Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“Only a little,” Sage reassured her with a soft smile. “I’m fine now.”
Phoebe’s shoulders slumped. “I hate that you were hurt at all.”
I glanced at my watch and calculated how long it would take to get to the rehab center before they closed. We needed to hit the road.
“Sorry to break this up.” I jerked my chin toward the SUV. “But it’s time for us to go.”
“Where are you taking him?” Phoebe cried, clutching her brother’s arm as he tried to climb into the passenger seat of the SUV.
“He’s agreed to go back into rehab.” Arrow explained how strict the place was and hope filled Phoebe’s eyes.
She turned to me, her lashes fluttering, and ensnared me in her beautiful blue orbs for a second. “Thank you for helping my brother.”
“My pleasure,” I murmured, my voice thick with desire. There was also a promise in those two words. A promise that she’d see me again, and then the pleasure would be all hers.
Phoebe’s cheeks filled with a pink blush, letting me know she wasn’t immune to the crackling electricity between us. I winked at her, and she ducked her head as her brother and I climbed into the SUV.
As we drove away, I glanced in the rearview mirror to see her still watching the vehicle. I knew I wanted her, but right then, I realized I’d bit the dust along with my teammates.
Phoebe was mine.
It was well after dark when I returned home, and for the first time since I moved into my condo, I felt how empty it was with just me there. I’d only moved off base six months ago, but I was certainly glad I made the change since I intended to have Phoebe permanently moved in with me as quickly as possible.
I lay in bed for a long time, making plans for the next day. Grabbing Phoebe after work and kidnapping her didn’t seem like the smartest idea…no matter how appealing it sounded.
Dinner was a safer bet. I’d take her out, and we could get to know each other. I wouldn’t push her, but I could still hope that we’d end up back at my place, burning up the sheets.
Eventually, I fell asleep, but my night was restless because I kept waking up hot and bothered by dreams about Phoebe.
The sun was barely cresting the horizon when I gave up and padded into my bathroom to take an arctic shower.
My cell was ringing when I stepped out, and I wrapped a towel around my waist before hurrying out to the bedroom.
When I saw who was calling, I sighed. A mission.
For the first time since becoming a SEAL, I found myself wishing I didn’t have to go.
After receiving my orders, I called a friend who put me in touch with Jonah Carrington, who owned one of the best security companies in the world. He agreed to have eyes—female eyes—on my girl while I was gone. To protect her, of course. And to make sure no other males got anywhere near my Phoebe.
1
PHOEBE
Staring up at the brick building in front of me, I started to have second thoughts about coming here. It had been almost a full month since I’d last seen my brother, but I was still so angry with him over the trouble he had brought to my door because of his addiction. Paul had hurt me so many times before, but the pain had always been emotional—never physical. And none of my friends had suffered because of anything he’d done until his latest mess, getting in so deep with a drug dealer that he’d come looking for me and found Sage, my best friend, instead.
She had also been my roommate until she moved in with her new husband. As happy as I was for her, having her move out had sucked. I tried to look on the bright side, though. At least something good had come out of her being accosted by a drug dealer since she met Arrow when she fled our apartment.
Heaving a deep sigh, I grabbed my phone to call Sage. I had told her where I was going this morning, so I wasn’t surprised when she picked up on the first ring. “How is Paul?”
“I haven’t seen him yet. I’m still sitting in my car, wondering if I made the right decision coming here today.” Pinching the bridge of my nose between my index finger and thumb, I heaved a deep sigh. “I’m not sure I’m ready to face him when I haven’t forgiven him for what happened to you.”
“Stop worrying about me and focus on what you need to do for yourself.”
This wasn’t the first time Sage had encouraged me to get over what had happened to her because of my Paul’s actions. She had somehow moved past everything when I hadn’t been able to do the same. Probably because she had Arrow’s support through it all while I only had my parents—whose loyalties were divided between my brother and me.