Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“You’re the one who knocked.” My peeved voice comes out breathless. I sink onto the couch with relief.
He pulls out a pack of instant-ice and fusses over my leg. “Did you take your meds?” He lopes to the kitchen and comes back with a glass of water before I can answer.
“Elodie?” My sister peeks out of the bedroom and tenses at the sight of the huge, tattooed enforcer leaning over me with a glass of water.
“It’s okay.” I wave her over. “He’s not here to hurt us.”
As if to prove my point, Jaeger pulls the bottle of pain pills out of my purse and shakes a few out onto my palm.
“This is my…” I start and realize that the only way I can finish the sentence is my one-night stand, who paid to fuck me after he chased me through the woods. “Jaeger. Um. He brought donuts.”
My sister just stares. For a moment, I see Jaeger through her eyes: a six-foot-tall stack of sexy blond. She’s used to skinny male model types. Jaeger could probably bench-press ten of them.
“Nice to meet you,” Jaeger rumbles, and he sounds so civilized my eyes almost pop out of my head. “Would you like a donut?”
Margot swallows as if she’s unsure if this is a trap. The only reason big, burly men have shown up to our door is to shake us down.
The kids have no such qualms.
“Donuts,” Janie screeches, squeezing past her mother. Her two-year-old brother takes up the chant in his toddler-speak, “Do-nuh, do-nuh.”
Jaeger flips the box open.
“Uh, Margot, why don’t you take these?” I grab the box and hand it to her before the kids get their grubby hands on it. “You can cut them into pieces for the kids? I need to talk to Jaeger a sec.”
Still pale, Margot’s eyes dart to Jaeger’s skull ring and away. She presses her lips together and leads the screaming children to the kitchen.
I stare up at Jaeger. “What are you doing here?” I whisper. “I thought you were going to go.”
“I did go. I got donuts.” He looks around, taking in the shabby apartment—the frayed carpet and water stains on the ceiling. Meanwhile, I’m drinking him in. He looks unreal, his hair shining golden in the dim light. Like he’s full color, and the rest of the world is faded.
I try to convince myself his presence is a complication I don’t need, but my body’s quivering like he’s the best thing I’ve ever seen.
“This is where you live? With your sister?”
I stiffen. He doesn’t have the right to ask questions. I don’t ask him how he knows Margot is my sister.
“Uh, she’s leaving.”
He nods, glancing at the suitcase and bags piled outside the bedroom. “When?”
“Right now, actually. Margot,” I call to her. “You should get the kids ready. I’ll call a cab.” I’ll have to use my almost maxed credit card to pay for it. As soon as the ten thousand I’ve earned hits my account, I’ll use some of it to get out of here and find a way to get the rest to Margot and my aunt.
I pull out my phone, but it’s dead.
“I’ll do it,” Jaeger announces. “And let me help you with the bags.”
“No,” I protest. I struggle to my feet, but he takes my shoulder and gently pushes me back down. I crumple under his stormy stare. I can’t fight him, and I don’t know why I would when it hurts to stand.
“What’s wrong with her ankle?” Margot has less of a deer-in-the-headlights look now. She brushes her hair behind her ear, blinking up at Jaeger. She’s not flirting; she’s just using her looks to her advantage. It usually works—even tired with limp hair and dark circles under her eyes, she’s cat-walk-model stunning.
But Jaeger doesn’t seem to notice.
“She hurt it last night,” Jaeger answers for me. I don’t know why they’re talking over my head when I’m right here.
My sister’s stare sharpens. “You were with her last night?”
“We don’t have time for this,” I interrupt. I don’t want her to know the details of how I earned the cash, and we don’t have time. The thugs could be here any minute. “You have to get the kids out.”
“Right.” Margot hustles, getting the kid’s sticky faces and hands cleaned up and bundling them into clothes. Jaeger picks up her suitcase and the few extra bags she’s managed to pack. Janie gets her own tiny backpack. Tyson sucks on the matted fur of his favorite teddy.
I fight tears, holding open my arms to give them kisses and a final farewell.
I recite my Aunt Carol’s address until Margot memorizes it. “Don’t write it down,” I tell her. “And don’t call me. They might be able to track it.” From the corner of my eye, I sense Jaeger’s attention focused on me. So far, he’s been quiet and gone with the flow, but any second, he might speak up and start asking questions. And I don’t know what he’ll do next.