Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37970 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 190(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 127(@300wpm)
It feels even less like one this morning. Or maybe I simply feel less safe this morning than I did yesterday or the day before. I suppose that happens when mobsters come knocking and then your brother almost kills you in a fire.
How is this my life? I'm supposed to be teaching third graders fractions, spelling, and the joy of reading chapter books.
I keep my eyes peeled, looking everywhere for Nate as I direct Emmett toward the small house at the very end of a dead-end gravel lane. It isn't much, just a blue Craftsman on two acres that butts up against the back end of the preserve, but it's ours. I worked hard to buy it and turn it into a home for Nate.
As soon as Emmett pulls into the gravel driveway, I fling off the seatbelt and hop out. Not surprisingly, he follows me to the door.
"Nate?" I call, rushing inside.
"You don't lock your door?" Emmett asks from behind me.
"We live in the middle of nowhere."
"You need to lock your door, Nina."
I ignore him, flipping on lights as I check for Nate. My knees literally shake as I make my way down the hall to his bedroom.
My heart turns a flip in my chest when I see the note tacked to the board on his door.
I grab it with shaking hands.
Nina,
Going camping for the weekend with a friend. Love you.
-N
I know it's a load of crap before I even finish reading it. I called all his friends. None of them have seen him or know where he is. But at least he was here. He's running scared, but he's safe.
My knees sag.
"Easy, baby." Emmett catches me around the waist, hauling me up against his chest. "Your brother is fine."
Maybe. Hopefully. I just need to keep him that way.
"Which way is your bedroom?"
"I'm not sleeping with you," I mumble as he sweeps me up into his arms.
"No, but you are sleeping. You were in a fire. And Belle said you didn't sleep at all in the emergency room. So which way is your room, Red?"
I point to the door at the far end of the hall, and he immediately takes off in that direction, holding me against his chest like I'm a small child.
"I can walk."
"And I can carry you," he says firmly, his chest rumbling against my ear.
I decide not to argue with him. I don't think there's much of a point. He's just going to do what he wants to do anyway. He strikes me as that type of guy. Bossy jerk.
"Yeah, baby." He chuckles. "I am bossy as hell. Especially when you're the one being stubborn."
"Oh. I said that out loud."
"Yeah." His lips graze my ear. "But I'm going to let you get away with calling me names this time because you've had a hell of a night. Next time, you'll feel my palm against your gorgeous ass."
I glower up at him, trying like hell to ignore the way my clit throbs. "You're not spanking me, Emmett. I'm a big girl."
"Then stop being stubborn and let someone take care of you for once."
"I've never had that," I whisper as he carries me into my bedroom. The confession just kind of slips out, but it's true. I've never had that. At least, not since my mom died. Our dad started drinking right after she passed, and I was responsible for taking care of him and Nate. For a while, he promised he was going to get it together, but I don't think he wanted to get it together. He didn't want to function without her so he just…didn't. By the time I turned eighteen, I realized it was never going to happen.
I left and took Nate with me. And our father never tried to stop me. He just said it was probably for the best. I never really forgave him for that. Nate deserved better.
I worked full-time and took night classes to put myself through college to give us a chance at a better life. It was hard as hell, but I don't regret it. There was no way I was leaving him behind. He would have ended up in foster care before the year was out. And my dad may not have remembered what it meant to be family, but I did.
I've been holding it together for Nate ever since. It hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it. He's had stability and a home. And he didn't have to watch our father slowly drink himself to death. No kid should have to watch that.
Emmett pulls the covers back on the bed before trying to deposit me in the middle.
"Not on my clean sheets!" I squeak indignantly, freezing him in his tracks.
His jade eyes flicker to my face. For some reason, my cheeks heat. Maybe because his face is inches from mine, his lips so close I smell the mint on his breath. And part of me wants to taste it.