Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Grant huffed. “A lot dramatic.”
“You know you love all the screens and the comfy chairs,” TJ said, spinning one before sitting down in it.
“X wants to be in on this meeting.”
I had to suppress a shiver. Was I going to talk to the great and powerful X?
Grant turned to me, and I stiffened. “Nothing said here goes outside this room, do you understand me?”
I nodded.
“X will deal with you if you fuck that up.”
“I won’t.” Even Lucien was hesitant to piss X off.
Grant tapped a few buttons on the computer in front of him. A few seconds later, X came on the screen. I’d known X was the alter ego of billionaire philanthropist Thomas Carrington, but seeing him on the screen looking so much more menacing that he did on TV in a power suit was still startling.
“I see Carlo is safe.” He glanced around the room. “Where is Blade?”
“Blade is at his cabin,” Grant said. “He’s having a bad day.”
X frowned. “Carlo, why don’t you tell me what happened out there.”
I clasped my hands together to keep them from shaking. There was just something about this man’s presence. He was scarier than my father, and that said a lot. Somehow, I managed to explain everything that had happened at the cabin.
“My guess is that the man Blade chased away was still the scout,” Grant said before breaking into a round of deep, rattling coughs. He sounded just as bad as Blade had a few days ago.
“Have you been taking the medicine I sent over?” I asked him.
Grant wrinkled up his nose. “No. That stuff tastes nasty.”
“Maybe, but Blade doesn’t have a cough anymore.” I suddenly realized I was interrupting the meeting and glanced back at X.
He scowled at Grant then turned to Jacob. “See that he takes it.”
Jacob smiled. “Yes, sir.”
“I’m fine,” Grant insisted as he tried to stifle another coughing fit.
“I’m sending someone out there. Between the flu and all the work the ranch needs, I know you need some help.”
“Who are you sending?” Rhys asked.
“Don’t get tense. It just so happens Fox is between jobs. He’s already on his way. I thought it would be good for all of you to see each other again.”
“Fox?” Grant asked, looking shocked. “I haven’t heard from him in months.”
“He’s been doing some work for me, but he’s available now.”
I looked around the room, wondering who the hell this Fox was. Hopefully someone would tell me later.”
“We’ve got enough ranch hands. We can cover it,” Grant said.
I sensed he didn’t like anyone coming into his territory or suggesting he couldn’t handle things.
“I’m sure you could if you had to, but I’ve been talking to Lucien, and we have a plan. At this point, it’s best for Carlo to return to Boston. Fox is coming to be his escort.”
“No,” I said before realizing who I was speaking to.
“Your family has a plan to take care of the threat. They want you back there to take part.”
I wondered what part they wanted me to take. I didn’t think Lucien trusted me to do anything, but what X was saying made sense. I didn’t want to stay here and continue to endanger everyone on the ranch, especially Blade, but the thought of flying to Boston and never seeing him again made my stomach turn.
“You could always come visit,” Jacob said as if he knew what I was thinking. “And tell us the story of vanquishing your foes.”
I looked up at him, and he gave me a soft smile. I wanted to believe that might be an option, but I doubted my brother was going to let me out of his sight, and I was even less certain Blade would want to see me again.
“When will he be here?” Grant asked.
X glanced away, probably checking the time. “In about three hours. He’s on the Marchesis’ jet.”
At least I would get to return to Boston in style.
There was more talk about defending the ranch in the meantime and about how to make it clear I was being taken away without precipitating a fight here beforehand.
I only half listened. All I thought about was how much I wanted to see Blade and how much I wished he were seated beside me. I wanted him to hold me, and I wanted to comfort him too.
When the meeting was over, I moved around the table to Rogue. “Take me out to Blade’s cabin. I need to talk to him again.”
“That’s not an option,” Grant said.
I turned on him, scowling. “You’re here to protect me, not to order me around and tell me what to do.”
“You’re not going out there. It could put him in danger.”
I knew that was true. I looked back at Rogue. “Would you ask him to come out to the ranch house?”
Rogue frowned. “That’s not going to happen. Even when he’s feeling his best, he doesn’t really like being around all of us at once.”