Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 85228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
His jaw clenches, and I kind of feel bad that Zeus may inherit some of his anger.
"I no longer feel safe in my home," I continue. "And while I need to move, I feel as if a fresh start is what's best for me. It's early in the planning. I'll let Nolan know when I have more concrete plans."
"Caitlyn," he whispers again, sounding even more broken than he did the first time.
I'm in no position to concern myself about how this man feels. I have enough of my own troubles to work through.
"As I discussed with Nolan and Aspen, I will find a replacement therapist for Eli. Children are very resilient and he'll be fine. Please move so I may leave."
My heart cracks open a little further when he wordlessly steps to the side, pulling open the driver's side door for me before walking away.
Despite having trembling hands and a foot that barely manages to stop shaking long enough for me to accelerate out of the parking lot, I feel resigned to what I'm facing, a move to a new city and letting go of a man I had no business wanting in the first place. I hold my head up a little higher with each mile I put between my car and the Cerberus cabin.
It all comes crashing down when I turn into my driveway. I hate the sight of my house, and that kills me. I worked very hard to make it feel like a home, something I was proud to come home to after a long day of therapy sessions. I felt safe here... until I didn't, and if it weren't for Kiva being inside waiting for me, I don't know that I could climb out from behind the wheel.
I glance around the yard, trying to determine if anything is amiss, but other than the snow dragging down one of the branches, threatening to snap it on a nearby tree, everything seems completely normal.
My watch doesn't buzz when I step on the front porch making me feel like a fool because I never armed the security system after getting frustrated with the notifications when I was out shoveling snow in the driveway.
I can't imagine the argument and harassment I'd get from Roman if he knew what I'd done. It was enough to get reamed for the windows and then the smoke detectors.
I unlock the front door, waiting to be welcomed by Kiva but she isn't there to let her familiar yip out and demand for dinner.
Unease settles inside of me. She's been getting slower in recent days, and I'm wondering if she isn't nearing her end.
"Caitlyn, baby. I've missed you," I hear before I can even step inside and pull up the alarm system application on my phone and rearm it.
I gasp, looking up into cold eyes I never thought I’d see again.
Chapter 34
Jersey
There hasn't been a shortage of regrets in my life. I think every day brings some form of wishing something was different.
Today that list is a mile long, but as much as I can stay in my room pacing, wishing I'd never set eyes on Caitlyn Rudd, I know better.
I knew the woman was different the fucking second I saw her walking toward that cross the first time. I hadn't even felt that way with Eden, and that's a hard fucking bitter pill to swallow, considering I made vows with that woman.
Somehow, deep down, I knew Caitlyn was going to change my life, and I think mentally I've been fighting against the idea of it despite the physical connection we've had multiple times.
There's no getting her out of my mind. There's no chance that I can let her leave, thinking she means less to me than any other woman I've come across in my line of work.
I have no fucking clue why I couldn't express my feelings for her minutes ago when she left, and I can't say that I have the courage to say them now, but I know she was upset when she left, and I have to make sure she made it home okay.
I grab my leather jacket and the keys to my bike and head out, knowing I can make it down the mountain faster than driving something with four wheels. It still seems to take forever, my head conjuring up all sorts of horrible things that could happen between here and her house.
I'm only partially relieved to not see her car wrapped around a tree on my descent, but nothing prepares me for what I find when I make it to her house.
Caitlyn is fine, better than ever, I'd say, with the way she's hugging the man on her front porch.
Rage fills me up, and my first instinct is to park my bike and ram that guy's head into the nearest fucking tree, but I don't own her. I can't dictate what she does or who she sees. We weren't even close to being exclusive, and if all I wanted was sex from her, the sight of the two of them together shouldn't bother me at all.