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)
“I know. Even I’m surprised by her reaction. Part of her reaction could also be because of how I disappeared before Christmas.” Brody felt sick to his gut. “We both have some making up to do.”
The Fox waited for Autumn to come out of the bathroom. She had the period items he’d gotten her. Now Brody was waiting on the bed while the Fox stood and paced the bedroom floor.
“Baby girl?” he called out, pausing in front of the bathroom door.
“Coming.” She opened the door and stepped into the room, looking slightly embarrassed.
“What is it?” He drew her chin up so he could stare into her eyes.
“Sorry I’m being so . . . so emotional and stuff. It’s been a while since I’ve had my period. And I’m sore. And you . . . I missed you.”
He drew her against him, rocking her back and forth. “I missed you too, baby girl. So much.” He drew back and started pacing again. “I knew I had to be the bad guy, which is a normal role for me, or it used to be anyway. Only now I have people who depend on me. God knows, those bikers can’t keep their women safe for five minutes without me.”
“Fox,” Brody said hesitantly. “It’s all right.”
“It’s not! I hurt her! And you!” He was aware he was slightly out of control right now. Which also wasn’t like him. At all. “It was the right call. But it wasn’t the right call. It was wrong.”
“Daddy?” Autumn said quietly. “Please stop. It’s okay. We’re fine.”
“Infiltrate the enemy by gaining their trust. I thought it was the only move. Stay away from the two of you to protect you. Backfired. It backfired. How did that happen? My moves never fail.”
“Maybe because this time emotions were involved?” Brody suggested.
“I was always warned not to let anyone close. That it would mess everything up.” He stared at them starkly. “But here are the two of you, worming your way inside me. Taking up space in my head.”
“Do you wish you’d never met us?” she asked.
Never met them?
No!
“Do not ever say that!” He stormed toward her.
“Fox!” Brody warned.
But when he reached her, all he did was cup her face gently with his hands. He’d never harm her. “Never say that. You two . . . you are my world now. But I . . . the logical choice isn’t always the one that’s best for the two of you. And I didn’t realize that. I do now. I never meant to hurt you.”
She placed her hands over his. “I know, Fox. I know you didn’t.”
“I was so upset with Brody for pulling back and not taking care of you, but I didn’t see what I did as the same because I was doing it to protect you. I should have brought you both here. But that upset you too.”
“I just . . . change can be a struggle. And this place . . . I don’t like feeling like I can’t get out. But I’m not upset about being with you. I missed you, Daddy. So much.”
He reached out to grab Brody, who’d moved close to them, pulling him in. “Causing you both pain . . . it makes it feel like there’s claws gouging my insides. Making me bleed.”
Sometimes, he wasn’t sure he liked how much he was changing. Life was definitely easier before. But infinitely lonelier.
“What about Brody’s job? He’ll have to tell Ink something. Can he tell him the truth?”
“Not yet. Not until I figure this out.” He was waiting for more information from Mr. A about what he wanted.
Because he knew that it wouldn’t be as simple as just killing Dahlia. That would be too easy to fake.
There had to be more.
“I don’t know how long this will take for me to eliminate the threat to you.” Because threatening what belonged to him had put the nail in their coffin. “Pup, contact Ink tomorrow and give him an excuse. That there was a family emergency.”
“He knows my family, though.” Brody frowned. “I hate lying. I’m terrible at it. And I’ll need to call my family too.”
“Tell all of them that Autumn has a family emergency. Something they’ll believe for a few days at least.”
“I can do that.”
He kissed them both lightly. “We need to go to bed.”
Autumn drew Freddy Fox out of one pocket and one of the chocolate bars he’d bought her from the other, taking a bite.
“Chocolate?”
“Oh, sorry. Want a bite?” She held it up for them both.
“No, thanks,” he told her. “Not sure I should approve of chocolate before bed.”
“Don’t be silly, Daddy. Calories don’t count when you have your period.”
She tugged him toward the bed. Brody drew the blankets back and climbed into bed.
“I was thinking about your teeth. And your blood sugar.”