Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
The second the first burst of blue crosses my vision I need to execute the orders I was given.
I can’t hesitate.
I can’t risk letting down Slater.
I can’t risk dying.
Not today.
Definitely not before I know who wants me dead.
Slater slams on the breaks at the same time he shouts, “Now!”
There’s no reason to wait until the word has finished leaving his mouth to perform the two-part movement. Violently swinging the door open forces the last rider to crash into it, and being flat on my back – in what has to be the one way I never pictured happening in this truck – allows for my best friend to have a completely uninterrupted angle to fire two shots. Faint thuds occur on the outside of the vehicle; however, my best friend holds his position. Keeps the gun extended with his finger on the trigger and his intent to kill.
Several moments of stillness pass between us except they’re nothing like the ones we shared while clearing the dishes or gearing up or taking the elevator to the garage.
No.
These are the ones worth appreciating.
Treasuring.
The ones we will be thanking the angels for providing tonight.
Once he’s convinced the enemy has been eliminated, he peers down at me, gaze swarming with an overwhelming amount of worry. “Status report?”
I offer him a small smile at the same time I playfully tug on his shirt, hoping to alleviate some of the anguish. “Ready to be patched up when you are, Cowboy.”
Slater flashes me a short smirk, lets his head fall forward, and releases a long sigh of relief that I almost instantly echo.
I hope after what just happened, he never questions my loyalty again.
Because I absolutely do trust him.
To protect me.
To care for me.
To love me.
To know that no matter what the circumstances are, he can trust me, too.
To follow his lead in the middle of a dangerous situation.
To have his six whether we’re dealing with a car chase or dominating at Taboo.
I will always be there for Slater Wahl.
Always.
Even if it means needing my heart patched up next time instead of my arms.
Chapter 12
Slater
I hate that I have to meet him.
And not in that “everyone hates meeting with their boss” bullshit sort of way.
No.
I don’t give a fuck that he’s my boss.
He’s her fucking ex-boyfriend and that’s the shit that matters here.
That’s the shit that has me wanting to unpack my rifle right here in the lobby of the range.
Load it.
Angle it in the direction of the door to take him out with one shot before he’s even pulled onto the property.
It’s not the fact that he’s had my woman that bothers me.
I’m not that irrational.
Arley’s a fucking gorgeous woman, in her thirties, who has obviously had men in life before me. She’s not a virgin and I don’t wish that she was. It’d honestly piss me off more if she were. Angel Cake has enough hang ups about being “enough” in this world as is, if you tacked on her never having been touched in that sense, it would only amplify that insecurity.
I don’t ever want it amplified.
I only want it dulled or dead.
Him having been with her in that aspect may rub me the wrong way – any day that ends in y – but what really chaps my ass is that this asshole is like a bad fucking penny. He always turns up at the worst time.
Always manages to stop me from having her the way he once did.
The way he’ll never fucking have her again.
No.
He had his chance and picked a promotion over the most incredible woman in the world.
That was his fuck up.
That’s his bullshit he has to live with.
Don’t get me wrong.
I could not be more grateful he’s a moron and made that mistake.
I just need him to stop trying to correct it.
Especially now that it’s my turn to try to make what we have into something…more.
You know if…people would just stop trying to kill her.
Or kidnap her.
Or silence her.
Whatever…fucking super villain shit they’re up to.
That is the second biggest cockblock in my life at the moment.
The chiming of the door has me dragging my attention away from where Anne Bigpond is cleaning the glass counter of The Hunt Locker over to where Seventeen is casually strolling across the threshold.
And here’s the first.
“Someone’s a little overdressed,” teases the dark-haired woman who owns the largest indoor- outdoor shooting range in Dalvegan during his approach. “I get the feelin’ you’re a little lost, sugar.”
Seventeen slides his hands into his suit pockets prior to politely proclaiming, “I actually just came straight from the office.”
“My boss,” I casually interject on a small head tip his direction. “The one I mentioned earlier.”
“Oh!” Anne tosses an understanding hand in my direction. “Right! The one who’s embarrassed about needing a few tips when it comes to handling something so much bigger than he’s used to, which is why you reserved the entire rifle range for an hour.”