Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104239 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
When I look around after finishing in the shower, I see is how empty it is. Devoid of life, bleak as fuck without her presence. I got used to her. How stupid can a man be? I became accustomed to her company and can’t remember life before her.
A buzzing from the coffee table catches my attention. What a surprise. My brother calling to make sure everything is all right. In other words, he wants to check up on me and make sure I haven’t managed to fuck something else up in the hours since we said goodbye. I’m surprised he didn’t ask me to text when we arrived so he’d know we were safe. Sometimes, I think domestic bliss has castrated him.
Only it isn’t Nic. I do recognize the number, though. My jaw clenches as I answer the call and raise the phone to my ear. “Xander. Hello.”
He doesn’t mince words. “Tell me it’s a joke.”
I have to take a deep breath before I lose it. This call was expected. I was hoping it would be at least twenty-four hours before it came since I haven’t yet come up with a plausible excuse for bringing her here. “What are you talking about?”
“Tell me that girl isn’t at Corium.”
“And what if she is?”
“Then I’m inclined to believe you’ve lost your fucking mind. Have you forgotten what she tried to do? Are you unaware of what she managed to do during her little hiatus? Of course, you’re aware of it. Everyone knows you are.”
He has no idea he is fucking with the wrong person right now. I close my eyes, clench my teeth, and fight to keep myself under control. The man is an insufferable prick, but I can’t alienate him. Not entirely.
“What would you like me to do?”
“Why do you ask stupid questions?” Before I can warn him against ever calling me or anything I say stupid, he charges forward. “I want her out of there. She can’t be trusted, and you know she can’t be trusted! Dammit! You have no business bringing her to Corium. She’s more a liability than anything, a loose end.”
I’m still fighting to hold my tongue when he adds, “I would think you of all people would want to keep her out of there. Unless you don’t care that she nearly got your daughter killed.”
This sufferable prick. As if he gave a shit about Aspen before she became involved with Quinton—and even then, it was only because he had no choice. Before then, he was as thirsty for her blood as anyone else.
“Don’t talk to me about my daughter. I’ve got it under control.”
“Are you sure about that? Because that’s not what I’m hearing.”
“Really? And exactly what are you hearing?”
“You know damn well what is being said, so don’t pretend otherwise. Isn’t it bad enough she slipped through your fingers and ran off once? You, of all people, should have made it your mission to keep her in a cell. Yet she traipsed off—and then what happened? Someone ended up dead. Someone very powerful. Someone with a lot of powerful friends.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Oh, so then you do know? I was beginning to wonder if you’re capable of keeping your finger on the pulse of current events, the way a man has to be if he’s going to succeed in your position.”
“Are you finished?” I snarl. “Or would you like to continue beating a dead horse, Xander?”
“Excuse me?” he demands with a disbelieving laugh. “Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to?”
That was a step too far. I grit my teeth against the rest of what I long to unleash on this son of a bitch, settling for, “Look, Delilah isn’t your problem. I’ve taken full responsibility for her. The only place she is safe is here. She’s mine to deal with, and I have it under control.”
He’s silent for a moment, which I know doesn’t bode well. When powerful men are quiet, they’re thinking, which is never a good thing.
“I see. Then I’ll have to take care of things myself.”
“Meaning?” I grit out.
“You’ve wasted enough of my time this evening, Lucas. I’m not going to answer questions to which we both know the answer.”
Rage tints my vision. The thought of someone touching her, hurting her in any way, makes my stomach tight and my pulse jump. It makes me murderous.
“Leave her alone, Xander. I mean it. She’s not yours to deal with.”
“The time for that has passed. I’ll do what needs to be done if you can’t be bothered to do it yourself.”
Before I can tell him exactly where to stick his worthless opinion, he ends the call and leaves me hanging. This asshole always needs the last word. I know I can’t fight Xander. I’m not willing to go to war against my in-laws, but I can’t let him hurt Delilah either. Even after everything, anyone with a brain would know she’s innocent and merely a victim to the rage, greed, and needs of those around her. Before I know what I’m doing, I cock my arm and throw the phone.