Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Why . . . why would you do that?” he asked.
He was vaguely aware of the door opening slightly. But he couldn’t look away from Lilac.
He had a feeling that whatever she was about to say was going to blow his world apart.
Another sob. God, she was so sad that he couldn’t stand it.
“Just tell me, Lilac.”
“I c-can’t.”
“Lilac,” he said sternly. “I’m your guardian. More than that, I’m the guy who fucking loves you. So, you need to be honest with me.”
“You l-love me?” Her eyes were wide, her breathing fast. Abby had disconnected her from all of the monitors already.
He took her hand in his, holding it. Fuck, she was so cold.
“I love you,” he stated.
“You shouldn’t. I’m a fucking cancer.”
“Stop that,” he said fiercely. “I’ve told you about talking about yourself like that.”
Standing, he grabbed the blanket from the end of the bed. That’s when he spotted Alec standing in the doorway, hidden from Lilac. Tanner shot him a look. What was he doing? Eavesdropping? Alec had always gotten angry when they used to do that to him.
Alec was frowning fiercely. Tanner didn’t like the look on his face. This was between him and Lilac.
He didn’t need his big brother riding to his rescue. Or interfering.
Fuck. Who was he kidding? All of his brothers were interfering bastards. He should be grateful that only Alec was here.
Tanner covered Lilac with the blanket. She stared up at him listlessly. As though she’d retreated into herself to protect herself.
“Now, tell me why you searched me out. Did you hear how sexy and smart I am, and you had to find out for yourself?” he teased, but that knot in his stomach was growing.
What reason would she have to seek him out?
“I really can’t. It’s not my secret. I just . . . I didn’t want you to find out later. I didn’t want to fall into the fantasy of being yours, only for you to reject me.”
He frowned. “Lilac, that wouldn’t happen. I’d never reject you.”
She smiled sadly.
“Just tell me,” he urged. “We’ll work through it. Tell me why you sought me out. Why me in particular?”
“That’s just it. It wasn’t you in particular. I just found you before I found Raid.”
His frowned. “So, you were after one of us because . . .”
“You were a Malone. I went to that bar to find a Malone.”
“Why, Lilac?” Alec chose that moment to step into the room. Bastard. “Why were you searching us out? I thought it was odd that you ran out on Tanner and then turned up here six months later. But I figured maybe you were here because you were tired of running. Because you liked the sound of Haven. Or perhaps you realized what a mistake you’d made, leaving Tanner. Seems I might have been too generous in giving you the benefit of the doubt.”
Lilac flinched, going pale. Tanner turned to glare at his brother. “Alec, that’s enough!”
“She has an ulterior motive in coming here, Tanner,” Alec warned.
“She’s scared. She’s on the run from her asshole brother and needs protection.”
Alec nodded. “I can believe all that. But if she was sent to spy on us, to gather information that might hurt us . . . then that becomes a different story. So, what is it, Lilac? Were you sent to destroy us? Or is there something else going on?”
“You can tell us, baby,” Tanner told her. “I don’t care if you were sent to find us for someone. Is it your brother? Do we know him? Did he send you to spy on us?”
“What? No. No, that’s not it. I’m trying to hide from him. I shouldn’t have said anything . . . I just wanted you to hear the truth from me. Because I couldn’t stand to have it all, then have it ripped away from me.”
“Lilac,” Tanner whispered. “Just tell us. Whatever it is, we can fix it.”
“Are you a threat to my family, Lilac?” Alec asked in a low voice.
“No! No, I promise I’m no threat. I wasn’t sent to gather information for anyone. Especially not my brother. I don’t want to harm any of you.”
Alec nodded, some of the tension leaving his body.
Tanner knew there was nothing that Alec wouldn’t do to protect his family. He wouldn’t physically hurt Lilac, but he wouldn’t hesitate to ensure that she never came near them again.
“Then you shouldn’t mind telling us,” Alec said.
He wasn’t getting angry or being overtly intimidating. But she still stared at Alec with wide eyes.
“Alec isn’t going to harm you, Lilac,” Tanner reassured her. “We just need the truth.”
“And I keep telling you. I can’t tell you. It’s not my secret.”
Alec grunted. “Then I’m sure you’ll understand why I can’t have you around my family until I know.”
“Alec!” Tanner protested.
The door to her room opened and Abby stepped in. She stared around them, frowning. “Is everything all right in here?”