Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
“Oops.”
He chuckles. A sound that I don’t hear often, but when I do, it warms my soul.
Damn¸ girl.
I no longer have to fear falling for this man because I already have.
“As much as I want to stay, I can’t.”
I pout my lower lip out, and he moves fast, sucking it into his mouth. He nibbles for a second before dropping it. “Don’t tempt me, firefly.”
“But it’s so fun.” I bat my lashes seductively at him.
“I know, but I’m having some issues on the work front.” He pulls back and meets my gaze.
Tiny lines have formed on his face.
Something is bothering him, and my mind goes straight to Roman.
“What’s going on? Is there something about my brother that you’re not telling me?”
Gideon lets out a sigh, his hand lifting to tug on his now-tousled hair.
“I think you should stay in your old room today and practice.”
“Is that an order?” I say, instantly on edge.
He shakes his head. “More of a very pointed request.”
I want to argue, but I can tell it’s not a good day for that.
“Some unsavory characters will be coming to the house for a big meeting. I tried to move it elsewhere, but I needed the security and all my men. You need to lie low and stay out of sight.”
My heart starts pounding inside my chest as fear creeps in, like a flock of birds descending from the sky. My mind races with questions.
What’s about to happen?
Am I in danger? Is he?
Will whoever’s looking for me find me?
His hand reaches out, pulling me into his arms and engulfing me in warmth. “I promise you’re safe.” When I don’t speak, he pulls back, his fingers meeting my jaw and tilting my face up. “I always keep my word. You know that, right?” I nod. “As long as you stay out of sight, you’ll be fine. I just need you to listen. Can you do that?”
“I can.”
He offers a tight smile. One that does not reach his eyes. “That’s my good girl.”
And just like Gideon always does, with one word, one praise, all my fears are evaporated, replaced by only something he can give me—peace.
41
SASHA
Two days.
That’s how long Gideon has sequestered me in this room.
“Am I ever going to get out of here?” I glare at my only companion.
The blue light mocks me.
Someone’s watching.
Hopefully Gideon.
“I feel like a caged bird.”
Or a prisoner, but I don’t say that. “Are you ever going to let me out?”
I know I’m being dramatic. I’m not being forced to stay here.
But despite the fact that I know staying locked away in my bedroom is for my own good because of the unsavory people in the manor, I’m bored out of my mind.
My mind wanders off to all the places I could be right now—a never-ending stretch of beach with coarse white sand grains between my toes, a bustling city street lined with neon lights, or maybe even an old cobblestone village in Europe where the sun sets in a blaze of oranges and pinks across an endless sky.
Or better yet, I could be sitting on the stage of Lincoln Center, the stage lights blinding my eyes, the roar of the audience clapping in my ears.
The thought of all these amazing adventures and opportunities just out of reach makes me want to scream.
“Ugh.” I groan. “This is annoying. If I’m stuck here, I’m going to annoy you, cause I know you’re watching.” I scrunch my nose. “I’m just going to annoy you with all the random questions I have, and maybe you will get so annoyed you’ll have to put a stop to my nonsense.”
Leaning back into the bed, I place my arms above my head and get comfy. This could take a while.
“Question number one: If dinosaurs became extinct before humans existed, who made up dinosaur sounds and how?”
That’s a good one. If he’s not running in here to shut me up soon, I might have to revert to doing a striptease.
The only problem with that plan is who knows who watches this footage.
Something tells me only Gideon.
Gideon is way too much of a crazy, possessive stalker to let anyone else watch me.
“Next question: Why are Wolverine’s teeth not made of metal like the rest of his bones? That one has always driven me crazy. Now it can drive you crazy.” I sing-song.
I continue this ridiculous mission for what seems like forever.
I’m stuck in an endless loop.
At least when Gideon is around, it’s easy to pretend I’m not living in Groundhog Day over and over again, but with this extra time of solitude, I can’t help but become frustrated with each passing minute that I’m stuck behind these walls.
I feel a deep longing to break free and roam the hallways.
But Gideon scared me when he told me to stay put. Whoever is here, he seemed frightened of, and that’s saying something.