Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“Sir,” Sebastian growls. “Time is of the essence.”
Dad frowns and pulls me to him. “I love you, baby girl. Give me time. I’ll sort all of this out in no time at all. Then, I’ll come back for you. In the meantime, go with my team. They’ll keep you safe.” He’s sending me with his team?
“But who will keep you safe?” I demand through my tears. I’m worried someone will come and take him away from me. I’ve already lost my mom. I can’t lose him too.
“Advanced Security,” Sebastian grunts. “They’re more than capable.”
I turn and frown at him.
“Clove,” my father urges because I’m stuck staring at Sebastian inventing a make-believe world where we’re not in imminent danger and he didn’t just suggest we leave my dad without his protection.
“More than capable isn’t good enough,” I snap, unfairly taking out my emotions on Sebastian. My body is at war with my head. I just want to run to him and make him hold me. But I can’t do that. He’s not really mine, no matter how much I pretend each one of them are.
“He needs the best. He needs you.” I swallow past the pebble in my throat.
Sebastian’s eyes flare and I get a flicker in my mind of him rushing toward me and taking a bite out of my neck. I rub my hand there without thought.
“No,” Dad corrects. “You need the best. That’s why I’m sending IDS.”
“I won’t go,” I argue, crossing my arms over my chest. I know I’m being a brat, acting like a child and not the woman I am, but he is all the family I have left.
Dad kisses the top of my head before whispering, “I’m sorry.” He pushes me toward Sebastian. “Go.”
“Wait!” I cry out, but it’s too late. Sebastian is on me, his powerful arms pulling me against him. I start to protest more, but his hand slaps over my mouth, silencing me. Bastard.
My legs kick out on instinct and try to make purchase, to no avail.
“Shhh,” Sebastian murmurs, his hot breath at my ear sending a wave of emotions through me I refuse to admit to. “Try not to make a scene in case anyone is watching.”
Who would be watching when we’re in our home?
Silent tears stream down my face, but I stop fighting him. It’s done. The decision has been made by my father and there’s no changing it. Sebastian easily totes me through our massive kitchen, and into the garage. My other three guys all turn to regard us as we come through the door.
The four of them are everything to me after my father, and I just want to evaporate into them and allow them to absorb me. They’ve been here with us since I was seventeen. Absolutely trusted by my father, by me. And I love them all dearly. I sniffle against Sebastian’s hand still wrapped over my mouth as I come to terms with my fate. It’s me and them now. I relax back against Sebastian, the leader and the fiercest of all of us, enjoying the hard planes of his body. His right-hand man is Leo, who regards me with a deep frown. Where Sebastian is tall, dark, and handsome, Leo is younger and built like some Roman god who normally seems to glow. Not tonight, though. Tonight, Leo is scowling and seems agitated at my distress. It makes me want to squeal and beg him to help me stay, help me keep Dad safe. Instead, I plead with my eyes before dropping them to his injury. His leg took some damage from the car that tried to run me down like roadkill. It’s bandaged from knee to ankle and a fresh tear slips from my eye. He could have been killed saving me.
Following my gaze, his frown lines smooth out and he shrugs. “I haven’t had time to change. It doesn’t hurt, Clove,” he says, with a quirk of his lips. “I’m a tough cookie.”
I mumble against Sebastian’s palm, but it’s too muffled to make sense.
“You don’t have to hold her so tight,” Leo snaps, prowling our way. “Right, Clo?”
I blink and more tears slide down my cheeks, soaking Sebastian’s palm.
“That’s what I thought,” he coos. “Come here. I’ll take care of her in the car. Seb, you navigate us where we need to go.”
“We driving the Tahoe?” Zac asks, his dark brown eyes sharp and alert. Where the other two men are solid and bulked with muscle, Zac is tall and lean like a runner. He never smiles at me like the others do. Zac is always tense and agitated, as though he’s a rubber band ready to snap at any moment. He recently just celebrated his thirty-second birthday. Hiking or something. When I noticed his absence, Ford informed me he took a week off to celebrate alone in the wilderness. I can’t even imagine what being alone in the wilderness would entail.