Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
“You’re coming here?” he asked, feeling ill.
“We’re coming too,” Sampson said with a grin. “We’re just sorting shit out here. But you might want to prepare some rooms. We’ll be staying with you. After all, you’re part of the family now.”
Just fucking great. A family reunion.
Sounded like his own personal hell.
Only . . . his hell had been losing Mama Jean, hadn’t it? And now he had more family that he could have imagined.
Fuck.
But it was worth it, having to put up with all of them if it meant he had Maeve.
She was worth everything.
EPILOGUE
“Look, Daddy!” she said, holding up Squish. “I gave Squish a makeover.”
Gray eyed Squish skeptically. He was wearing a new outfit that she’d made him. It consisted of a leopard print top and a pleated black skirt. He also had a fake mohawk that Dahlia created for him.
“I thought Squish was a boy.”
“He is, Daddy! It’s a kilt.” She gave Gray a sly look. “Wanna see what’s underneath?”
Gray rolled his eyes. “No, I don’t want to see what’s underneath.”
She giggled at his expression.
Two weeks had passed since her kidnapping. Gray had spent the first few nights watching her sleep and barely getting any sleep himself. Finally, she’d told him that she wasn’t going to sleep until he did.
It had been an epic battle of wills.
Okay, actually, he’d given in after a lot of grumbling. She hadn’t been lying when she said getting very little sleep made Grumpy Bear extra-extra grouchy.
But after he’d slept a solid few hours, he’d actually been far less paranoid about her disappearing.
Her friends had all descended on her for a few days. Including Cat and Alejandro. Which had been very interesting. Actually, Gray, Markovich, and Alejandro had gotten along much better than she’d imagined.
Thank God.
Cat had a fit when she’d heard what they’d been keeping from her. She’d actually threatened to put Maeve over her knee. Which had been funny and slightly alarming, since she’d probably do it.
But eventually she’d calmed down.
Immy had spent more time staring at the guy that Alejandro had left to watch over her than she had at Jenner. Maeve wasn’t sure what Jenner thought about that.
They’d all talked about James and the tattoo on his back. The way he’d talked about the Deity like he was alive. But the general consensus was that he’d been nuts.
Ilya was doing a lot better. He’d only stayed in the hospital a few nights. Triple-T was fine. And even though Dahlia was jumping at loud noises, she seemed to be doing better too.
It probably helped that Markovich had stayed home these past two weeks. Maeve knew it made her feel a lot better having Gray around.
Even if she knew the time was coming that she’d have to go outside again.
She hadn’t been outside since she’d gotten back. Every time she thought about it, she felt ill.
She really should get hold of the therapist that Gray had found for her. But she couldn’t seem to bring herself to do it.
Urgh, she was a mess.
So instead of trying to fix herself, she’d just stayed inside. Even though it had just rained again and there were some epic puddles outside.
She just . . . couldn’t do it.
“He looks really cute, girl,” Gray told her.
“I know.” She sighed in satisfaction. “You want me to give you a makeover, Daddy?”
Gray gave her an alarmed look. “No.”
“Please, Daddy. Please.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”
She pouted.
“Put that lip away.”
“All I’ll do is put a bit of mascara on your eyelashes. And maybe some blush. You’ll look amazing.”
“Maeve,” he grumbled.
“Please, Daddy. It won’t be much. And I’ll take it right off,” she pleaded.
A strange look crossed his face. “I’ll make you a deal.”
Okay, this was unexpected. She’d totally thought he’d say no. But she’d be willing to hear what he had to bargain with.
Standing, she moved over to where he sat on the floor, leaning back against the sofa. She sat on his lap, straddling him.
“What’s your deal, Daddy?”
She slid her hands around under his top.
He shivered. “Girl, your hands are freezing. You should be wearing more clothes. Or mittens.”
“Why do I need mittens when I have you to warm up my hands, Daddy?”
He just gave her a stern look. But he didn’t move her hands away from his chest.
“I’ll let you make me over, if you go outside with me and jump in puddles.”
Oh, hell.
She removed her hands, but he grabbed them, holding them firmly.
She shook her head.
“Listen to me.”
“I don’t want to.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You don’t want to listen to your Daddy?”
“Why can’t I just give you a makeover?”
“You can. But you have to come outside with me. I’ll stay with you the whole time. I’ll put men all around us. Nothing will happen. Or do you think I’d allow you to be hurt?”
Shoot. He had her now. If she didn’t go with him, he was going to think that she didn’t trust him to keep her safe.