Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 114260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
I spin around and let the water caress me as he washes my body.
“I want a full report by lunch. Going to debrief everyone in about ten minutes.”
“Yessir.”
Cain reaches out and hangs up the call.
“You just give them orders and they all ‘yessir’ you.”
“Mhm.” He brings the showerhead down and rinses my body.
“I always think that’s so hot.”
He smiles. Is it my imagination, or is the smile a bit sad?
“You’re fucking gorgeous,” is all he says. He still sounds angry.
“Thank you?”
“Why the question?”
“You sound really angry. Furious. It’s just distracting me.”
He shuts the water off and reaches for a towel, hands it to me, then grabs one of his own. I wrap myself in the fluffy terrycloth and step onto the thick bathmat. Like everything about Cain, the shower’s huge, with plenty enough room for both of us.
I weirdly feel we need that distance right now.
I can’t put my finger on why things are off or what’s going on here at all, but I know that something isn’t right.
We dress in silence, and I watch him suit up with his weapons, again, in silence. I tug on a pair of jeans and a fitted tee, then my boots, but don’t feel fully dressed until the knife’s in my sheath and my Wilson’s secured in a harness.
“We’re gonna find shit out today, Violet.”
I nod. We’d better. We have to move forward on our investigation. Descamps was involved, he knew things, and the people he was involved with knew more.
“Cain…”
His eyes shoot to mine. “Yeah?”
Why does he look panicked?
I stare at him a moment, not sure how to respond. “What the hell is wrong?” I finally ask. That’s not what I intended at all.
He doesn’t deny there’s anything wrong but doesn’t speak for long minutes. I watch him tug on his boots and secure his holster. When he doesn’t speak, I do.
“That’s not what I was going to say. I know you get distracted sometimes.”
“I don’t want to lose you, Violet.”
I freeze. I didn’t expect his response to hit me so hard. I turn and give him a curious look. My heart beats rapidly, and my palms are sweaty. A sudden feeling of nausea fills my belly.
“Why would you lose me?” My voice sounds distant, as if it isn’t my own.
“Shit’s about to hit the fan. We’re going to find the people responsible for your parents’ death. And after that…”
The same thought’s occurred to me. What happens when the purpose of my being here’s resolved?
“You’ve never killed anyone, Violet.”
I look at him in shock, cold fear trickling down my spine. “You don’t know that.”
I watch him slide his hands on his hips and fix me with a curious stare. “Have you?”
“I… haven’t killed a human.”
A small smile spreads across his face. “You’ve killed… what, aliens? Sea creatures? Ghosts?”
“Well, no. I killed… I killed a rabid dog once.”
He looks a bit stunned. “Did you? A rabid dog?”
“It was harder than it looks, and it was only for safety reasons. I was fifteen.”
“Why did you kill it?”
“It was… I was staying at Candi’s house.” Candi, my best friend, is a local Salem police officer who can hold her own with a gun these days. Back then, though, she was terrified. “Her dad had guns, but he was traveling, and her mom was out. They lived kinda far from the city. We were babysitting her younger brothers. There was this crazy dog, foaming at the mouth. And I just… shot him.”
Cain’s brows rise, but he doesn’t respond. Finally, he nods.
“So when it comes to protecting the people you care about, you can pull the trigger.”
I swallow. “Yes.”
I think?
“I’m ready. I’ll handle this just fine.”
He faces me, his gaze so intense I can’t look away. My mouth goes dry, and I lick my lips. He’s got something to say.
“Come here.”
Of course he gives me an order. I refrain from rolling my eyes.
“Yeah?” I walk to within a pace of him. He reaches one large hand around my lower back and drags me closer to him, then tips one finger under my chin.
“Violet, I…” his voice trails off. Is that fear in his eyes? I’d have sworn a few weeks ago there was nothing Cain feared, but I know now that’s untrue. He fears the people he loves getting hurt. He fears letting people down. He fears my being in trouble and not having the ability to help me.
And now… he’s afraid I’ll leave him.
“Cain, I—” I’m not even sure what I’m going to say. “Can you…” His mouth slams on mine, and I moan into it. The frissons of awareness that light my body ignite, and I respond without thinking. My hands on his neck, his hands on my ass, I reach for his belt to anchor myself.
Too soon, we break our kiss. His forehead meets mine, and his voice drops. “I love you, Violet.” He breathes a sigh as if relieved when he finally says it. “God, woman, I love you. And I don’t want anything to come between us. Not now, not ever.”