Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
I heard the pain in his voice. I hadn’t meant to hurt him. It was going to take a while before we were easy around each other again.
“Just because I know you have limitations doesn’t mean I don’t trust you. I’d put my life on the line for you, and I know you’d do the same thing for me. I want you behind me for any fight I’m in, no matter how big or small.”
“Do you think this is going to blow up on us?” Rhys asked.
“Until we know who the guy Colton saw is and who he’s working for, I can’t say. Colton didn’t recognize him at all?”
“He said he looked vaguely familiar but nothing specific.”
“That could just be because he’s already seen him in town.”
We theorized for several minutes about who would be the most likely to have discovered our safehouse. Was it one of the few remaining members of the Carlotti family or a minion of TJ’s cousin who seemed to be making a bid to take over his position in the family? Or was it Trey or one of the other Russos? Whoever it was, we needed to be prepared to defend ourselves.
When we settled on a plan to investigate while stepping up our security, Rhys and Rogue headed to the barn to do the evening chores, and I went back to the kitchen.
Jacob was no longer there. I tried to convince myself I wasn’t disappointed. I was better off alone. I was in a foul mood—mad at myself for having taken this job, concerned for the safety of everyone I’d pulled into this project, and longing like hell to go to Jacob’s room, throw him down on the bed, and fuck him as hard as I had the other night.
But the danger we were in made me even more certain I needed to stay away from him. I had to focus on the safety of my family. I’d brought my brothers here, confident I could run the place and deal with any threats. Now that we were facing an unknown enemy, uncertainty swirled in my gut, making me feel sick. I’d done everything I could to keep my battalion safe and had even ended my career because I refused to leave any of them behind, but Blade had still come out scared inside and out, and Tony had never come home at all.
I’d intended to get another piece of lasagna, but now I didn’t think I could eat. At least it would be there for lunch. I’d make damn sure my brothers didn’t eat it all.
I turned off the kitchen light and headed to my room. Maybe I’d feel better if I took a shower. After I’d scrubbed myself clean, I pulled on a pair of cut-off sweats and looked longingly at my bed. I was exhausted, but it was too early to turn in when I had so many things to take care of.
I grabbed my laptop from my office and sat in the chair by my bedroom window, going through files and spreadsheets and answering a shitload of emails.
By the time I’d finished, I was barely awake, but as soon as I slid between the covers, all I could think of was Jacob. He was in the next fucking room. I was sure Rhys had done that on purpose, though why he would want us to pair up I had no idea. He had to know how much trouble that would cause.
It was going to be pure hell trying to live through this summer with Jacob right there in the house. Rhys thought my hands-off policy was crazy, but he’d never had to be the one in charge. He’d never known how much effort and energy it took to keep the three of us alive, housed, and fed. Sure, money wasn’t an issue now, not as long as X was paying my salary, but if I let somebody get killed or captured, that would be over. A lot of people were depending on me.
Jacob needed protection. I already found him so fucking distracting I wasn’t sure I could focus on the ranch the way I needed to. How much worse would my distraction be if I let myself get more entangled with him? Right now, I could say it was just a hookup like any other and pretend I’d felt nothing for him besides pleasure. If I brought him to my room and kept him there night after night the way I wanted to, I was going to have to admit there were much stronger feelings involved than lust.
I’d end up hurting us both because there was no way in hell I could make room in my life for him permanently. Not when I’d just taken on running the ranch. It was going to be just as demanding as the marines. People were depending on me, and I didn’t have time for a relationship.