Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 166103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 831(@200wpm)___ 664(@250wpm)___ 554(@300wpm)
Her breath came in sharper pants.
She stared over at Beck, needing his calming presence. He stared back at her, lending his strength.
“Well, guess what? I am happy. And I’ll fuck whoever I damn well please.”
He lost control, screaming at her through the screen. “You are mine! Mine!”
Shit.
“Turn it off! Please!” she begged.
The screen died on his screams. Beck jumped up and raced over to her, gathering her up in his arms. She clung to him, shaking.
She looked over at Salem. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get anything for you.”
Salem sent her a sympathetic look. “It’s all right. You tried for us. He’s going to be hard to crack and we’ve got to protect him from Pinky trying to take him out.”
“You did amazing, Freckles. My clever girl. I know that had to be so hard. But you’re safe from him. He won’t hurt you again.”
She clung to him. Her big, gorgeous guy. They had plans to go visit his Ma in a few months and she couldn’t wait to meet to the woman who’d raised him.
“I’ll leave you guys to it. See you at the party,” Salem said.
Beck sat with her on his lap, holding her tight. “You okay, Freckles? That was a lot.”
“I just . . . how can he hate me so much? I never did anything to him.” Tears welled in her eyes, dripping down her cheeks.
Sometimes it was still hard to let go and cry and she’d find herself hiding her true emotions. But her guys never let her get away with that for long.
Beck wiped away her tears. “Of course you didn’t. I suppose it all started with his father. He obviously belittled him. To the point that he wanted his approval but also hated him. I’m not defending him at all, but I think it probably twisted him.”
“Yeah. And he had some sort of love-hate relationship with my mother. I just . . . I still never thought he’d deliberately try to drag me down with him. But I guess all I ever was to him was a possession.”
The door slammed open, making her jump.
“What happened?” Judd demanded, striding in.
“What did he say? Are you okay?” Hux asked.
“Do I get to kill him now?” Owen added. “If he hurt you, I will.”
They crowded around her and Beck. Hux placed his hand on her back while Judd grasped hold of her chin, studying her.
“You’ve been crying. Owen, she’s been crying. Kill the bastard.”
Owen straightened. “On it.”
“Wait, Owen, no,” she called out. “Stop. Please.”
“Owen!” Beck said. “Chloe needs you here.”
“Chloe needs me?” He turned back. “I’m here, baby girl.”
“We all are,” Hux added. “Whatever you need, little darlin’.”
“What did that bastard say?” Judd demanded.
She went over it all, Beck adding in bits and pieces.
“That fucking asshole,” Hux snapped. “We should let Owen kill him.”
“No,” she said. “Trust me, killing would be too easy. Being in jail, with no one kissing his ass, no power or nice things. That’s a far better punishment. I just . . . I want to forget about this for a while. Can we go to the party now?”
“You sure, Baby Blue?” Judd asked. “We don’t have to go.”
“Not go?” she gasped dramatically. “To a birthday party? We can’t not go, Daddy Judd!”
“Sorry. Of course not. What was I thinking?”
“Clearly, you weren’t. Parties are sacred, Daddy.”
Beck lifted her off his lap and took her hand, leading her out of the room and outside into the Escanaian sunshine.
She breathed in deep. “We need to get the gift first. We can’t go without a present.”
“Of course not,” Judd said with a huff. “That’s party etiquette 101.”
They all stared at him.
“What? I’m not a monster. Even I know that.”
She grinned at him and let them lead her into their house. She started to put her stamp on it. There was now a soft blanket over the sofa, and some photos of them hanging on the wall. And white roses on the coffee table that were delivered weekly.
This had become her home.
She picked up the gift she’d wrapped herself for Pippa. It was her birthday today and the Princes had gone all out with a special party.