Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Well, with the police no doubt searching for us, we might have no choice.
But it’ll be a cold day in hell before we leave without her.
Somehow I doubt she’s ready to hear that, since we’re on one side of the island and she’s on the other, holding the bag of coffee as if it’s garlic to ward off a vampire.
“Naturally it bothers you that we’re convicted felons, Wendy…” I start to make a joke, something to break the thick tension in the kitchen, but I realize I’m on borrowed time. I have strong feelings for this woman, as does Ruger. Speaking for myself, I’m on the verge of fucking obsession here. And it’s not the jokes that are going to keep her in our lives. It’s honesty.
It’s opening up. Revealing myself in a way I’ve never done.
Damn it all.
“I became very good at pretending, Wendy. At a young age. My father was a tyrant who expected perfection from his only son. I was browbeaten…hourly, it seemed. When I was among my friends, though, I learned to fake happiness. To never let my mask slip. And so being a con came naturally. At first, running scams was a fuck you to the old man, but eventually it was just as natural as breathing. I could be someone else and that meant never having to acknowledge how god-awful I’ve been feeling for so long.” I break off when my voice begins to sound winded, attempting a smile and failing. “There you go. There’s my sob story.”
I can feel Ruger’s eyes on my back and don’t dare turn around.
For once in my life, I don’t want the focus on me. “Anyway, Ruger’s story is worse than mine. I left home by choice. He was never given one.”
“Is that true?” Wendy says softly.
And I like that she is so quietly encouraging to him. He needs that. The fact that she gives him kindness so instinctively makes me love her more.
Yes, love her. I can’t help it.
The moment she walked past the cell, my heart became her lifelong prisoner.
Ruger moves into my periphery. “I had a lot of brothers and sisters. They were smaller, from a different father. I just…grew and grew. My clothes never fit and I was always hungry. My mother had no choice but to toss me out—”
“Yes, she did,” I snap, shocked by the whip crack of indignation inside of me. “She did.”
Ruger is as stunned as I feel. “Um…” After a moment, he looks back at Wendy and continues. “When I left home, I found Klay. He…attracts people. I knew he would need protection. He disagreed at first, but he’s never made me leave. Even when I annoy him.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell Ruger he never annoys me. That I feign irritation as a defense mechanism for whatever…discomfort lies between us. But he’s already had my dick in his hand tonight. Stroked it…well. Perfectly, if I’m being honest. So I think we’ve gone far enough. Admitting I like having the big lug around might encourage more and I’m never going to be ready for that.
I’m not attracted to Ruger in the same way I’m attracted to Wendy.
I can’t be.
Christ, what would my father say—
When that disturbing and useless thought wings itself through my consciousness, I rush to cover it up. “So you see, Wendy, the life chose us. And it went too far.” I wait until her beautiful eyes are locked on mine. “But we would never hurt you. Never.”
“We’re here to protect you,” Ruger adds, moving around the island in Wendy’s direction, as if he’s being pulled by gravity. I hold my breath as he reaches her. Takes the coffee from her hands and sets it down on the counter. His big cock is straining at the front of his pants and I wonder if he’s going to fuck her right in the middle of our important conversation—God knows I wouldn’t blame him—but instead, he runs a knuckle down the smooth side of her neck, sliding his fingers up her nape and gripping the roots of her hair lightly. And it affects her, his touch. Her focus loses sharpness and she sways toward Ruger, nestling into his chest.
Jesus, my heart is slamming in my ribcage.
I’m so full of this…sense of homecoming, purpose, gratitude, I could burst wide open.
Though it’s a struggle, Wendy returns to the topic at hand, even though she’s being rocked by my giant bruiser of a best friend. “What do you mean, you’re here to protect me?”
I take a breath. “Your father escaped during the riot.”
She blinks, her face paling. “What? No.”
All I can do is stare back grimly.
“B-but the prison didn’t even call me. I haven’t seen anything on the news or—”
“The infirmary nurse told us the prison is trying to keep the breach quiet. They don’t want to lose their funding.”