Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
With something to look forward to, I smile and fall asleep.
Chapter 11
Maggie
Locked up
Waking with my cheek pressed to Sven’s chest, my hand resting over his heart, and my leg over both of his, I blink my eyes open slowly. Looking past my hand and the expanse of Sven’s chest, I see lavender walls and beautiful dark furniture. Blinking again, I realize I slept through our arrival at Kai’s house and had been put to bed without ever waking up.
“You awake?” Sven asks, shifting my hair out of my face and off my neck and settling his hand on my back.
“No,” I whisper, wishing I wasn’t, since I know that once we leave this bed, I will have to deal with everything going on outside of it, including the fact that Sven and his friends are going up against one of the biggest monsters in Vegas. A monster that put out a hit on him, and succeeded in shooting him in the chest not even a month ago.
“Wish I could let you sleep, baby, but we have some shit to talk about, and I want to make sure you’re good before we walk out of this room,” he says, running his hand down my back and settling it on the curve of my waist.
Lifting my head, I place my chin to his chest and meet his eyes then ask, “What is it?” seeing the worry he’s trying to hide as he scans my face.
“I’m gonna ask you something, and I want you to really think about it before you answer.”
“Okay,” I breathe, a little scared by the tone of his voice and the way his body has gotten tight under mine.
“There is no right or wrong answer, and I swear, baby, no matter my reaction right now, I’m not pissed at you, okay?” he asks as his hand on my hip squeezes gently.
As I try to sit up, his arm holds me closer, keeping me in place, and he jerks his head no. “You stay right here.”
“You’re freaking me out,” I whisper, trying to catch my breath that has suddenly turned choppy.
His face softens and his hand comes up to run along my jaw. “Has Lane ever said anything to you, made you feel uncomfortable in any way?” he asks, and my body stills.
“Don’t,” I whisper, shaking my head and knowing what he’s alluding to.
“Maggie.”
“I would never—”
“I know that, baby,” he cuts me off. “That’s not what I’m after. I need to know if you have ever noticed him acting strangely when you’re around?”
“What’s going on?” I ask, Lane has never made me uncomfortable, but so much has happened over the last few weeks that I wouldn’t notice if he was acting strange.
Rolling us, he settles his body over mine and his hands move to hold my face as he dips his closer. “I’m going on my gut. I have no proof right now, but I think he’s the one who drugged you.”
“You thought it was Eva,” I remind him.
He nods then mutters quietly, “I did, but now I don’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. That’s what I need to find out.”
Licking my lips and studying his jaw, I repeat, “You…you think he drugged me?”
“I do,” he agrees softly, and I look into his eyes and know he’s the one person I can really trust in this whole world, the one person who will never lie to me or lead me astray.
“Why?” I ask again, and his forehead drops to rest against mine as his fingers move along my jaw.
“No idea, baby. Zack said Lane flipped yesterday when we were upstairs. Last night was the first time I saw something in his eyes I didn’t like. Right now, it’s just a feeling, but my gut has never led me in the wrong direction before, so I’m going with it.”
“He’s here,” I say softly, and his face moves away from mine. “I…what am I supposed to do?”
“One: don’t be you.”
“What?” I frown and he smiles.
“You know I love you, but you cannot do anything that will lead him to believe we’re on to him.”
“But—”
“No.” His thumb covers my mouth. “I didn’t tell you this so you would form some ridiculous plan, one I would most likely have to rescue you from. I’m telling you so you’ll keep your eyes open. If you’re in a room with him alone, you make your escape. He corners you, again, find an escape. He says anything, does anything, you tell me or one of the other men in the house immediately. You do not engage him.” He pauses, dropping his face closer, along with his voice. “Ever.”
“I won’t,” I whisper.
“Good,” he whispers back, and my hand timidly moves to the scar on his chest and I run my finger over it, changing the subject.
“I slept through meeting everyone last night.”