Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
"Christ," he groans. "I miss you."
"I miss you too."
"Why are you going to see Dillon?" I ask after a moment.
"I'm not entirely sure," he mutters. "Something about the fires, I guess. He just told me to get my ass to his office. He's a despot, baby."
"No, he isn't," I say, laughing softly. "You like him."
"I'm not telling him that," he grunts, making me laugh again. Emmett and Dillon are friends. They just pick at each other like most firefighters and law enforcement officers do. "Is Callum behaving himself? Being nice to you?"
I roll my eyes. "Yes, Emmett. He's been amazing."
A growl rumbles down the line.
A shocked laugh bubbles from my lips. "Are you jealous right now?"
"Hell yes," he grunts. "Another man is there right now, taking care of you. And you think he's amazing. I'm jealous as hell."
A ridiculous smile stretches across my face as my stomach flutters. This man… Lord, nothing has ever made me feel like something worth treasuring the way he does. "Callum is happily married," I remind him. "Besides, he isn't you. I'd choose you any day."
"Damn straight you will," he growls. "I'll spank your perfect ass if you don't."
"You are not spanking me," I hiss into the phone, even as heat unfurls inside me at the thought.
"Oh, I am," he practically purrs. "And you're going to fucking love it, Red."
I whimper softly, pretty sure he's right. He's turned me into a sex fiend. I need a group. Surely there's a group for this, right? Dicks and Spanks Anonymous.
"I've gotta go, baby. I'm pulling up at Dillon's office. I'll be there as soon as I'm done dealing with his cranky ass." He pauses. "I love you."
"I love you too."
I reluctantly disconnect, sighing. Before I set my phone down, I scroll to Nate's number, chewing on my bottom lip. My fingers fly across my screen as I quickly type out a message.
Me: Everyone is out searching for you. I'm really worried. Please come home, Nate.
I set my phone on the counter, crossing to peek out into the living room at Callum. He hears me coming and glances over at me from the couch.
"Hey, sweetheart. You good?"
I quickly bob my head, fidgeting. "Do you need anything?"
His lips twitch, humor in his pale emerald eyes. "I'm not a guest, Nina. You don't have to cater to me."
"Guest sounds better than babysitter," I mutter.
"Bodyguard."
"What?"
"I'm your bodyguard."
"Yeah, guest still sounds better."
He chuckles quietly, stretching his massive arms over his head. "Yeah, I guess it does. I don't need anything, Nina. I'm good."
"Okay." I linger in the doorway for a long moment before heading back to the kitchen. My phone dings with an incoming message just as I pull open the fridge. I quickly spin to the counter, praying it's Nate.
A whimper climbs up my throat as soon as I have the phone in my hand.
Unknown: Time is up.
Immediately below the message is a photo of the note Nate left on his bedroom door.
My knees shake before giving out.
I slide down the cabinet, choking on a gasp. They have Nate.
No. God no. Please.
The phone falls from my hands.
"Callum!" I choke out, clawing at my throat. "Callum!"
His heavy steps sound as he hurries into the kitchen, his eyes falling to me on the floor. He immediately tenses, quickly scanning the room before he kneels in front of me.
"What's wrong, Nina? What happened?"
"T-they…" I can't even say it. "Phone."
He snatches it from the floor, quickly scanning the message. "Fuck," he growls. "You just got this?"
I nod weakly. "T-they have…" A sob chokes me, and I can't finish the sentence. They have my brother. They've had him all along.
"I couldn't get ahold of Emmett or Dillon," Callum says a few minutes later, handing me a bottle of water as he helps settle me on the couch. "Neither of them are answering their phones."
I nod weakly, staring into space. I feel numb. Frozen. It's strange. Just a few days ago, I almost died in a fire, and it didn't feel like this. It didn't hurt like this. I wasn't afraid like this. Maybe I was too busy trying to survive then to let myself feel it. But I feel it now—the fear, the clawing panic, the outright terror. The pain of grief.
"S-should I text them back? Tell them I'll pay?" I ask, desperate to do something, anything to give Nate a chance. If my father's insurance company won't pay, I'll sell my house. Sell my freaking soul if that's what it takes. He's just a kid.
Callum hesitates for a long moment before sighing heavily. "I can't tell you what to do, sweetheart. Emmett is the one you need to have that discussion with."
"He isn't here."
Callum grimaces. "Do you want to go find him?"
I jerk my head up, staring at him. "You'll take me?"
"Yeah." He clears his throat. "I'll take you."