Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I level him with a bored stare as he embarrasses himself with his bragging. He finally pushes to his feet, going toe to toe with me. He’s an inch shorter than me, and I can tell how much that pisses him off.
Sure, he’s muscular, but I doubt this guy’s ever fought a real fight in his life. Training in a secure gym setting is nothing like facing real threats, and there’s not a single fucking cell in my body that’s scared of him.
I cut off his bragging, speaking in a low tone that does nothing to hide the darkness in my words. “I haven’t spent twenty years in the military without knowing how to take down threats,” I tell him, holding his stare, my lips curving up in a smirk that’s far from friendly. “Though, I can’t even call you a real threat at all, Daniel. You’re no better than a fucking rat, a pest that’s made the mistake of bothering what’s mine. So scurry off to whatever dark fucking hole you crawled out of and know that if there’s ever a next time, you won’t be able to walk anywhere after I’m through with you.”
I really want to make good on my promises to break his teeth and cut his tongue off, but I don’t want to scare Talia. She’s been through enough today already. Plus, we’re in a fucking soup kitchen. This isn’t the place for blood and gore, no matter how much imagining it makes me smile.
Daniel’s gaze flicks past me to Talia, pupils widening slightly. “Talia, come on. Tell him to back off,” he pleads with her, voice sharp now.
“You don’t talk to her,” I growl, getting closer to him to block his view. “You don’t even fucking look at her.”
I’m standing between them, blocking him from getting near her again. When he tries to take a step forward, I plant a hand on his chest and hold him still, not moving an inch when he tries to shove me away. He might be strong, but brawn isn’t enough without the brains and training to back it up. My feet are planted on the floor, my balance secure, and I’m hardly straining to keep him in place.
“Fuck this,” Daniel mutters, shaking his head at me. “You’re a fucking psycho.”
I push him away, watching him shoot another glare my way before turning around and storming off. I wait until he’s gone straight out the front door and it’s slammed behind him before I turn to face Talia again.
She hasn’t moved an inch, still leaning against the wall, her forest green eyes wide and locked on me. A shaky breath leaves her lips, and I take a cautious step towards her, not wanting to scare her even more.
I wish I had come to check on her sooner, and I vow to never make that mistake again. Talia is as sweet as the cakes she makes, and that sweetness deserves to be protected at all costs. I’ll be her damn guard dog all she needs, fighting off assholes so she doesn’t have to.
“You…um…” she tries to say, swallowing thickly. Her tongue darts out to wet her lips and I track the movement, blood heating. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” I tell her honestly. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to check on you sooner. He never should’ve gotten that close to you. Did he hurt you, cupcake?”
There’s that nickname again. I don’t give people nicknames, especially not cute ones like that. But fuck, everything’s different with her. And it makes her smile, light returning to her eyes, so I’ll call her every cutesy name under the sun if she wants me to.
“No,” she says, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “He just wouldn’t listen to me. I thought … I thought he was my friend, but I guess not.” Her shoulders drop a little, and the sadness that pulls on her pretty face makes my heart sink.
I pull her closer to me, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. She sinks into my touch, and it feels so right, holding her, comforting her like this.
“Did you mean it?” she asks softly.
For a second, I think I misheard her.
“Mean what?” I ask, not wanting to misinterpret this. This moment feels vital, something unspoken hanging in the air around us.
“When you said … when you told him … I’m yours,” she whispers.
I don’t hesitate. “Yes. I meant every word.”
She doesn’t answer, but I swear she shivers a little in my hold. I want to keep talking, to finish the conversation, but I need to get her somewhere she feels safe first. I keep her close and take a step, ensuring she comes with me.
“Come on, cupcake. I’m taking you home.”
6
TALIA
Trey doesn’t put even an inch of distance between us as we walk home, his arm a steady, warm constant around my shoulders. It’s as if he’s unwilling to let me go even for a second.