Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
“Billy?” Jack drawled. “That’s the name of the guy who beat her?”
She nodded tiredly. “Her ex. He’s a complete prick, but he hides it well. He’s a lawyer with family money behind him and some dodgy underground connections. People are scared to cross him.”
“Indie left him. And you were helping to hide her?” Jameson guessed.
She nodded. “I rented us an apartment under Uncle Willy’s name. I moved in with Indie to help her with bills and things since she didn’t have any money after running away from Billy. He lives in Birmingham. We’ve been saving pretty much all of our money for when the baby comes so that she can take some time off work. I can’t believe he found her when I wasn’t here to help her. If that neighbor hadn’t called the police . . . ”
God. What would have happened if she’d been here with Indie?
He wanted to tell her that she was a brave, selfless girl, right before he took her over his knee for being so careless with her own safety.
And she’d been giving all of her money to Indie for the baby?
“That . . . that fucking spiderass-micropenis-bumsnake!” she said, fury filling her face.
“Let it all out, Little Misfit.” Ian hugged her, looking down at her like she was adorable and precious.
Which she was.
“I don’t think you should go back to your apartment,” Jameson said, garnering her attention. “What if he’s there? Watching for Indie?”
“Ooh I hope he is there,” Jack said.
“I have to go back,” she said. “There were things for the baby there. And photos and stuff that we might need.”
“We’ll sort that later,” Jack said. “For now, let’s go deal with your family.”
59
“This is where you grew up?” Jameson asked as they all stepped out of the Uber.
She’d wanted to take the tube, but for some reason none of the men looked happy at that idea.
Silly, overprotective idiots.
God, she was so glad they were here.
“Yeah. Why?” It wasn’t the nicest neighborhood. But it wasn’t the worst either. It was a terraced house and was well-looked after.
A woman walking a dog looked over at them. Maggie winced as she recognized Mrs. McCauley from down the road.
“Hey, Mrs. McCauley,” she called out.
The older woman glared at her. “Maggie! Fancy you showing your face here. Look at the shame you’ve brought to your poor mother and father. I can’t believe you’d show up. And with them.” The older woman glared at her men.
Maggie hunched into herself. She could feel the embarrassment filling her cheeks. She’d known that her parents would be upset. Her brother and sister. But she hadn’t even thought about the neighbors, her colleagues.
God, could she do this?
“Why don’t you bugger off, you old bat! Go spread your doom and gloom somewhere else. Like a cemetery.”
The weird thing was that didn’t come from Jack.
It came from Jameson.
She stared up at the sexy doctor in shock. So did Ian and Jack.
“What? She’s a bitch.” Jameson glared at Mrs McCauley who huffed, but quickly walked away. “I don’t like judgmental people.”
“Yeah . . . but I’ve never heard you talk to anyone like this. You usually charm the bitter old biddies,” Ian said.
“As far as fuck-offs go, it was a touch sad. From you, though, it was epic.” Jack slapped his back.
Maggie threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Gratitude filled her. It felt so good to have people willing to take her back. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for sticking up for you. It’s my privilege.” He hugged her lightly back.
Darn it. That was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to her.
“So, you’ve added someone else to your harem? When does it stop? At ten? Fifty? A hundred? Funny, I never knew what a slut my sister was.” A familiar voice reached her and Maggie stiffened. Then she drew away from Jameson just as Jack took a step toward her sister, a dark look on his face.
“This. Fucking. Bitch. Is. Dead.”
Oh fuck!
Maggie moved in front of Jack as he headed toward her sister, who was standing in the open doorway.
“Jack, no! That’s my sister!”
“So? No one talks to you like that. No one.”
“Oh great. They’re violent too? Couldn’t you have at least gotten some with some refinement?” Rachelle said snootily.
Maggie turned to glare at her. “Oh, shut the bloody hell up, Rachelle. No one cares what you have to say.”
Rachelle gaped at her.
Maggie never talked back. She never stood up for herself. But she was over that. She was tired of being her family’s doormat.
“Jack, please,” she whispered. “I need to find Uncle Willy and this won’t help.”
He grunted, but didn’t take another step forward. She guessed that was as good as she was going to get.
“I need to talk to Mum. Is she here?” Maggie asked. She was proud of how calm she sounded.