Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Of course, Alice didn’t know that her perfect fiancé had wanted her daughter more than he wanted her.
The bastard must have done his research. He knew that the money had run out. He knew that her mother liked champagne and high heels. That she cared about the finer things more than she cared about taking care of the basic needs for her own daughter. He knew that the kid was soft-spoken and had no one else to turn to.
He moved them into his big fancy house, even giving Parker a huge, luxurious bedroom. Technically, it was a second master bedroom, according to the building plans. A master bedroom with a hidden door.
She must have been so scared the first time he came into her room late at night. My fists clenched and I downed another gulp of whiskey. But nothing could numb the pain of imagining what she must have gone through.
I was going to kill John Winters if it was the last thing I did. Even if it meant I had to wait to avenge my brother’s killer. I was going to protect Parker. Even if it meant protecting her from myself.
I poured myself another drink and went over my plan again.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mason
“Whiskey?”
Shane shook his head, his eyes never budging from his target. He was watching her again. Making sure no one messed with her. But it was more than that.
The man looked obsessed.
He’d been doing this all week. Ever since a customer had tried to play a little grab ass with Parker. He sat at my bar, intimidating the customers. He also hadn’t been drinking. Not a drop.
It would have been funny if there wasn’t something so dark and dangerous in his eyes.
“I need to go away for a few days. Can she stay with you?”
“Away?”
He nodded, his eyes glued to the slender girl making her way around the room. She was a fast learner, quick on her feet and determined to do a good job. I hoped that whatever he had planned wasn’t going to impact the girl.
I liked her. Michelle liked her. And my daughter Payton flat-out adored her.
As a result, I was starting to worry about what was happening between them. Shane was not the evil fuck that we’d all assumed he was when Dante was alive, but he wasn’t exactly stable. From what I understood, the girl needed stability. But that didn’t matter when you saw the way she looked at him.
Hero worship was an understatement. The girl was in love with him, that much was obvious. And he was dangerously obsessed. There was something dark and hungry in his eyes, like a half-starved wolf looking at the one perfect bunny.
Both of them were careful to hide their longing from each other. But I had a ringside seat. Even Jaken had noticed, asking me if I was cool with what was going down.
The irony was, as far as I could tell, absolutely nothing was going down. Not yet. But it wouldn’t be long now.
I sighed. The chemistry between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife. But it wasn’t equal. The girl had a case of innocent hero worship. What I saw in Shane’s eyes was definitely an adult attraction. He wanted her. Not just a little bit either. He looked like he was in pain. The man was hurting and would continue to do so until he took what he wanted.
From where I was sitting, it was inevitable.
I just hoped he didn’t hurt the girl in the process. I couldn’t imagine that Shane was the type who wanted to settle down, even for someone as sweet and special as Parker. And she deserved all the best a man could offer her.
Maybe she’d get lucky and Shane would find a way to get out of her way. Let her live a normal life.
One could always hope, but I knew better than anyone that it would take a miracle to get a man like Shane to put someone else’s needs first.
“Chelle?” I looked around the kitchen, wondering where everyone was. The house was quiet. Too quiet. I was home early to surprise my girls. The truth was, I needed them.
I needed a hug right about now. I needed my woman.
I walked down the hallway, fighting down the feeling of panic that was rising up inside me. There was still a killer on the loose. Even having our house officially under surveillance from Cain’s security company and unofficially with Connor, it didn’t give me more than a superficial sense of security. I was still nervous as hell, almost all the time.
Michelle said I texted too much. I was thinking about getting a nanny cam or twelve, in addition to the security cameras posted outside.
The door to the nursery was ajar. I cracked it open and smiled, relief flooding my body. Michelle was in the rocking chair, with our little one curled up asleep across her chest. Pate was passed out on the twin bed, an open book in her hand.