Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
There's a tickle of suspicion that runs up my spine. There's no denying that Nathan hurt her, but I can't be a hundred percent sure that her being here isn't some elaborate plan to provide Nathan with information on Cerberus.
Although he hasn't mentioned it, there is a reason Kincaid wasn't exactly happy with Em's suggestion of letting Brielle stay at their house.
I don't think the man would put me in a situation like that. It's even less likely he'd let someone he felt was dangerous to the club stay here where his grandchildren play, but maybe she’s managed to manipulate all of them as well.
"It isn't a compound, but I know the people who live here will defend this place with their lives."
She nods but doesn't look my way.
It puts a sliver of doubt in me where she's concerned, and I pray this is just one of those times when I read a situation wrong. I hope that it's my own trauma making me want to doubt her and not that sixth sense I honed as a child in order to stay safe.
She doesn't speak again. She simply turns her head up to the sky as she snuggles deeper under the blanket I gave her. We stay like this for over an hour, our breaths turning to mist in the cold night.
The unease inside of me settles some when she doesn't shift. She doesn't look around the property in an effort to find weak spots. She doesn't ask a million questions as if trying to determine where we could be more easily infiltrated, but it makes me wonder if it's because she already knows.
If she has spent time looking out the bedroom window during the daytime, she'd be able to figure out a lot more than sitting poolside at night.
Plus, I told her we had cameras and motion sensors. I gave that information readily.
I try my best to tamp down my own paranoia as we sit silently.
My fingers are freezing by the time she sits up on the lounger.
"Ready to go back in?" I ask, willing to play the part she expects of me.
"I think so," she says, folding the blanket before offering it back to me.
She waits on the lounger while I return it to the pool house, only standing once I'm back in front of her.
"Thank you for bringing me out here," she says. Before I let thoughts of betrayal and manipulation enter my head, I'd probably make other suggestions. I'd ask if she wanted to walk along the sidewalk and stretch her legs a little, but I don't think that getting her closer to Kincaid's house is a good idea.
"You’re welcome," I say, once again walking ahead of her, wondering if she's going to grab something and hit me with it.
I pull in a deep breath, frustrated with myself for letting those racing thoughts take over.
The woman has no need to infiltrate Cerberus. She couldn't have predicted this is where she'd end up. When she was brought to Farmington over a year ago, she wasn't taken to the clubhouse. She hasn't had conversations with Em. Em offered her a place at her home, and Brielle didn't take it. If she wanted to get in the middle of Cerberus and figure stuff out, she would've taken Em up on the offer.
"Is it okay if I go in there first?" she asks once we make it back to the bedroom.
"Of course, " I tell her, staying close to the door leading into the hallway as she gathers the things she needs from her two suitcases.
While she's in the bathroom, I grab pajamas out of the closet so I can be ready for my turn when she's done.
I listen as she runs the water, probably brushing her teeth and washing her face.
When she comes out, I'm not surprised that although she's in pajamas, she has on her sneakers. The woman has to be prepared to run and escape at all times. I was the same way when I was younger.
"Are you trying to get information on Cerberus?" I ask before I can stop myself.
She doesn't flinch. Her eyes don't dart to the right to indicate her trying to formulate a lie.
"What?" She shakes her head as she stands in the middle of the room, looking at me with confusion. "Of course not."
"There are other rooms in the clubhouse if you'd like more privacy," I tell her as she puts her dirty clothes into a bag near her suitcase.
She doesn't speak until she’s settled back into the closet.
"Do you want me out of here?"
I never expected her to turn the offer back on me.
"No," I tell her honestly. "It doesn't bother me that you're in here."
It isn't exactly the full truth. I've slept like shit with her being in there, and I still haven't determined if it's because another person is in the room with me or if I hate that I'm on a comfortable bed and she's curled up on the damn floor.