Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
She scoffed. “You’d never drop me.”
“What’s going on?” Salem demanded. “Tamsyn, are you all right?”
“I was until the big guy picked me up and I nearly stabbed him.”
“Stabbed him?” Roman asked, moving into her line of vision. “Can you use that knife?”
“Of course I can. Alexei, put me down!”
“No!”
Slap!
She let out a frustrated groan. “Salem, make him.”
“I don’t think I want to. You left.”
Was that hurt in Salem’s voice?
She pushed herself up slightly so she could see Roman and Salem. Salem had closed himself off, while Roman just looked sad as he stared around the apartment.
Great.
Now she felt ashamed of where she lived on top of everything else.
“I know it’s not much, but it’s all I could afford,” she said quietly.
Roman met her gaze with his. “I know. It’s just . . . we should have paid you more. I’m so sorry.”
“You paid me plenty. It’s not your fault.”
“It is,” Salem said firmly. “Living here is unacceptable. Leaving like you did is unacceptable.”
“Your mum told me to leave!” she cried. “What was I meant to do?”
“Tell her no,” Alexei said. “Sit down and not move. Call us. One of those options.”
“But wouldn’t that have been rude?” she asked quietly.
“Baby, no,” Salem said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t make this clear. You’re to tell anyone and everyone that you belong to us. Or to one of us if that makes you more comfortable. You are ours.”
She took in a long breath and let it out slowly.
“And you are never to run off like that again.”
Whoa.
That came from Roman.
“Especially not without your phone or coat,” Salem added. “We didn’t even have your apartment number.” He looked around. “Baby, this is completely unacceptable. You are never coming back here again.”
“This whole place should be condemned,” Alexei said with a snarl. “It is filth.”
It wasn’t that bad!
“Hey, I clean!” Sort of.
Roman wandered around and she winced. What must he think considering where he lived?
“It has good bones; it just needs updating. And security is completely lacking. Someone charges for this place?”
“Uh, yeah.” She was starting to get a crick in her neck. “Alexei, put me down.”
Slap!
That was his only reply. A slap on her butt cheek. She looked pleadingly at Salem, but he just shrugged.
Rude!
“Who?” Roman asked.
“Um. I can’t remember.” Better than saying she didn’t know.
“I will look them up. It’s not right for people to live like this. There’s mold on the ceiling. So dangerous.” He muttered to himself as he typed on his phone.
“We should go,” Salem said.
Alexei grunted and started toward the door. Why had he gone all silent?
“Wait! My stuff! Alexei, put me down so I can get my stuff.”
Slap!
Nope. She was tired of that. She reached down and slapped his ass cheeks with both hands.
There was silence.
“Did you just slap my ass?” Alexei thundered.
She swallowed heavily as the other two grew silent.
“Yes. Let me down.”
He set her down, turning her so he loomed over her. “You are in big trouble.”
“For slapping you?” she asked. He did that to her all the time.
“For not telling us you live in this pit.” Yep, his accent was getting thicker. “For running from us.”
“I didn’t run from you guys exactly.”
“So when were you coming back?” Roman asked in a quiet voice.
“I just . . . I wasn’t sure whether I should or not. I felt unsure of my place and your mum didn’t think much of me, Salem.”
“She feels terrible about that.”
“It’s not her fault. I . . . just . . . I needed to go. I didn’t feel good enough for you guys.”
“Utter bullshit.” Alexei stepped into her.
She stood her ground but it wasn’t easy.
“You are better than all of us combined and I won’t hear another word out of you unless it’s an apology.”
He picked her up again, carrying her out to their car. At least Roman locked up. And he really didn’t hear another word she said.
She was very tempted to stick her knife in him.
He shoved her into the backseat of Roman’s car while the other two got in the front seats. She knew she could quickly get out the other side, but she wouldn’t get far.
Alexei held out his hand. “Knife.”
She bared her teeth at him.
“Knife.”
She slammed the butt of the knife down in his palm, wishing it was the sharp end. He took it and put it down by the car door. Then he drew off his coat and laid it gently over her lap before buckling in her seatbelt.
“I can get packers to get everything from your place,” Roman said.
“No!” she said, alarmed at the thought of someone touching her knives. “I will do it.
“You will not go back there,” Alexei stated.
“I will! You don’t dictate to me, big guy!” Turning she pushed her finger into his chest.
"I do. I am in charge. You do what I say!”