Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Have a great day, ma’am,” I told her before I turned on my heel to follow after Hayley.
“He needs some ravioli and spaghetti-o’s,” Hayley told me as she stopped in front of the canned food.
I leaned down and grabbed a few cans of each, putting them into the cart. “Milk?” I asked her. “Juice?” I was completely unsure of what this kid actually needed.
She grinned at me. “You’re so cute when you’re unsure of yourself, Miles.”
I released a low growl as I yanked her against me. I leaned down and nuzzled her neck. Her breath hitched in her throat, and I smirked. I loved the effect that I had on this woman. “Am I so cute now?” I grumbled as I pressed a kiss to her rapidly beating pulse.
“N-no,” she stuttered out.
I released her with a wicked grin. She blew out a soft breath as she tried to regain back control of her senses and her composure. “Come on. I don’t know what William can and cannot eat, and I’m still learning what he likes,” I reminded her.
“Dada,” William suddenly said. I jerked my attention over to him to see him looking up at me, a wide, mostly toothless grin on his face.
I sucked in a sharp breath, my eyes snapping to Hayley. I wasn’t sure if she was okay with that. I had never taught William the word, though I’m sure he heard Quinn coaxing Isabelle to say it. I wanted to be a father figure to William, but I wouldn’t step on Hayley’s toes. This was ultimately her decision. I wanted to be with Hayley—make her mine—and I wanted to be a family with her and William, but I would never intrude of the part of her life that was Damien’s.
She reached out and grabbed my hand, squeezing it gently. “It’s okay, Miles,” she assured me, her eyes slightly pained, but still beaming at me. I knew she was missing Damien.
I blew out a soft breath in relief. Hayley leaned forward on the cart as she headed for the juice aisle. “Is that Daddy?” she asked William as she pointed a finger at me.
William eagerly nodded his head, reaching out for me. “Dada,” he called, his fingers making grabbing motions.
I laughed, feeling my throat close up with emotion as I lifted him out of the cart, holding him in my arms. “Yeah, kiddo—Daddy,” I told him softly, pressing a kiss to his head.
I promise I’ll raise him and love him just as you would have, Damien.
I flipped through the file Quinn had given me. Hayley sat next to me, looking at the file I held in my hands. She sucked in a sharp breath. “Miles, why do you have that?” she asked me quietly, nervousness filling her voice. I could also hear an undertone of fear.
I looked over at her, meeting her gorgeous blue eyes. “Because I’m holding true to my promise—I’m keeping you protected,” I told her.
“These people are dangerous,” she told me, swallowing thickly. “You’ll get hurt.” Fear danced in her eyes—fear of losing someone else again. She had already lost so much.
I shook my head at her. “You know better than that. I know what I’m doing, and I never go in blind.” I reminded her.
Her bottom lip trembled as her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t lose you, too,” she choked out, finally voicing her real fear.
I set the file on the arm of the couch and wrapped her up in my arms. “You won’t lose me, Hayley. I know what I’m doing,” I assured her. “I’m not Damien. I know I’m not invincible. I take extreme measures to make sure that I don’t suffer the same fate he did. You will not lose me,” I tried reassuring her, but I know my words weren’t truly helping her.
I knew the only thing she pictured was Damien covered in blood and dying in front of her. Hell, some nights, it still haunted me.
She wrapped her arms around my waist. “I can’t stop you,” she whispered. “But please promise me that you will always come back home to me safe and sound.”
I pressed my lips to the top of her head. “I can’t promise safe and sound, but I can promise alive, Hayley,” I assured her.
She nodded, knowing that was as good as I could give her.
I will not fail you, Hayley. You have my word, I silently promised her.
21
I watched as Miles strapped a bulletproof vest around his chest and torso, shrugging on a plain black hoodie over it afterward. I was holding William on my hip, my nerves just about shot. It had been a week since Miles had gone over the information Quinn had given him, and they were doing their raid on the strip club tonight because the man who bought me was supposed to be there.