Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71034 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get him back safely. If it hadn’t been for him, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me. His friendship is a large part of the reason I had the strength to leave Tommy.”
“We have all the people we need,” Carter said. “Unless you have some kind of training in this sort of operation, I can’t allow you to take part.”
“Please stay here,” Worth begged. “I know my brother’s life is on the line. I don’t want yours to be as well.”
I reluctantly agreed, and Worth began interrogating Carter about the details of their plan. Slowly, he let go of my hand, leaning forward, bracing his arms on his legs. I watched them speaking to each other, feeling like they were in their own bubble.
They’d been friends for a long time. I’d worried about coming to New York and feeling like I couldn’t fit into a world of such opulence. I didn’t know how to live like Worth did. I’d worried I could never be the man on his arm as he went to elegant parties and charity auctions, but that wasn’t the biggest problem. I could never be fully part of his life because I wasn’t part of this, his group of friends and the craziness of their lives. I was on the outside.
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t even notice Miles getting up and moving my way. “It looks like your glass is empty. Let’s go get a refill in the kitchen.”
His words startled me and my heart began pounding, but I rose and followed him. What was he going to say? Was he going to tell me to leave Worth alone? He’d seemed friendly before.
Once we were in the kitchen, I refilled my water from the door of the fridge while Miles poured himself a measure of bourbon. He was obviously familiar with where everything was.
“Worth told me about the two of you,” he said.
I nodded, too afraid to say anything, not sure if my voice would work even if I tried.
“He’s happier than he’s been in a long time. I’ve never seen him look at a man the way he looks at you.”
“But his brother, he’s in so much danger.”
“I’m not saying Worth’s not worried about Beck. I can tell you both are. But I can also tell that he’s content with you.”
“I don’t belong here in this world with all of you.”
“Has Worth said anything to you to make you feel that way?”
“No. But I don’t think he would.”
Miles snorted. “You have no idea. He would happily tell a man when it was time to leave.”
“Beck told me how he is. He didn’t want me to get involved with him, and he would’ve called Worth when he was in danger if it hadn’t been for what happened between us.”
“None of this is your fault. If anything, it’s more my fault that anyone else’s. I’m the one who agreed to go after the cartel.”
“Carter and Matteo didn’t want to do that, too?”
Miles sighed. “They did, and chances are they would have eventually if I hadn’t brought everything together the way I did, but that was what brought Matteo here, what caused him to break away from his undercover role.”
“They have each other now.”
“True, but I need you to understand that you did absolutely nothing wrong. Beck contacted Carter, and Carter is in a better position to help him than anyone else. There’s nothing you could’ve done. If you’d still been in St. Louis, trapped in the hell you were in, the same thing would’ve happened.”
“Maybe not. Maybe Worth would’ve convinced him to drop the internship and go to Aruba.”
“Then the cartel might’ve followed them there, and they might have taken both of them. If so, they’d be further away in a place where it would be harder for us to go in and get them.”
The thought made my chest tighten. “They could easily have taken them to Columbia.”
Miles nodded. “We’re going to take care of this.”
“And then I’m going to go home.”
He tilted his head, watching me for a moment. “And where is home?”
I looked away, not wanting to attempt an answer.
“Do you think maybe it’s here?” Miles asked.
“What? No. Worth has known me less than a week.”
“I knew Ben for one day when I was absolutely sure I wanted him with me for the rest of my life.”
“You’re not like the man people talk about in the media.”
“Oh, I am, just not in this context.” Miles continued, “You should meet Ben. The two of you would get along really well.”
“I’d like that, if it works out.”
Miles glanced toward the living room, then back to me. “Don’t break his heart. If you want to see the side of me people talk about, that’s what it would take.”