Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“Then you shouldn’t quit your day job,” I quipped.
“There she goes!” He whooped. My laugh this time was real. “Anyone tell you you’re a smart ass?”
“Anyone tell you’re rude?”
“I might have heard it a time or two.”
“You should work on that.”
“Not gonna.” His smile was quick and easy, and I had the feeling it had charmed the panties off many women. It was too bad my heart, and my panties were forever wedged under Angel’s boot.
“I better go.”
“Not until you tell me why my cousin made you cry.”
I hesitated. Would it be stupid to confide him in? If anyone would understand my need to decide my fate, wouldn’t he? “He won’t let us go.”
He seemed to contemplate something before saying, “I can understand why.”
I eyed him suspiciously until he chuckled. “I didn’t mean you.”
“Ouch.” I feigned hurt before saying, “I didn’t know there was someone special.”
He shrugged. “There isn’t. I just said I understand.” I couldn’t tell if he was lying. He was just that good at it.
“You won’t live your life based on Alexander’s rules. Why should I?”
“I can take care of myself.”
“God, you sound just like him.” Deciding I was wrong about him, I quickly moved around him. Just when I thought I had an ally…
I didn’t get far when his hand closed around my arm. His gaze bore into me, and in the emerald, I could see whatever demons Augustine kept locked away clawing at the walls.
“Running won’t make you free.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
MIAN
ANGEL STAYED AWAY that night, and I pretended not to miss the warmth of having him beside me. I spent the hours alone until I fell asleep with Augustine’s words playing in my head.
I awoke later than usual the next morning. Caylen was already up and standing against the crib railings. He smiled happily when I rose from the bed and babbled at me.
“Mommy’s sorry she slept so long,” I cooed as I lifted him from the crib. “Are you hungry?” I was partially surprised he wasn’t upset. He was usually ravenous with a full diaper in the morning.
“I fed him an hour ago,” the deep voice spoke. I spun around with Caylen in my arms and found Angel leaning against the wall with his hands shoved in his pocket. “Changed him too.”
He was brooding, and I didn’t get why when I was the one being forced to stay here. “Thank you,” I grudgingly replied.
He shrugged his voice flat as he said, “You slept like the dead, and he’s been up for a couple of hours.”
I kissed Caylen’s fat cheek and placed him back in the crib. If he was taken care of, then I’d take the rare advantage of a long shower. “I’m going to shower then.”
“I think we should talk first.”
“We said all we needed to say last night.” I didn’t stop moving for the bathroom, but then he was there, keeping me from getting away. As usual.
“What about all the things we’re afraid to say?” I didn’t dare look at him. He was not going to seduce me this time.
“Maybe it’s for the best.” He was silent for a moment before sighing.
“Maybe.”
“Are we done here?” I still refused to look at him.
“You and I will never be done.” I felt him move in closer until he towered over me. I let him wrap his arms around me because I couldn’t be this close and not feel his touch. “But I’m willing to compromise until you can accept the truth.”
My eyes traveled up his muscular chest, past his strong neck, and over kissable lips until I found him staring down at me. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll see. Just know it’s the only thing I’m giving you. It’s the only thing I can give you, and not because of the damn legacy.” He pulled me closer, and then I let him kiss me. “But because I just don’t fucking want to.”
* * *
HE DIDN’T TAKE me back to Chicago. Michelle and Officer Garrett, who insisted I call him Tim, took me in after Angel let me walk away. Bringing me here had been his way of appeasing me so I wouldn’t run away and sadly, it worked. I may still be under his thumb, but I no longer felt trapped. I only felt lost.
Angel had packed us up and kissed me on the Garrett’s porch as if he would never see me again even though his eyes promised he would. Then I watched him drive away.
That had been a month ago.
“I hope you like vanilla frosting,” Michelle said as she burst into the kitchen with a large white box. “I got chocolate cake for the party.”
Today was Caylen’s first birthday, and Michelle had insisted on throwing him a party. Since tomorrow was Halloween, she suggested it be a costume party, and then promised it would be small and inexpensive when I protested. She had already done so much for us that accepting the above and beyond made me feel guiltier than I already did. She’d wanted a life away from Alexander’s legacy, and I had brought her back in by staying here.