Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83772 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Axel took a slow breath then released it as a sigh. “They know you aren’t there. Whatever is going on between Bolton and Theo is probably happening as we speak, so I’m not sure what their next move will be. If they’ll continue to look for you…or wait for further instruction.”
I looked at the gun again. “You think they’ll come here?”
“I doubt it. I’ve never been one of the Skull Kings. I don’t have any public affiliation with Theo. Anyone who has seen us together probably doesn’t understand the depth of the relationship.”
“But you’re sitting here with a rifle.”
“I’ve got a wife and two kids sleeping upstairs. I have to be cautious. So, until Theo is back and this shit is over, I’m not moving.”
I’d give anything to know what was happening with Theo at that moment. If he was standing over Bolton’s dead body. If he was on his way home. If all of this was over. Then my phone lit up with a text message. “Oh my god. Theo texted me.” I swiped on his name to read the message.
Axel straightened in his chair.
I read the message out loud. “On my way back.”
Axel released a loud sigh, like he’d been a lot more stressed than he claimed. He grabbed his phone and started typing, probably telling Theo everything he’d discovered about the house and his butler.
I didn’t care about any of that. I was just happy that Theo was alive and on his way home. “I’m so relieved.” I took my first breath. Allowed myself to relax in the chair. Allowed myself to be tired.
Axel continued to type on his phone, like he and Theo were having an in-depth conversation. “Bolton got away.”
All the relief I’d just felt was viciously taken from me.
“Carson’s dead. He said he didn’t have a choice.”
“Is he okay?”
Axel typed on his phone.
I waited for my answer.
“He’s okay. A bullet in the shoulder and some bruises.”
“He was shot?”
“He’ll be fine,” Axel said quickly. “It’s just the shoulder.”
“Just the shoulder?”
“He has a medic with him. Already took out the bullet and patched him up.”
“Oh my god…” I dragged my hands down my face.
“Astrid, he’ll be fine. Calm down.”
“Tell me to calm down again, and see what happens.”
He seemed to finish up the conversation because he put his phone aside. “He wants you to stay here until he handles the house and the butler.”
I wanted him to come straight here—straight to me. “Okay.”
“He’s dispatched his guys to the house, so they should get there first.” He sat back in the armchair and relaxed. He sat there for a while before he grabbed the rifle and removed the rounds from the chamber.
“Thank you for letting me stay here.” I knew Axel had a lot to lose, but he still accommodated me out of love for his best friend…or brother—whatever they were.
“I know he would die for Scarlett and my babies.”
Theo claimed he struggled to love, but I saw the way he loved Axel so effortlessly, the way he wore his heart on his sleeve the way I did for him. I could be angry about that, or I could be patient. I could wait until he was ready to love me the same way. “Yeah, he would.”
Chapter 12
Theo
When I showed up at the house, the guys had already searched it from top to bottom.
The only evidence that someone had been there were a couple doors were left open, like my closet door, all the guest bedrooms. Pantries had been searched. Everything that could hide a person was opened.
Because they were looking for Astrid.
My shoulder was wrapped tight by the doctor I had on staff. He was always around, kept several miles away with his own security in case one of us needed medical attention. The bullet itself wasn’t a threat to my life, but the loss of blood could have been.
Now, the scar from Bolton’s knife had been ripped open once more. Another round of ink could only cover so much. I stood in my foyer and looked at the stairs. “Where is he?”
Nico crossed his arms over his chest. “Looks like he left with Bolton’s guys.”
My own butler had stabbed me in the back. I paid him well. Treated him well. And once Bolton waved a wad of cash in his face, he was willing to let Astrid be kidnapped and me be killed. “Find him.”
“We will,” Nico said confidently.
“And don’t kill him,” I said. “That honor is reserved for me.”
Nico nodded then stepped away.
I continued to look at the stairs. Bolton thought he’d blindsided me by waiting for me to leave the house before hitting my home, but the joke was on him because I wasn’t stupid enough to leave Astrid there. But the joke was on me too, because I’d assumed I’d be able to kill him…and I didn’t.