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)
“No, he wasn’t supposed to. He was supposed to stay in the house with you. Where he would be safe.”
“You’re in danger?” she asked Nico.
Nico winked at her. “Only danger I’m in is Liam lecturing me to death.”
A lecture? Is that what he thought he had coming? Liam didn’t think so. But Nico shot him another look. Right. He didn’t think Lottie could handle the truth? Had anyone bothered asking Lottie what she could handle?
“That was my fault, though. If you’re going to blame someone, blame me.”
“And how would it be your fault, Lottie?” Liam asked curiously. He turned to look at Regent, wondering what was taking him so long. But he had his phone to his ear.
“It was my fault Ace was hurt and we had to rush out the door. Nico was trying to carry Ace and keep me from panicking. I had a panic attack when I got here, and he helped me. So, you see, it’s my fault.”
“Is this the way it’s going to go then?” Liam said with some amusement. “The two of you ganging up against me?”
“Well, together we don’t even have a chance of making your body weight, so . . . ” Nico teased.
“Watch it,” Liam warned. But he’d toned down his voice for Lottie’s sake. She was staring between them both with wide eyes.
“Gang up on you? Why would I . . . I’d never,” she told him, sounding anxious.
“Marshmallow,” Nico said.
Her nervousness seemed to fade.
“Is that some sort of code word or something?” He liked that they were so close. It would help their effort to win her over. But a part of him acknowledged that he couldn’t let Nico do all the work. At some stage, Liam had to figure out a way to get close to her without running her off.
It was going to be tough for a man who didn’t usually care who the fuck he alienated.
“I’ve just talked to Jardin,” Regent said as he returned, putting his phone in his pocket. “They’re going to be taking Ace home soon. He’s fine. They gave him something that’s made him sleepy. Got a cast on his arm that Jardin says he wants everyone to sign. Jardin said he’ll bring him around in a few days to see you, okay?”
“Good,” Lottie said with relief. “I just didn’t want to leave until I knew.”
“Then it’s time to go home. You don’t need to be here.” Regent held out his hand to her and she reached up, taking it.
Regent nodded to them coolly. Lottie tugged on Regent’s arm, and he bent down while she whispered something to him. Liam turned to Nico, who looked so disappointed that it hurt him.
“I need to apologize for the way I just behaved. Lottie just told me how much you helped her, took care of her and Ace,” Regent said stiffly to Nico. “I owe you a debt of gratitude. There’s another car here waiting to take you both back to our place. Let’s go. Darling, you want me to carry you?”
Lottie shot a look at Nico then shook her head. “Just guide me. I don’t want people looking at me.”
Regent wrapped his arm around her, pulling her in.
Well, at least they weren’t being kicked to the curb.
6
Nico paced up and down the bedroom.
“Are you going to come to bed or wear a hole in the carpet? It’s ugly as shit anyway. What’s with the red carpet?” Liam asked as he lay back on the bed.
“Something’s wrong,” Nico told him.
“Yeah, you’re over there and I’m here. Come here. We still need to chat about today.”
Nico shook his head. “Not now, Liam.”
What the fuck?
Liam felt a surge of worry followed by anger. He breathed through it. He’d been cold for so long. Any emotions other than anger or resentment had been long frozen. Until Nico. He was the only one who could truly get to him. Well, him and Lottie.
“Excuse me?” he asked.
Nico turned to face him, letting out a deep breath. “I didn’t . . . I don’t mean it like that. I’m not dismissing or rejecting you. But you didn’t see what I did today.”
“What do you mean? What did you see?”
“With Lottie. There’s something . . . ” He ran a hand over his face, looking drained.
“You’re exhausted. You need sleep.” Liam found this part harder. Trying to care for someone else. He could only go by how Nico acted with him and from what caring he could remember having from his mother before her death. But he’d been young, and those memories were hard to access. “Come to bed.”
“I can’t. Liam, she needs us.”
“Lottie? She’ll be asleep by now.”
“And if she’s not? You didn’t see her today. There’s more going on than we know.”
“What do you mean?” Liam sat up, staring at his husband. “More what?”