Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
But Brody knew the Fox. There was a reason for all of this. Part of him longed to come clean to Ink. He hated that anyone thought badly about the Fox.
However, he also hated what the Fox was doing to Autumn. She wasn’t doing well. Brody could barely get her to eat. And she was drinking so much caffeine that he knew she was feeling the side effects. Jittery, anxious, and unable to sleep.
If the Fox didn’t figure his shit out and come back to them soon, Brody was going to have to step up as her Dom. And he had no fucking clue how to do that.
“What’s going on?” Ink asked. “You’ve been distracted and off for a while now. Tell me.”
Shit.
He couldn’t lie. He was a terrible liar. Although he was doing better than he’d thought at keeping everything that was happening a secret. Probably because Ink had never come out and asked him.
Like he was right now.
“Brody, you know you can tell me anything, right? I’ll always look out for you, man.”
Ink was an awesome boss and an amazing friend. He might look like a surfer crossed with a tattoo model, but he was smart and resourceful.
He would help. In whatever way he could.
But Brody had promised not to tell. And more than that, he knew the Fox had some sort of plan.
He was going to kill that bastard when he saw him again.
“There . . . it . . . I . . .”
“Hey, Brody.”
Saved by Stone. Brody slumped in relief as the big man walked in. He’d been terrified of Stone when he first met him. He was huge and kind of gruff. But Stone was one of the good guys. When you talked, he listened. And he never tried to force his will on anyone. He made you want to be better, to gain his approval, just by looking at you.
“I went by your apartment last night to check on you,” Stone told him.
“You did? Why?”
“You’ve been kind of off lately, and I never seem to be able to talk to you. Have you moved out?”
Ink stared down at Brody, as though he could read him, hear his thoughts.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Why?” Ink asked. “That apartment was perfect for you to catch the bus here. Is something wrong?”
“No. Not wrong. I met someone.”
“Like an actual human person?” Ink asked.
Stone glared at Ink who groaned. “Fuck, I just realized how that sounded. Brody, I’m sorry.”
“No worries. I promise, she’s not a robot or a hologram.”
“Jesus, asshole,” Stone muttered to Ink.
Ink sighed. “Brody, don’t just shrug off my apology. That was out of line, man. And I’m glad you’ve met a girl.”
“Thanks.”
“And you’ve moved in with her?” Stone asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’m happy for you, man. Can we meet her?” Ink asked as Brody’s phone rang.
Brody stared down at it in alarm. “Um, yep. Shit. I have to go.”
“What’s wrong?” Ink asked.
“She’s set the house on fire.” Fear filled him as he grabbed his wallet and keys and raced out of the room.
“Wait! I’ll drive you!” Stone yelled.
Autumn sat on the front stoop of her house, trying to ward off the panic attack. Nothing bad had really happened. Yes, there had been a little fire, but she’d put it out.
She probably shouldn’t have texted Brody when she’d been in a panic.
A car pulled up outside her house and she tensed until she saw Brody get out of the front passenger seat. She was barely aware of a big man getting out of the driver’s seat.
He didn’t matter. Standing, she raced toward Brody and threw herself at him. They landed on the ground with a thump, but she didn’t care about that either.
She just needed him.
“Fuck, man, you good?” the voice was a deep rumble above her.
“Yeah, it’s okay. I’m used to this. Tutu, I’m going to sit up, okay?”
She nodded. She didn’t care what he did as long as he didn’t let her go.
“Sweetie? What happened?”
She was stupid, that’s what had happened. She shrunk in on herself.
Then she felt him touch her chin, tilting her face back. “Hey, none of that. It’s all right.”
“It’s not. I nearly burned the house down.”
“Looks like it’s still standing to me.” The big guy crouched down next to them.
She peeked out at him warily. She didn’t know who he was and she wasn’t going to trust him.
“Stone’s right. It’s still there, Tutu. What happened?”
“I was trying to do an experiment. And it kind of blew up. There were flames. I panicked, but then I remembered the fire extinguisher and put it out.”
“Well done, sweetie. Did you call the fire department?”
“No. Wasn’t that bad.” It had scared her more than anything else. She might have overreacted.
Just a touch.
“Clever thinking, getting the fire extinguisher,” the big guy praised.
Who was he? She clung harder to Brody.
“You’re safe. I work with Stone. He’s a good guy.”