Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
A few minutes later, Maddox signals the all-clear. It takes ten minutes to get back to the compound, and I don’t breathe easily until the doors close behind us and I see Broderick standing at the top of the steps at the house. Another signal that everything is as it should be.
Paranoid, yes. But my paranoia has kept my brothers alive for eight long years. No reason to let our guard down now. We start to get out of the SUV, but Harlow touches my arm. “A moment?”
“Sure.” I ignore the strange look on Eli’s face and wait for everyone to empty out of the vehicle before I turn to her. “What do you need?”
She blinks. “Just like that?”
“I’m not saying I’m giving you anything you want, but you obviously need something because you’ve got shit bothering you. What is it?”
But she doesn’t look reassured. If anything, she seems more confused. “How did you know something’s bothering me?”
I study her face, but her surprise isn’t feigned. “You’re quieter than normal, and you’ve been fighting not to wring your hands since you got in the car. You also won’t look at Eli, which I would assume is just the new normal, but there’s a tension that wasn’t there earlier. So, did he figure out a way to get to you, or are you still angry about how things went last time you were alone together?”
Her mouth works, but no words come out. Fuck, he really did a number on her, didn’t he? I still don’t get it. Eli is too smart to fuck it up so thoroughly with a woman like this, but it seems to be exactly what he’s done. I lean down until our faces are even. “Why are you so surprised that someone noticed how you were feeling, Harlow?”
“Now you’re just being cruel.” She looks away but only for a moment. “Everything I do, I do for my people.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that before.”
She takes a deep breath. “I’m going to be sharing Eli’s bed every other night for this year. It will minimize the chance he’ll try something, and it’s a small sacrifice to make to see that happen.”
I wait, but she just sits there, barely seeming to breathe. I could demand to know how the fuck he got to her, but it’s a moot point. Eli is making his first play, and he’s using the one thing Harlow can’t ignore. Guess you can pay attention when you want something, you fucking dick. “No.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I lean back and reach for the car door. “He wants to be in your bed, he can join us there. His choice.” I climb out and turn around to look at her. Harlow’s gone even paler than normal, and a little too wide around the eyes. “You got a problem with that?”
She slowly shakes her head. “What are you hoping to accomplish with this?”
“That’s my business.” I shut the door and head for the stairs. Cohen and Broderick are waiting for me there. After the briefest consideration, I nod at Broderick. “Make sure Harlow gets into the house.” He’s too careful to push her, and I can’t guarantee Cohen won’t start issuing threats. He wasn’t overly keen on this plan to begin with, because by nature of having a Bride, we’re letting the enemy close enough to strike. A balance we have to make sure we’re not on the wrong side of.
“Got it.” Broderick starts down the stairs.
“Playing with fire,” Cohen murmurs.
I shoot him a look. “Worry about yourself. Tell Finnegan to report anything he hears in the Old Town meeting. And then get some rest. You look like shit.”
“You’re one to talk.” But he just heads into the house without another word. I could tell Maddox to keep an eye on him, but the other man already will. He’s a fool to want more from my brother than Cohen is capable of giving, but it’s their business. Not mine.
No, my business is heading up the stairs to his room. I bite down a grin and follow him up. I shouldn’t enjoy going round after round with Eli so much. I can say it’s all for the sake of vengeance, but there’s a spark there that didn’t exist when we were only friends. It’s as if we’ve become our true selves in the intervening years; two predators sharpening their claws on each other.
I like it. Far more than I have right to. And the fool just gave me the excuse to take things to the next level.
Tonight I’ll have Harlow in my bed… and I’ll have Eli, too.
18
Eli
I don’t make it to my door before Abel catches me. I turn without opening it. “Am I going to be locked in my room for the entire year?”
“Doesn’t seem to have stopped you.” He halts a little closer than he should. “How is it that you and Harlow managed to have another conversation without you leaving your room or her entering it?”