Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Lyle gets into the backseat, and I pull onto the busy street. My brother chats with Honor as I navigate through the tail end of rush hour traffic. Their easy conversation reminds me of when they were kids. Lyle was quiet back then. Dick-Ass had him so traumatized that he rarely spoke to anyone besides Ky and me. But once Honor showed up, a small, scrawny, and fairly quiet child herself, he wouldn't stop talking. Those two would chat for hours. Eventually, Lyle opened up to her mother, too.
An ache fills me as I see Victoria's gentle face in my mind's eye. I thought I knew her. I thought she'd never leave us, rushing away like a thief in the night. But no matter what she did, she didn't deserve to die so young. And Honor didn't deserve to lose her mother in such a horrible way, and then to be mired in debt because of it.
Which is why I turn between two wrought-iron gates and choose a spot in the large parking lot.
Honor stiffens as she looks out the windshield. Her pink cheeks lose their color. "W-why are we here?"
Lyle squeezes her shoulder. "To help."
Honor shakes her head. "I don't want to go in there."
My gaze settles on the ugly building in front of us. "Have you been there since your mom passed?" I ask gently.
She shakes her head. "No, and I don't want to."
"This will be the last time you have to."
"But why?" Her blue eyes are incredibly troubled.
Lyle answers her. "Because they're harassing you. Calling at all hours of the day."
"Yes, but soon the money will be in my account, and I'll be able to—"
"That's not soon enough," I interrupt. "It ends today."
"But—"
This time, I lean over and take her chin in my fingers. She grows silent as she looks up at me. My gaze flickers from her worried eyes to her soft lips. I close the distance, pressing my mouth against hers.
Everything fades except for her. Her sweet mouth opens, and I taste her. I half expect Lyle to object, but he doesn't. He knows I'm doing this for Honor.
So why, then, does it feel so damn good to me? Honor's so delicate and small, but she's returning my kiss, and her hand settles on my thigh, squeezing lightly. When she moans, my cock twitches again, and I want to take her, right here, right now.
But I can't.
With a sigh, I pull back, her sweetness still on my lips. When she opens her eyes, she looks a little dazed but no longer as upset.
Good.
Covering her hand with my own, I say, "You're not alone anymore." I squeeze her hand and don't let go until Lyle opens her door and takes her other one. There's no way in hell we'd let her enter the hospital that holds so many bad memories alone.
No one should have to do something like that alone—especially not her. That thought makes me pause as I climb out of the car. This week is supposed to be a financial transaction—on both sides. Who knows if we'll ever see her again after it's over? I shouldn't make her any promises. As long as Dick-Ass is around, my life's not my own. Nor are my brothers'. But at least for today, we can be here for her. It feels right to do something for the girl she once was, even though I'm not sure I recognize the gorgeous woman she's become.
Inside, Honor directs us to the billing office. It's a place I'm sure she knows all too well. She asks us twice what's going on, but she'll see soon enough. We move unchallenged through the hallways, two tall men in business suits and a trembling woman in pink.
The woman behind the counter is middle-aged. She peers over her glasses with an eyebrow raised as the three of us approach. "We'd like to settle this young woman's bills."
Honor immediately tugs on my sleeve. "But the money isn't in my account yet," she whispers.
"It's still your money, though," I say. "It's time to get the debt collectors off your back."
The woman behind the counter has been listening." If the account has gone to bill collection, then there's nothing we can do here."
"How much does she owe?" Lyle asks.
The woman looks at Honor. "Name?"
After a moment of hesitation, Honor gives the woman the information she needs.
The woman types on her computer for a moment and then gives a low whistle. That doesn't bode well. She must see high bills all the time. "Do you want me to write the amount down for you?" She glances at Lyle and me.
"No," Honor says, bracing herself. "They can hear it. They're my-my stepbrothers."
For some reason, I swallow hard. What we're doing right now isn't about sex. It isn't about the fucked-up arrangement we have this week. It's about a connection we used to share and might someday again.