Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
I grunted in agreement as I stormed inside the house. West was in the kitchen, searching through the kitchen cabinets, most likely in search of something to eat. “Babe, I just saw Jay,” I told her.
She stood back up straight, her hands clenching the kitchen counters. “Fuck,” she whispered. She turned to face me, and her eyes flickered to Lincoln before settling back on me. “I’m not moving out, Jessie.”
I nodded. “I know you’re not, which is why Lincoln or I will be here with you,” I told her. Her face pinched. “And when we have to be at the garage, you’ll have to chill in the office or come work there. I don’t want you alone. If he’s still looking for you after all of these years, he’s up to no damn good, and I won’t run the risk that he’s going to hurt you while one of us isn’t around.”
She clenched her jaw, and I steeled myself. I knew this was going to be a fucking argument. She didn’t like her moves being dictated—never had. She had always been fiercely independent and strong-willed, determined to take care of herself, and I knew that wasn’t going to change while we were together. I didn’t want it to, either. I loved her fiery spirit.
“I can take care of myself, Jessie.”
“I never said you couldn’t, babe,” I corrected her. “I just refuse to put you in a position where you have to.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going to the garage just so you and Lincoln can keep an eye on me.”
“West, he’s dangerous,” Lincoln spoke up this time instead of me. “Deciding to put your life and your safety at risk all because you don’t want to feel like your independence is being stripped away or just because you don’t want to feel like you’re being controlled is fucking plain stupid.”
She narrowed her eyes at him in a warning to shut up while he was ahead. “I’ve been taking care of myself for years, Lincoln,” she reminded him. “And I’ve dealt with Jay before.”
“Yeah, and look what the fuck it did to you,” he snapped, taking a step towards her. She bristled. “He not only fucked your face up, West, but he also had his brother and some other girls gang up on you. That doesn’t include all of the shit Jay did to you before you went into juvie.”
“Should have just fucking stayed where I was, found another place to live,” she snarled as she spun back around to finish looking for what she was looking for.
“And what—been fucking homeless?” Lincoln snapped at her. She slammed a cabinet door shut. “Woman, fucking turn around and speak to us like a normal fucking human being!” he barked.
I took a seat on the kitchen chair. I knew I could get her to do what I wanted her to do. That wasn’t hard. She might be pissed at me for a few days, but she would get over it and see it from my side eventually.
But this fight between them? This needed to happen. Every time she looked at Lincoln, she seemed a tiny bit tormented and definitely confused about what she wanted to do.
If I knew anything about Lincoln, I knew he would be making a move on West if they continued to fight.
And maybe it would sort out the shit going on in her head. I couldn’t force her to make that move on him.
But Lincoln? He could.
She spun around to face him, her green eyes ablaze with rage. “Watch how the fuck you talk to me,” she snarled at him. “You’re in my house, Lincoln. Fucking remember that.”
“Until you fucking realize how ridiculous you’re being about protection, I’ll continue to talk to you however I fucking please,” he growled, not backing down.
“I’m not being stupid!” she yelled at him, officially losing her temper with him. Fuck, she was hot when she was angry. I adjusted myself in my seat as my cock strained against my jeans. “I don’t need you or Jessie hovering over me all of the fucking time just because Jay was in front of the house!”
“Nobody will be hovering, West!” Lincoln barked back at her. “Why are you so fucking stubborn?!”
“Because I can’t be around you, Lincoln!” she blurted.
I sat up straighter in my chair, my eyes widening the slightest bit. West wasn’t one to outright say how she was feeling, not unless she was with me where she felt comfortable and safe.
She drew in a deep breath as she closed her eyes, roughly running her hands down her face. “Fuck,” she whispered, her voice sounding strangled.
“West,” Lincoln said softly, “I didn’t tell you what I said earlier to make you uncomfortable around me. I just thought you deserved to know.”
She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t—everything is so fucked up now,” she said quietly, sounding confused.