Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
“I’ll grab a coffee and then I’ll put some clothes on.” Derek moves to the coffee machine.
“Did you hear me? She’s on her way here.”
“Message and tell her to buzz penthouse three from the main entrance but then to walk over to our door. You can buzz her in. I’ll put the app on your phone. Here. I’ll message her and explain that.”
He holds a hand out for my phone. “You wanna make us some coffee while I do this?” He takes my phone out of my hand when I make no moves.
I stare blankly as he walks out of the room with my phone. He comes back with his phone in one hand, mine in the other and sits on the couch, puts his phone down, and does something else on my phone.
“Please. Lots of cream and three sugars,” he says.
I stare blankly for another few seconds before ungluing myself and moving to the kitchen to turn the coffee machine on.
After I make two coffees, he passes me my phone and kisses my forehead. “Thanks.” He grabs the creamier coffee.
My phone makes a strange chime.
“That’s it,” Derek reaches over and touches my screen. “I’ll open it and we’ll see who’s there. There are commands there to answer and speak through the intercom as well as commands to open the door so she can get in.” He points to the commands as he explains and then touches one.
“Alannah?” he calls, after her face appears on the screen.
“Let me in,” she answers aggressively.
She’s ready for a fight.
“Go to the other door to the left. It’ll open. Come up to penthouse three. I’m sure Chloe will open the door up here and watch for you.”
“Right,” she says.
She looks angry.
He hits a command and walks away. I’m left gob smacked as he sips his coffee while casually moving down the hall to the bedroom.
As he crosses the threshold into the master, he takes the towel off with his free hand. I turn away and try to clear my head of the fuzzy feeling he’s left me with.
I take a sip of the much-needed coffee and then set it down before I move to the door, unlock it, and open it. And just in time because Alannah is marching down the hall angrily, holding her cell phone in her hand.
Her eyes hit mine and then she wraps her arms around me. “You okay?”
I nod while squeezing her for a long beat before I gesture for her to come inside.
“Come with me,” she hisses.
I shake my head and gesture for her to come inside.
“Where is he?” she asks as she takes in the space.
I point toward the hall.
He calls out, “I’m just getting decent. I’ll be there in a second. I’ll make us all some pancakes. You hungry, Alannah?”
Alannah turns to face me, and her eyes are practically crossed. She’s got alarm in all of her features as she mouths, “Pancakes?”
I lift my index finger and draw air circles around my ear.
Derek comes out and sees this. He lets out a little snort of laughter.
He’s dressed in second-skin faded jeans. He’s buttoning a white dress shirt. His hair is still damp, he’s barefoot, and he hasn’t shaved in a few days. I know Alannah is taking all that in. It’s hard not to.
“It should be a crime to look that good and be a psychopath, shouldn’t it?” Alannah says under her breath.
“I’ll make you a coffee,” is my reply.
Because I don’t know what else to say. I don’t know what to expect here, because Derek is completely unpredictable.
Alannah looks around and then speaks. “Listen, pal. I realize you’re accustomed to getting what you want. And we all know Chloe Turner is the whole package, but just because she’s been sweet so far–”
“Let me save you some trouble,” Derek interrupts, lifting his palm. “You don’t have to worry about Chloe. She’s going to be just fine. More than fine. I’ll see to that personally. I agree, I am accustomed to getting what I want. Because I go after it. With purpose and intent. I wanted her and here she is.” He gestures in my direction. “What you also need to know is that this girl has never been safer. She’ll never want for anything. She’s here because I worked to get her here and I’m not about to do anything that’d hurt her. On the contrary, I’m happy I get to work on my goal with no distractions. Doing whatever it takes to make her happy.”
“Happy?” Alannah asks.
“Happy. Personally. Professionally. Physically.”
My feet are still glued to the spot, though my eyes are bouncing between my best friend and Derek, shocked at his matter-of-fact declaration. I’m braced to see what Alannah does next.
“I’ve heard some concerning facts as well as rumors about your family.”
Derek shrugs.
Alannah continues, “Most concerning that several women have gone missing when they get tangled up with the Steele brothers,” she states.