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)
“Never Freddy Fox. I might be a cold-blooded assassin, but I’m not a monster.”
“Whew! That was close, Freddy Fox.” She hugged him tight. “But you’re not a toy, you’re my special stuffy. So Daddy would be in trouble with the law if he took you, Freddy Fox.”
“Yes, we wouldn’t want that,” Brody said dryly.
She grinned at him. Then she grew pensive. “If we’re naughty, you won’t leave, right, Daddy?”
“Never,” he told her firmly. “If you’re naughty, there’s punishment and then forgiveness. But no one leaves. We are all in this together. A family.”
Relief filled her face and Brody gave him a look of approval. Seemed he was finally doing something right.
“Now, can we see our surprise, Daddy? Please!”
“Come on.” He held out a hand to them both, then led them to a set of stairs.
Don’t think about the fact that you’re heading further under the ground. Do not think about it.
She took slow, deep breaths, and Brody shot her a worried look. She made herself smile at him. She could do this.
“There’s a media room down there.” The Fox pointed to a door further down. “And down here is your playroom and a nursery. Although if you like the nursery, I think we should move it upstairs, closer to the main living area.”
A nursery?
“Brody isn’t a baby boy, though.”
“The nursery is for you, Tutu,” Brody told her with a grin.
“For me? You made it for me?”
“Of course I did. Come have a look. Wait.” He drew them back, letting go of their hands and turning to face them. “If you don’t like it, you can change anything.”
She looked up at Brody, then slid her hand into his.
“Of course we’ll like it,” Brody told him.
She nodded, incapable of talking right then. Her nerves were getting the better of her. And the fact that the Fox was nervous made her even more so. When she stepped inside, her jaw dropped. This was . . . amazing. The ceiling was higher in this room, and a huge play area had been installed. It was tall. There was a ladder off the side and a slide that led into a ball pit. A rock climbing wall and an archery set. Then in another area of the room there was a pink tent set up with cushions inside it and fairy lights hanging around the entrance. There were cupboards along the wall.
“These are all filled with toys,” he said, pointing to the cupboard. “There are board games, chemistry sets, educational toys, stuffies.”
Brody opened them all up. “Did you raid a toy store?”
The Fox just shrugged and she stared at him in amazement.
“This place is epic,” she whispered.
“There’s another area over here.” The Fox opened another door and inside was a small dark room with four bean bag chairs, a huge TV, and two desks with gaming chairs and laptops.
Along the walls were shelves filled with superhero figurines in their boxes. As well as teddy bears dressed in different outfits. And mounted on the wall were two light sabers.
“I think I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Brody said with a groan.
“You like it?” the Fox asked.
Brody turned and threw himself at the other man who had to take a step back to keep his balance.
The Fox laughed. Genuinely laughed. Both of them stared at him in amazement.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it!” Brody said.
“Me too, Daddy! You’re the bestest.”
“There’s one more area to show you.” He took her hand and led her out, across the playroom to another door. When he opened it, her legs went weak.
“Oh, Daddy. It’s beautiful.” And it was. Done in deep green and pale pink with touches of gold. It was her dream room. The walls were a pale pink, but the roof was a dark blue that almost looked black.
There was a bed in one corner with a green velvet cover and a crib in the other corner with the same cover. The material had images of bunnies, foxes, and bears on it.
Perfect.
By the bed was a nightstand with a gold lamp on top and the drawer handles were all gold.
There was a rocking chair next to the crib with a gold and pink striped blanket over it that looked so snuggly, she immediately moved over to grab it, wrapping it around herself.
A soft, fluffy, pale pink rug lay over the floor and she moved to sit on it, pulling over a basket filled with building blocks.
“Look, Brody-bear, we can build things!”
A white changing table with a set of drawers next to it made up the last of the furniture. She wasn’t sure how she felt about needing a changing table.
The Fox crouched in front of her. Brody sat as well, and she looked at them with a smile. “This is incredible!”
The Fox slid an arm around Brody, then took her hand. “I know that this isn’t easy having to be here. Isolated and secure. And I wish I could say that one day things will be easier, but they might never be. That’s why I want you both to be happy here.”