Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 770(@200wpm)___ 616(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
The tip of his smile was both agonized and adoring. “Would do anything to rid you of every single one of your monsters.”
“I know you would.”
He hooked his pinky with hers, his voice rough as he whispered, “That’s why you’ve gotta be careful not to introduce any more monsters into your life, Raven. Know we’ve kept you shielded the best we can, but you’re almost grown, and we can’t do that forever. You need to know the real threat of these bastards. Take it seriously. Choose the type of people you hang with carefully.” He hesitated before he rushed, “And fuck, Raven, don’t let some depraved asshole use you up.”
Before she could say anything, he hopped to his feet and moved to the door.
He paused when she quietly called behind him, “Thank you.”
He hesitated before he looked over his shoulder. “For what?”
“For somehow always knowing what I need.”
THIRTY
OTTO
I bolted upright to the screaming of the alarm. So fuckin’ loud it was disorienting. My heart hammered at warp speed as my eyes tried to adjust to the dim light.
Hands already in fists, ready to slaughter any motherfucker stupid enough to come around here.
Raven flew up to sitting, too.
Raven who was in my bed.
A surge of protectiveness pummeled me. Rage and possession.
I pushed an arm out in front of her to keep her shielded as I tuned my senses to listen through the blaring of the alarm.
My room was still.
Empty of anyone else other than the two of us.
I was certain of it.
I could always scent out when some bastard was lurking. Could feel it crawl across my skin in a roll of perversion. But I knew well enough someone was nearby. On my property.
The alarm wouldn’t call the authorities. It was only for me. A way to alert me to anyone who dared tread into my territory.
“Wait right here until I figure out what is going on,” I shouted over the blare as I shifted and took Raven by the outside of the arms.
Those eyes were darker than ever, black pools that swarmed with fear. Fear I would do anything to decimate.
I cleared the rage from my throat and dipped down to be sure I got in her line of sight. “Don’t move from this spot, Raven. Do you hear me? I’ll be right back.”
Her nod was frantic, and I pushed from the bed, going straight for my nightstand and to the gun case that I kept in the bottom drawer. I pressed my thumb to the sensor to open it, and I pulled it out, making sure it was loaded and ready as I crept across the room to the door.
Adrenaline thundered as I pressed my ear to the wood, trying to listen through the disorder that reverberated through my house. When I couldn’t feel anything moving on the other side, I cracked the door open and peered out into the duskiness of the great room.
It was that dense hour right before sunrise. When the night felt deepest. The kitchen and living room were covered in a thick darkness only broken by the stars that shined through the wall of windows on the far side.
Anxiety ripping through me, I glanced back once at Raven. She was on her knees on the bed, those inky eyes wide with terror.
My chest squeezed, and I forced myself to move.
A fireball of aggression gripped me by the throat as I stepped out of my room, my gun lifted and my attention sharp as I scanned the area below.
Carefully, I edged down the three steps to the bottom landing.
Stillness echoed back. Zero movement. No sticky aura of some vile bastard waiting in the shadows, though I didn’t let down my guard as I quickly moved to where I’d left my phone charging on the end table next to the couch.
Snatching it up, I turned off the alarm.
Silence cut through the house. As sharp as a knife.
So distinct it was palpable.
All wrong.
Blood pumping hard, I searched the alarm app for what had triggered the alarm.
Downstairs in the garage. The single window on the west side of the building. I was quick to thumb into the camera footage, watching as something busted through the window and toppled to the ground. The second camera caught a hazy figure outside the garage.
Fuck.
I didn’t take the time to drag on my jeans.
I just shoved my feet into my boots where they’d been sitting by the couch, not bothering to tie them as I headed for the interior door that led downstairs into the garage.
Carefully, I unlocked it, cracking the door a fraction so I could peer out. Based on the footage, I was pretty sure no one was actually inside, but I couldn’t be certain.
More stillness.
Sucking in a breath, I stepped through, quick to relock the door to make sure Raven was secure inside.