Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“My watch—”
“I was attacked four weeks ago in this living room,” Rowan goes on, a steely verve in her voice. “A month ago, a man assaulted me, leaving me unconscious until my friend found me.”
“Rowan.” He has the nerve to sound sympathetic.
“My bruises faded, my ribs healed, and my mind is dealing. They removed the cast this morning, and until this, my wrist was the last reminder of what happened that terrible night. And you knew.”
“Of course I knew. The police questioned me.”
“The police questioned everyone in my life! But the point is you knew, and you didn’t call, text, email, send a card, check on me, or anything to signal you are a decent human being. We dated and lived together, yet when you get word someone injured me, it didn’t occur to you to reach out? My friends and family came through and showed me what greatness there is in this world when surrounded by the right people.”
My chest seizes at the sincerity in her words, knowing this is not acting. She feels this appreciation deep.
“Whatever the reason for your visit this morning, it isn’t about the watch. You wanted to see me broken and frail, possibly desperate for attention. But that’s not possible because I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“Now, it’s past time for you to go,” Talon speaks up.
“You’ve sunk low, Rowan.”
“You couldn’t be more wrong. I was already low; the only place to go was up.”
Craig storms out of her house, his face twisted, mouth moving as he gets in his car and speeds away. The three of us are out of my truck and across the street in a matter of seconds.
Jewls has Rowan in a bear hug, swinging her back and forth when we walk in. “So proud of you!”
“That felt awesome.” Rowan’s baby blue eyes are lit up brightly when she turns to us.
Ford steps into her space, running his finger down her cheek. “Are you okay?”
She nods.
He moves his hand to her injured wrist, inspecting it gently. “And this?”
“With some light exercises, it will be normal in no time,” she answers in a low rasp.
“Good.”
The intimacy of their exchange fills the room, and I set my focus on the woman standing close.
“Julianna, come here.”
“No.” She throws her hand, backing up. “Lose the grizzly bear, I’m-a-barbarian, wild look on your face, or stay over there.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, but it doesn’t help the irritation clawing at my gut. In three strides, she’s over my shoulder. I pull her keys out and toss them in the air, knowing someone will catch them.
“Bring her car to the house when you’re done here.”
There are rumbles of agreement. Jewls slaps my back, wriggling to get free.
“Let me down!”
I cradle her upper back and hips, hoisting her around to my front, and brace her against the side of my truck.
“Give me one reason not to take you home and handcuff you to the bed so you don’t get into any more trouble.”
Her eyes flame into an emerald green, burning with righteousness. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“That’s after I tan your ass and fuck you until you learn a lesson.”
“You try to use sex to get your way, it’ll be the last time you fuck me.”
“Don’t pull this shit again.”
“If by shit you mean standing up for a friend who needs me, you can kiss my ass.”
“Not a good idea to patronize.”
“I’m not patronizing, it’s a fact.” She pushes against my shoulders. “Rowan needed me.”
“Rowan was covered.”
“Yes, she was covered physically, but she needed my emotional and mental support.”
“Explain that now.” The request comes out brusque and earns me another shove.
“Put me down.”
“Not until you tell me why in the fuck you’d willingly walk into a house with a domestic abuser, who is also a person of interest in a crime.”
“Because Rowan needed me!”
“She had us!”
“That’s what she feared.” Her chest heaves, and I jerk back.
“She’s scared of us?”
“No, she’s scared of looking like an idiot with these reoccurring gut instincts. It’s driving her insane.”
“She’s not an idiot.”
“We all know that, but she’s convinced there’s a blind spot when it comes to Craig. He’s slick, used to getting what he wants.”
“I agree he’s slick, but we can’t do much with his air-tight alibi.”
“That’s why I came today, to get a feel for the situation. I’m good at reading people.”
I open my mouth to argue, but it’s a moot point. Jewls isn’t good at reading people, she’s an expert. “Why didn’t you call me?”
Her eyebrows shoot up in a non-verbal answer.
“What’d you pick up?”
“Are we discussing this like professional adults, or are you bossing me around?”
“We’re discussing.”
“Then put me down.”
“Not happening. Talk.”
“He’s seedy. Wish I could have seen his face when Talon answered the door, but the atmosphere was hostile from the second I walked in. He was pissed. Sizing Talon up, looking down his nose at all of us, and trying to insert intimidation.”