Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
The waitress brought me ice water. “Ready to order?”
I shook my head. “Not eating.”
“Okay.” She took my menu.
He dunked several fries into ketchup and shoved them into his mouth, licking his sausage fingers. “What’s the most important thing I’ve taught you?”
“Patience,” I answered without emotion, keeping my gaze trained to the patrons coming and going instead of the bitter man opposite me.
“Yes. Patience. I’ve thrown you a few bones.”
“Amateur shit. You didn’t need me to do it.”
“True. I knew you needed it to stay focused.”
“Focused on what?” My attention returned to him.
“The girl.”
“When are you going to tell me about her?”
He wiped his mouth and slurped his soda. “Since when am I required to give you detailed information? We’ve gone over this a million times. The less you know, the better.”
“Better for who?” I tossed the straw out of my water glass and gulped down half of it.
“Everyone involved. Are you keeping her safe?”
I chewed on a piece of ice for several seconds before shrugging one shoulder. “She’s alive.”
“Thanks to you.” He smirked.
I didn’t share his odd amusement. Instead, I blew out an exasperated breath. “Why did you need to see me?”
“Her dad’s in town.”
“I know.”
“Have you met him?”
“No.”
“Good. Let’s keep it that way.”
“Why?”
He gave me a look. I hated that fucking look. It wasn’t simply that he kept me in the dark. It was the way he made it seem like doing so was protecting me. I found knowledge to be empowering. Maybe he liked having all the power.
“Things could get uncomfortable if you meet him.”
I bit my tongue for a few seconds, knowing he wasn’t going to answer my question if it was too broad like, “Why?” So I tried to figure it out on my own and present it to him in a way that I could at least read his reaction enough to see if I was at least warm. “Her dad hired you, didn’t he? To watch over her? Is she in danger?”
“Cast away, boy … I’m not going to bite. Just do as you’re told. Keep her safe but keep your distance from her father. We’ll be in touch when the status quo needs to change again.”
“I’m sick of this.”
He tossed the napkin down along with thirty dollars cash and scooted out of the booth. “Poor boy … must be exhausting having that sweet piece of ass suck your dick all night.”
I stiffened.
As he started to dawdle past me to the restrooms, he rested a hand on my shoulder. “It’s fine. You’ve earned it.”
That rubbed me all the wrong fucking ways but acknowledging it would have only proven his point that I wasn’t emotionally ready to deal with knowing everything.
*
As soon as we got home, Jericho ran to the back door like he knew something I didn’t. Of course, he did.
“Did you already eat?” Livy sat on the back step looking like the life I would never have, hot as fuck in a low-cut tank top, cut-off denim shorts, and partially dried hair—long, blond, and so fucking gorgeous.
“Been playing in the waves?” I lifted a brow, sidestepping her and the pizza box on her lap to unlock the back door.
“Duh …” She stood.
“I gave you a key. Why did you leave it on the table?”
“Didn’t think I’d need it since I knew I wasn’t staying, but I’m rethinking that.” She followed me into the kitchen, bringing fennel and cheese aroma with her.
“Too late. It was a one-time offer.” I tossed my keys onto the counter.
She ignored my verbal jab, which made her exponentially more attractive. While I didn’t mind keeping an eye on her, I didn’t want to deal with a twenty-four-seven damsel in distress.
“Beer?” I held out a bottle with the fridge door open.
“No. I don’t drink.”
“No?” I closed the door and opened my bottle of beer.
“After my mom died, my dad drank. A lot. I had a shitty relationship with alcohol before I ever graduated from high school.”
“I see.”
She blew out a long breath. “So … what class are you struggling with the most? That’s where we should start tonight.” She set the pizza box on the counter and hopped up beside it instead of sitting at the table.
I wedged myself between her legs and grabbed her wrist, redirecting the slice from her mouth to mine. She frowned as I took an overly indulgent bite. Her thumb wiped the side of my mouth.
“I think we should do something different. I think I should teach you some self-defense skills.”
She snorted. “I’m good. I could probably teach you a few things.”
As if there weren’t seven other pieces of pizza in the box, I stole the rest of her slice after she managed one tiny bite. “Because your dad teaches people how to use pepper spray?” Folding it in half, I stuffed the rest of the slice into my mouth.