires it or not. I’m the reason why Dawn or Lucy is after her. I’ll be the reason why they’ll fail. Two, even if she left with you now, she would be in danger. You must realize that with me she’s safer.”
“Didn’t all of the women die with you around?” Troy asked.
I didn’t have to check Chase’s face to know that question upset him.
“Yes,” Chase admitted. “They were around me, but I didn’t think any of them would be in danger.”
“Shit. It only took three women dying to figure it out?”
“Troy, that’s not fair,” I said.
“Wasn’t fair for the women, either.”
“Okay. We’re done.” I gestured toward the open door. “We can talk in the morning. I’m not going anywhere yet so you can just wait until after I wake up.”
“I haven’t decided if you can stay yet.” Troy turned to Chase. “I’m going to need more than assurances if I let my sister stay.”
“You don’t get to decide if I stay or not. I do.” I touched my own chest.
“What do you need?” Chase asked.
“Really?” I glanced at him. “Are you two going to just sit there and haggle over where I’ll be?”
“Your brother is worried for you. I won’t have him stressing you out even more or causing trouble.” Chase sighed. “What do you need, Troy?”
“You can keep whatever guys are already around Jazz, but from this day on, I’m the only person that gets close to protect her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Apparently, you’re not only a felon, but you’re a freaking super body guard.”
Troy got up from the wall. “I want a gun on me.”
“You’re on probation,” I said. “You can’t carry around firearms.”
“I’ll make it happen for you.” Chase nodded.
“I want any additional information and binders on all the women who died,” Troy continued. “And I want the truth from your ass.”
“You’ll know everything that I know.” Chase nodded.
“What is up with those two locked rooms?” Troy asked.
“Except that. It doesn’t relate to Jasmine’s safety.”
“I say it does.”
“It doesn’t.” Chase’s expression hardened. “You’ll just have to believe me. But you’ll know anything else. If I feel the rooms are relevant then I’ll consider more discussion, but for now, that’s a no.”
“This isn’t a fucking suggestion session. If I don’t find out everything that you know, then Jazz leaves.”
Chase grinned. “You’re a good man and loyal brother, but you’re going to have to realize when you’re not in the favoring position.”
“Meaning?”
“You don’t want to separate me from your sister. Things could get really inconvenient for everyone.”
Troy closed his fingers into fists. “Is that some sort of threat, rich boy?”
“Okay. There are no threats.” I made sure to get between them even though neither appeared to be jumping into battle.
“If you want more information, I’ll provide it,” Chase said. “However, Jasmine remains with me. Ask what you need, and I’ll give it if I can. Most would say that is a fair agreement.”
“Most wouldn’t let their sister stay with a guy that keeps a killer around him,” Troy countered.
“That’s fair, since you’re clearly a better man who understands it’s in our best interests to work together and not apart, what do you need to know?”
“What happened when everyone was thirteen? Was that when this Mac was murdered?”
“Yes,” Chase said.
“Dawn’s high school information is not in her binder. What happened with her?”
“I don’t know why it would be out of her binder. She put them all together so maybe she didn’t want me to be reminded of her wild times.”
“So she was a ho in high school? That’s it?” Troy asked.
Leave it to Troy to be as eloquent as possible.
“Let’s just say that Dawn really started experimenting with girls during those years.”
Something about what Chase said made me uneasy. “Did Dawn ever have a relationship with Lucy?”
“It’s possible, but I doubt it.” Chase got up and put on his shirt. For once, I was glad to see him clothed. I’d been sneaking glances at that chest, and now wasn’t the time to be ogling him. I had to make sure I was safe. Finding out as much as I could would probably make a difference in my getting my behind shot again or not.
“Let’s just head downstairs to the kitchen and discuss them some more, since we’re clearly not getting any sleep until your brother’s at ease.” Chase captured my hand and gently guided me out of the room, while Troy trailed behind us, mumbling curse words and stresses.