Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“What are your plans for today?” Kye asked her as she walked over to take a seat.
She chewed on her bottom lip, then glanced up at me. “I was wondering if I could start volunteering on the pediatric floor at the hospital. I used to do that back home, and I miss it.”
Dammit. She wanted to go out of the compound while I was gone. I couldn’t let her do that. Not without me here.
“We are leaving for some business today. Should be back in a few days. I’ll help you get that set up when I return.”
She blinked, then looked down at her food. “I can handle it. I know how to contact the right people and set it up.”
“I don’t want you out from under the safety of this home until I return.”
“Okay,” she replied, looking disappointed.
Fuck. She was bored. Before she had moved to live with her sister, she’d had all those damn charities and shit she helped with.
“Soon as I get back, I swear.”
She nodded.
“I’d offer to take you, but he might slam me against the wall and put a knife to my neck,” Kye drawled.
I scowled at him. I didn’t need him making this a big deal. He chuckled, standing up with his empty plate.
“I can wait,” she replied.
My obedient good girl. She was going to have to stop doing that. For my sanity’s sake.
Twenty-One
Aspen
After Levi left with the others, I helped Trinity clean the kitchen and put away food. Then, I returned to the bedroom that I never slept in to get my iPad, then took it down to the living room. If I was going to be here any longer, I needed to start doing something with my life. I found the contact at the local hospital, two food shelters, and a home for women and children for volunteer work. If I couldn’t have a job yet, I could at least do this.
The house was so quiet that when the chime went off, alerting us that someone had come through the security gate, it startled me.
Trinity came in from the pool almost immediately. “Six is here. I didn’t want it to scare you when someone walked in. Levi just texted me and said he was coming.”
I was a little on edge with Levi gone, and I wished I could get over that. Staying here all the time wasn’t helping. He was becoming the center of my world. That wasn’t a good idea. I was certain Levi did not want me thinking of him in that way.
“I was thinking of having Six take me to the stables to see Maddy. Want to go?” she asked.
“Yes, that sounds nice.”
I loved the horses, and getting out of the house would be good. While I was here, all I thought about was Levi.
The front door opened.
“Aspen,” Six called out.
“In the living room,” Trinity replied.
Six was here for me? I turned to see him walk through the door.
His gaze swung from Trinity to me, and then he held up a phone. “Got you something.”
He walked up to me and held out a new, fancy-looking phone.
My eyes lifted back to his face. “That’s not mine.”
“Yeah, it is. Levi ordered it. He wants to be able to get in touch with you. It’s set up and ready to go.”
Levi wanted me to have a phone? I reached out and took the phone and studied it closely.
“It has everyone’s numbers in it. He wants you to keep it on you at all times. Any questions, his number is in there, but text first. Don’t call.”
Unsure of what to say, I just nodded. “Okay, uh, thanks.”
“We need a ride to the stables, Six. Do you mind taking us?”
“Not at all. I’m headed there next anyway.”
Trinity touched my shoulder. “Text Levi and let him know you’re going to the stables. That thing has a world-class tracker on it, and he’ll know the minute you step foot off this property.”
I frowned. “Why?”
Trinity grinned. “Because they’re all alike. Possessive, twisted, controlling, and we love them.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t love them. Or him. I liked him. Not love. I mean, I was sure I didn’t. I missed him, but that wasn’t love. I felt anxious when he was gone, but again, that wasn’t love. It was just me being dependent on him, and I was going to fix that.
The phone dinged as the screen lit up, and Levi’s name appeared. He’d texted me. A smile curled my lips as a warm feeling spread through my chest.
Levi: You good with the phone? Understand how to use it?
Me: Yes. Thank you. I don’t have people I need to call or text, but I do appreciate it.
I liked that I had this little bit of connection with him today.
Levi: You have me.
The fluttery thing my heart did when Levi walked into a room was showing up over a simple text. I pressed my lips together and wondered what I should say.