Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s fine. More than fine. Come on, we’ve got somewhere to be.”
****
One week later
Tears filled Tulip’s eyes as the car came to a stop.
Her life. Her very existence had changed.
She was back in England, probably wealthier than when she’d left, with a brand-new apartment and a new life, away from all the chaos of the Denton world.
The cost?
Landon.
He was dead.
Gone.
She wiped at her face as more tears fell.
“This is your place now. It’s protected. There are guards, and if anything seems strange to you, or you’re not happy, give them a call. When you get in, you’ll see the file with all the relevant information. Also, this is for you. If you need to reach me or one of his brothers, the numbers are all saved in there,” Rick said, handing her a mobile phone.
“Why didn’t you save him?” she asked.
“Tulip, I told you what happened.”
“And I know how he spoke of you. He wanted this, didn’t he?” she asked. “He wanted to die to protect me.” She sobbed. Her arm still hurt from the bullet she’d taken to protect him. “I never even got to tell him that I love him. It’s not fair.”
“Life isn’t fair but you know that.”
“Don’t,” she said. “Don’t even start giving me the stupid talk. I know how fucked up life is.” She sniffled. “He died without even knowing how I felt.”
“You did love him then?”
“He’s the only person I’ve ever loved. I didn’t say it because … people leave. I didn’t want him to go and now I will never see him again.” Tulip covered her face as she sobbed out her pain. Landon was dead.
His arms would never be around her.
He would never love her.
“Landon told me you wanted your parents to die,” Rick said. “I can make that happen if you’d like. I can deal with it before I have to go back.”
She shook her head. “No. The only thing you have to tell them is I don’t want to see them, ever. They couldn’t even keep me. The least they can do is leave me the fuck alone.” She climbed out of the car.
Being near him wasn’t helping.
Landon was dead.
He was gone.
Walking into the apartment complex, she saw that it was nice, with a front desk. One of the men smiled at her, already grabbing a key.
“Hello, Ms. Vine.”
Rick had arranged for her identity to be changed. She was now Tulip Vine. Her past life gone, which was another reason why she didn’t want her family to know about her. She was supposed to live a life without Landon. Without anyone.
Taking a deep breath, she made her way up to her new place. The moment she entered, she knew the old her would have loved it. Security, space, and it was clean. No odd smells. It was perfect, everything she could ever dream of.
Only, Landon wasn’t here. Collapsing on the ground, she drew her knees up to her chest.
“It’s all going to be okay. You’re going to be safe. I promise.”
“Landon, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Tell me when I get back.”
Landon never came back. They went back to the Denton household, where she slept in his bed, and when she woke up in the morning, Rick was there. He was covered in blood, his somber expression telling her everything.
Landon wasn’t coming back.
“You know, I thought this place would be perfect for you,” Landon said.
She frowned. His voice wasn’t in her head. She looked up and there he was.
Tulip stood up and shook her head. “This isn’t real.”
“I know. Kind of crazy, really.” He held a walking stick. His face was a mess with cuts and bruises and he winced with every single step he took.
She had no choice but to pinch her own arm. “Ouch.”
“You’re not going to wake up.” He took hold of her hand and placed it against his chest. He wasn’t a ghost. His heart beat against her palm. “I’m alive.”
“Wait, but … what?”
“The bounty hunters were going to keep coming. Rick knew it and so did I.” He pointed at her arm. “I wasn’t going to have you hurt again, and so, I knew I had to die.”
“But you’re not dead.”
“I am. Landon Denton is dead, shot and killed by a bounty hunter. My body has already been buried. My old life is completely gone. You’re going to have to start calling me David West.”
“This isn’t happening. You’re alive?”
“No, Landon is dead. I’m gone. I’ll never be able to go home and I’ve got to live a quiet life, which also includes becoming a mechanic, and one day owning my own shop. Rick has set everything up for me. In the meantime, I get to marry you, Ms. Vine. You and I will get our happy ever after.”
“Does your family know?”