Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Regent, you need to go. I’m all right.”
He shook his head. “Nothing matters as much as you. I need to take care of you first.”
“No.” She stood, and Liam held her hips as she wobbled. “I’m fine.” She walked over to him and wrapped him up in a hug. “I know you’ve sacrificed so much for me. Spent so much time worrying about me. But right now, you need to take care of you. I’m all right, Reggie.”
Regent looked to Liam then back to her. “I want you to go to our place in Mexico.”
“What about you guys?” she asked him and Victor.
“Victor and I need to stay here,” Regent told her. “But I want you well away from New Orleans.”
Liam ran his hand over his face. “You’re going to come with us. We’ll take you to Mexico if you want, but I don’t think it’s a good idea right now. I’d rather take you somewhere else.”
“Where?”
“We’ll figure it out.”
She knew what she should suggest. But could she do it? Go back there? Panic welled again.
“See?” Regent said. “She’s not ready. She can barely leave the damn house.”
“Lottie, baby girl,” Liam crooned, coming up behind her and placing a hand on her shoulder. “It’s all right. Just breathe. You’re safe.”
“I really have to leave?” she asked. She glanced around, and everyone gave her a sad look.
“It will be safer if you’re not here,” Regent admitted. “Whoever this rat is, they’ve really fucked shit up for us.”
“Will you be all right staying here?”
“We’ll be fine,” Regent told her firmly. “Nothing is happening to us. I’m just concerned about you.”
And if he didn’t have her to worry about, he could concentrate on everything else.
She stared back at Liam then Nico. She could do this. She could do anything as long as she was with them.
“I love you both. Make sure that you take care of yourselves and everyone else. But you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be with Liam and Nico.”
“You’re sure?” Regent asked her.
“I’m sure. I have this, Regent. Look at me. Out of the house and only one panic attack.” She crossed her fingers behind her back, where she knew Nico could see them. She just hoped he knew not to talk about the panic attacks she’d had in the tunnel.
“Okay, darling, if you’re sure. But I want you to check in often. And you can come back as soon as this is done with, all right?”
She nodded.
“We better go,” Liam said. “My plane is ready and waiting.”
“Where are you going?” Victor asked.
“New York,” she blurted out.
Everyone froze then stared at her.
“Lottie, no,” Liam said gently. “No one expects that.”
“You need to go back. You have work to do. You have a place there. That’s where we should go.”
“You’re not going back there,” Regent said.
“I have to,” she whispered. “I think it will help me move forward. Even if it’s just for a few days.”
“You sure?” Liam asked her.
She straightened her shoulders. “Yes.”
“So brave,” he told her. “We’ll go. But if you can’t deal with being there, we’ll leave. No arguments.”
“No arguments.”
“I don’t like it. But fuck, okay,” Regent groaned. “Do you need to be sedated?”
“I . . .” Shit. She wished she could say no, but the idea of getting on a plane and flying off . . . but then, she would be asleep, helpless. “I don’t know.”
“Jilly might have some. Take them with you. You can always take them on the plane. I love you, sister.”
“Love you too.” Regent hugged her then disappeared to talk to Jilly.
Victor came up to her and lifted her up. “You’ll call.”
“I will. Take care of him.”
“Of course.”
20
Nico brushed Lottie’s hair back from her face as he stared down at her.
It had been a brutal night for her. Fuck. For all of them. Going through the tunnels, the plane trip then car ride here. But she was finally in their penthouse apartment. In the end, she’d asked for the sedatives once on the plane. She’d been worried about getting hysterical and causing issues.
Fuck. They didn’t care what issues she had. All they wanted was her with them.
Didn’t matter anymore. She was here. She wasn’t going anywhere. Leaning down, he kissed her forehead. He’d gotten her undressed and into one of his T-shirts. He should let her sleep.
And go and deal with their lord and master.
Hell, his work was never done.
He strode into the living room and slumped back on the sofa, watching as Liam paced back and forth. The tension coming off him was palatable.
No way would he get to sleep like this. Nico would have to help him calm down first.
Liam stilled and turned to him. The anger and anguish on his face floored Nico. “She’s safe, Liam.”
“She nearly wasn’t. You nearly weren’t.”
“We weren’t in any danger. It was the FBI, they wouldn’t have hurt us.”