Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67905 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
She continued to stare at my reflection in the mirror, processing all of that with a sadness in her eyes. “Theo isn’t like Axel. He’s not good at expressing himself or understanding his own emotions. Theo’s been a loose cannon since this all happened. Even came after Axel for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s just hurt and sad…and doesn’t know how to process any of it. I know he said all of those things to you in anger—”
“He meant them. I know he did.”
She let the seconds tick by as she stared at me. “That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t burn down this whole city for you. You should have told him, Astrid. He would have killed Bolton with his bare hands—and not out of obligation. Despite what he’s said, I know how deeply he feels for you…even now. Axel said it’s like he’s gone back in time to when Shayla died. Theo is angry, grief-stricken, and perfectly fine all at the same time—and you never know which version of him you’re going to get.”
“Well, it’s in the past now.” What was done was done. Six weeks had come and gone. Theo was over me even more than he had been before.
“It’s not in the past, Astrid.”
My eyes had drifted away from the mirror, but they found hers again.
“You know I have to tell him.”
“I’d rather you not—”
“Even if I don’t, I’m going to tell Axel, and he’s not going to abandon you like this.”
I was so shocked by what she said, I needed to take a beat. “I’m not his problem.”
“Of course you are. You’re all our problem.”
My eyes dropped down again.
“When I tell Theo, Bolton’s a dead man.”
I stared at the sink again, just the way I had before. “I don’t deserve his help. He warned me about Bolton, and I didn’t listen.”
“No one deserves this.” Her hand went to my arm again. “For any reason.”
I didn’t flinch at her touch, not the way I did with Bolton. I wanted to lean into it. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to hold on to her like the life jacket that she was. I looked at myself in the mirror again, feeling a sudden surge of hope that I’d thought was long dead.
The bathroom door opened, and I tried not to look like fresh roadkill for whoever came in. I expected to see a woman walk inside and head straight for one of the stalls or freshen up her lipstick.
But it was Bolton.
Scarlett immediately withdrew her hand from my arm.
I stiffened, reading the rage and suspicion mixed on his face like a cocktail.
He approached the sink where we stood. “Astrid.” He gave a nod toward the door.
I was just about to obey when Scarlett interrupted.
“We’re talking.” Her voice had the ring of authority, like a mafia leader who was unafraid of anyone who crossed her path.
I admired her, but I also wished she would shut up. Axel and Theo weren’t like Bolton. They were scary men to other scary men, but Bolton was a threat to everyone, men and women. He wouldn’t find her standoff endearing. He wouldn’t hesitate to break her cheekbone with his knuckles.
His eyes shifted to her like it was the first time he’d noticed she was there. “Now you’re finished.”
“This is the ladies’ room. So unless you want me to chop off your dick, get out.”
He continued to stare at her, that terrifying sheen in his eyes. Then he moved toward her and reached for her arm, prepared to manhandle her just the way he did with me, to twist it until it was about to break.
I moved in front of her. “I’m coming.” I could take his beatings because I deserved them. But I couldn’t let anything happen to Scarlett. Not a mother of two. Not a wife to a good man. Not someone who was innocent and only wanted to help.
“No, she’s not.” Scarlett was fired up. “I said get out.”
“Scarlett—”
Bolton’s mouth tightened in his rage, and his eyes looked like a pair of guns about to fire. He reached for her arm again.
She stepped away before he could touch her. “Touch me, and my husband will end your pathetic life.”
Bolton didn’t try again, either because he believed her or the conversation wasn’t worth his time. He grabbed me instead. His touch wasn’t merciless like it usually was, but the grip was tight enough that it would be stupid to try to escape it.
When we were back in the dining area, he let me go. “How do you know her?”
I’d begun to notice it was easy to lie when your life depended on it. So, I lied. “She’s the head chef here. She noticed my bruises when she came to the table.”
“That doesn’t explain why she followed you into the bathroom.”
“Because no woman is gonna see another woman in pain and not give a shit, Bolton.” The temper came out of the deep recesses of my heart. He didn’t understand compassion. He didn’t understand that women always looked out for one another—even if they were strangers. “Just because you feel nothing for those around you doesn’t mean the rest of us do.”