Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 65(@200wpm)___ 52(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 65(@200wpm)___ 52(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
“Yeah, but there’s…” He paused, like he was trying to find the right word to use. “Stipulations,” he finally settled on.
I tensed. I didn’t like the sound of that. Was I being freed from down here just to be a prisoner in other ways? I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“What kind of stipulations?” I blurted, half-fearing his words.
He crouched behind me where I couldn’t see him, and I froze in fear when I felt the blade of his knife press against the zip ties to cut them. “I’m not letting you leave here. Your father…” He sighed, the sound weighted in fury. “It’s a bad fucking idea. But while you’re here, you have to sleep in my room. Blink doesn’t ever want you alone.”
I blew out a soft breath, my shoulders sagging as I brought my now free wrists around to look down at them. They were bloody and raw and painful. They desperately needed to be treated. “That’s not so bad, I don’t think,” I said quietly, avoiding his gaze as he kneeled by my feet to free my ankles as well. I would at least have a bed to sleep in, and Blink had given his word that they wouldn’t harm me. That was… something, at least.
Carver suddenly gripped my chin in a tight grip, though it wasn’t painful, and turned my head to look at him. Our gazes clashed, and my breath hitched in my throat. This man had no right being as gorgeous as he was. Those damn hazel eyes threatened to suck me in and drown me.
“I’m going to do my best to make this as comfortable as possible for you,” he promised me. “All I ask is for your cooperation in return, okay?”
I ran my eyes over his face, looking for some hint that this was just a load of bullshit. But when his gaze didn’t waver, I slowly nodded.
I was free… but was I really? Wasn’t this just another form of imprisonment? I didn’t even know if Carver and his brothers would be better or worse than dealing with my father and his men.
He helped me up from the chair, and I groaned, wincing at the pain that pulsed through my legs from sitting so long. They tingled, threatening to give out from beneath me, but I still managed to put one foot in front of the other, allowing Carver to lead me up the stairs and into the main part of the clubhouse.
When we emerged from the stairwell, my eyes instantly landed on Lindsey.
She was leaning over a younger boy with dark hair and bruises on his skin. A textbook was laid out on the bar in front of him, and he looked to be working on a problem with her guidance. Feeling my eyes on her, she paused speaking and turned, her eyes meeting mine.
Despite weeks having passed since her accident, yellowish bruises and scabbed-over cuts littered her exposed body. I swallowed vomit, my hands beginning to tremble at my sides. What had she looked like when the accident happened? Just how badly had my father hurt her? Was a little more business really worth someone’s life—someone innocent?
I didn’t think it was. He was already a fucking outlaw millionaire. Why did he have to have more? Why couldn’t he just let it go? Hurting someone—killing someone—over money was not worth it. It never would be.
“You must be Jennifer,” Lindsey said, smiling at me like I wasn’t part of what happened to her. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?”
“I—I—” Words failed me. Tears blurred my vision, and a lump formed in my throat. “I’m so sorry,” I croaked. “I’m so fucking sorry my family did this to you.”
At my words, the boy swung around, glaring at me so fiercely, I took a step back in fear, only for my back to meet Carver’s chest. His hands settled on my hips, his body warm and his presence soothing to my frayed nerves and my overwrought emotions.
“No,” Lindsey said softly, her face falling. “Jennifer, don’t. This wasn’t your fault. From what my husband has told me, you’re a victim of your family, too. Don’t do that.”
A tear ran down my cheek. “But—”
She shook her head and moved forward, clasping my hands in hers. She gave them a gentle squeeze. “We’re going to keep you safe,” she promised me. “I’m okay. I don’t hold a single grudge against you. My husband and this family will make your family pay—for both of us. Of that, I can promise.”
My lips trembled. “I don’t deserve this kindness.”
Carver’s lips brushed my ear. “You do,” he murmured. “You deserve this, and I’m going to make sure one day, you understand just how much.”
I shivered at his words, my breath hitching in my throat at his softly spoken words. Lindsey leaned in and kissed my cheek, smiling softly at me. How was she capable of being so nice? I didn’t know if I’d be able to in her shoes. My father’s club had almost killed her. “Why don’t you go get settled? We look to be about the same size, so I’ll bring some clothes up for you to wear while you’re here.”