Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“I’m good,” I replied, keeping my hand on Thatcher’s arm.
“You can’t keep her here any longer,” Sebastian told him.
I wanted to throw a dang book at him. Did he not know his brother? This was a clear sign of him about to snap. I wrapped my hand around his arm and squeezed.
“I think maybe it’s best if you don’t make suggestions,” I told Sebastian.
Thatcher’s arm flexed under my touch.
“Seems like a turn of events,” Storm said, sounding amused. “Might want to let her talk.”
I wanted to flash him a grateful smile, but I was too concerned about how Thatcher would react to that.
“She doesn’t have to say anything,” Thatcher said between clenched teeth.
I patted his arm and let go to stand up. He spun around so quick that it made me jump back. His eyes had that wild look in them. He grabbed the blanket we’d been covered up with and held it out to me. I was in his shirt. Just his shirt. I had forgotten about my lack of clothing. It had gotten to be the norm here. I took it and hurried to wrap it around me. His eyes followed me as I walked around the sofa and over to stand beside him.
I looked at the gun in his hand and wasn’t sure how I felt about being so close to one. He seemed to hesitate, then slipped it into the waist of his jeans before pulling me to his side with one arm. I was still too close to the pistol, but right now, that wasn’t the issue.
“Thatch, she’s being searched for. Everyone is blaming you. People are demanding justice, bringing up shit from the past. We have to make a decision,” the man I didn’t know said.
I placed a hand on his chest, afraid he was going to reach for his gun.
“I will handle that,” I said. “I came of my own free will. I ran off with Thatcher, and I should have told someone, but I was thinking with my heart and didn’t. If I don’t press charges, there was no crime committed.”
Thatcher’s chest rose and fell heavy under my hand.
“You don’t have to explain shit,” he said.
“Well, someone has to explain. The minister is all over the news. This isn’t going to just go away,” Sebastian said.
King held up a hand. “Before you lose it, he’s right. She’s gonna be the only one who keeps you from facing charges.”
I looked up at Thatcher. His jaw clenched up, and I could hear him grinding his teeth.
“I want to. It’s fine. I will handle all of it.”
He dropped his gaze to mine. “I don’t want you near them.”
“Them who?”
“Your parents.”
I frowned. “Why?”
His nostrils flared. “They’ll turn you against me.”
I laughed then. I hadn’t meant to, but I couldn’t help it. My parents had no power at all over me. If he had been stalking me so thoroughly, he would have known that by now. His eyes narrowed.
“My parents will most definitely not be able to do that.”
He didn’t seem convinced.
“If no one else is gonna ask, then I am,” Storm said. “What is this? I mean, Thatcher doesn’t get attached. To anyone. Especially a female. So, explain for the rest of us, so we understand what we are working with.”
King glanced at Storm and gave him a shake of his head, as if to tell him to shut up. I was with King on that, but then I also understood where Storm was coming from. I wasn’t sure what to label this either. We had been in our own little bubble, and it had been easy to let the outside world fade away.
But the outside world was back. Bubble popped.
Thatcher said nothing.
“I don’t think there is a definition for it,” I told him, and Thatcher’s hold on me tightened. I glanced up at him. “I mean, we, uh, um …” I had no idea what it was I should say.
“She stays with me,” Thatcher said. “My house. My bed. With me.”
King nodded. “All right. What about her house? Does she ever get to go back there?”
“No,” Thatcher snarled.
King’s eyes shifted to me. “You think you can handle … this?” I knew by the this, he meant Thatcher’s crazy that they all seemed to pin him with.
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Fucking doubt it,” Sebastian replied.
Thatcher dropped his arm around me and moved toward him so fast that I barely had time to call his name.
King and Storm moved between the two brothers.
“Go the fuck outside, Sebastian,” King barked.
Sebastian started to move, and Thatcher’s eyes followed him to the door. I stood there, afraid to move.
“You got her,” King said to him. “She’s right there. Calm down and let him go.”
He didn’t move.
“Thatcher,” I called out, and finally, he turned his head back to look at me. There was that darkness there. Warring inside him. The one he fought to have control over. “It’s okay. He doesn’t know me. He doesn’t understand. I’m coming with you.”