Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 246(@200wpm)___ 196(@250wpm)___ 164(@300wpm)
I felt that softening around my heart again. I’d looked into that school she’d been locked away in and imagined it couldn’t have been easy for her all those years around those young misses of the elite while dressing so shabbily.
Was it deliberate on the mother’s part. Had she purposely put her daughter in that position? And if so, why? I reached for her hand without thinking and my smile when I looked down at her was genuine.
“Did you sleep well?” I barely restrained myself from brushing a fallen lock of hair from her face as she looked up at me with that innocence that rocks me to the core.
I knew the second her mother walked into the room behind me. Her whole body became tense and that light of excitement that entered her eyes at the sight of me dimmed. It didn’t become fully extinguished, but there was an obvious change.
“Oh Luke, I meant to ask your dad to call you. I know you said you would take Elaina out again today but…” Oh no you don’t bitch!
“Yes I did, I made plans for today. I was sure you’d be busy what with the wedding being so close and I thought us kids should just get out of your hair for a little while.”
I held Elaina’s hand firmly in mine and headed for the door before she could say anything else. She hadn’t seemed so reluctant the day before. I wonder what had happened the previous night to make her want to put the kibosh on us being alone together again?
“Is something wrong at the house?” I asked as soon as we were away from the house.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing really, your mom just seemed a little, I don’t know…” I left the question hanging for her to pick up however she chose.
I watched her out of the side of my eye and saw how uncomfortable the question made her, which was answer enough in itself. “Never mind, she’s probably just having last minute wedding jitters. So what did you want to do today?”
She shrugged her shoulders and looked out the car window. “Whatever, you choose.” Her answer made me think of something else.
Having learned how lacking her upkeep had been, it didn’t enter my mind to wonder what other wonders of the modern world she’d been denied.
“You mean you didn’t jump on your computer or cell phone last night to look up all the important places to drag me off to today?”
“Oh, I don’t have a computer, or a phone.” She mumbled the last but I heard it all the same.
Just as I thought. That mother of hers really is a piece of work. I made light of my next suggestion because I was pretty sure of her response and wasn’t wrong. “Okay that will be our first stop. No teenager worth their salt can live without those things.”
“Oh no you don’t have to do that, I don’t really need…”
“Of course you do.” How else can you call me if you need me? I didn’t say the last bit out loud but it was a very relative point.
We both enjoyed a comfortable silence for the rest of the ride, both lost in our own thoughts. It was only when I was helping her out of the car that I noticed the state of her arm.
My reaction was startling even to me. “What the hell happened? Who hurt you?” I lifted her hand and studied the red ugly marks where someone had obviously pinched her flesh.
Since dad wasn’t into torturing women and kids and the servants wouldn’t dare, there could only be one person responsible. I’ll fucking kill her.
“I asked you a question, who did this?” I knew she was going to lie to me, I saw it in her eyes. But before she could, I cut her off with a warning. I couldn’t bear for there to be any lies between us.
“If you’re thinking of lying to me, don’t. It’s better if you don’t answer me at all than for you to do that.” When she folded her lips and said nothing more, she only confirmed my suspicions.
I was enraged by my thoughts as I tried to piece together the circumstances that could’ve led to her being hurt. That fucking monster should be roasted on a spit. How the fuck do I prevent this from happening again?
“Does this have anything to do with why she didn’t want you to come with me today?” We were still standing next to the car with her hand held firmly in mine.
As I stood there waiting for her answer, I realized that in the few days I’d known her she’d brought out any number of emotions in me. But the one that seems to stand out more than any other is the need to protect.