Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Liam wasn’t happy. He crossed his arms over his chest, prepared to still do it when Nico gestured at Lottie who was nodding at something Regent was whispering to her.
Fine. Fuck.
Liam turned his gaze from Nico to take in their girl. A fine tremble shook her. He looked to Nico in concern.
“Lottie, what are you doing here?” Regent asked. Her gaze settled on her brother.
Fuck. He hated that she looked to him for guidance and strength.
Instead of Liam.
“Why didn’t you stay at home and let Gerald handle all of this?” Regent asked in a gentle voice. Liam had only ever heard him use that voice with his sister.
“Ace wanted me to come. I couldn’t let him down. It was my fault he got hurt.”
Her fault? Why? Because she’d been watching him?
“It wasn’t your fault, Lottie,” Nico told her firmly. “We were both watching him. We told him not to climb the high tree.”
“Of course, it’s not your fault,” Regent soothed. “You shouldn’t have been looking after them without me there. I’ll make it clear to Jardin that’s not to happen again.”
Lottie’s shoulders slumped and Liam clenched his hands into fists. Didn’t he see what he’d just done to her? Shouldn’t Regent be praising her? Be lifting her up, rather than telling her that she wasn’t capable?
“Yes, of course,” she whispered.
“Let’s go. We need to get you home. You’re exhausted. I’m going to carry you.”
Carry her?
Liam waited for her to tell her brother she was fine. To stop being so overbearing. But she seemed almost out of it. Like she’d sunk inside herself.
Liam shot a look at Nico, but he was staring at Lottie worriedly.
“Lottie?” Nico asked. “Do you want to go home, or do you want to wait and see how Ace is?”
“You need to butt out, this has nothing to do with you,” Regent shot at Nico.
“And you need to watch your tone,” Liam said in a low, warning voice.
“She’s my sister. I know what she needs. And right now, she needs to go home. The two of you need to step back.”
“My husband has been with her the entire day. He’s been taking care of her. You owe him a debt.”
“Liam,” Nico said warningly.
Liam ignored him as he glared at Regent. The other man gave him a cold stare back.
“This is a family matter. Neither one of you is family.”
Liam got it. And if it had been anyone other than the two people in this world he truly cared about, he wouldn’t say a word against Regent. He’d agree with him.
But this was his girl and his husband.
“Nico was merely asking Lottie what she wants to do. Something, as her brother, I’m sure you’re concerned about. Shouldn’t you be asking the same question instead of just telling her you know best?”
“You both need to stop. Now.” The power in Nico’s voice surprised Liam and he turned to look at the other man. He was staring at them both furiously. And his arm was around Lottie, who had curled her legs up to her chest. Liam frowned, not liking her defensive posture.
Fuck. He was doing the same thing Regent was. Thinking of himself. Not her.
“Shut up, both of you. Think of someone else other than your egos for once, huh?”
He deserved those words, even as they made him grind his teeth, wanting to snap back.
That wouldn’t solve anything.
“Shit,” Regent said in a low voice. “Lottie? Darling, look at me.”
She raised her face slowly, looking at Regent. Then to Liam’s shock, she turned her gaze to his. Those hazel eyes were filled with such pain that it made him flinch.
Fuck. Be gentler.
“There’s no need to be scared,” he reassured her. “No one here would harm you.”
“Remember. Marshmallow,” Nico said to her.
Marshmallow?
But for whatever reason, that seemed to work. She lowered her legs.
“What do you want to do?” Regent asked her, putting a hand back on her knee.
She was silent for a long moment, taking slow breaths in.
“I want to go home.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Wait, though,” she said, grabbing Regent’s arm. “I can’t leave without knowing how Ace is.”
“Thea is here, isn’t she?” Regent asked.
“I’m sure we can find out,” Liam said in a firm tone. “Can’t we, Regent?”
Regent glared up at him. “I’ll find out.”
Lottie gave him a shaky smile. “Thanks.”
He moved to the door and opened it, speaking quietly to the guard.
“You’re in trouble,” Liam said to Nico instead of doing what he really wanted to do, which was sit next to Lottie and draw her into his lap.
“Sorry,” Nico said in a casual voice.
“Why is he in trouble?” she asked, looking confused. “It wasn’t Nico’s fault.”
“I’m not talking about what happened with the kid,” Liam replied. “I’m talking about the fact that he left the house without calling me.”
“Oh.” She looked from him to Nico. “He wasn’t supposed to?”