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)
“We tried to not touch each other after the first night when Beck got angry with us. We barely made it three days, so I don’t think backing off is an option.”
“Maybe you’re actually what he needs to heal,” Miles suggested.
Carter and Ford turned to look at him, even Matteo glanced in the rearview mirror.
“Watch the fucking road,” Miles snarled.
“It looks like Laurie might be very good for you,” Ford said.
“He is. I want to start a fashion label.”
Ford nodded. “That makes all the fucking sense in the world.”
“I want Laurie to do it with me. He was majoring in design, then he had to drop out because he couldn’t afford it. Beck tried to pay for his tuition, but Laurie wouldn’t let him, then he fell in with Tommy, his fucking abuser.”
“Where is that asshole now?” Carter asked.
“Still in St. Louis. After we take care of Beck and get everything settled once and for all with the cartel, we’re tracking Tommy down, and we’re going to make sure he never hurts anyone again. I want to make him pay, and I want to do it myself.”
Carter nodded. “Then we’ll make it happen.”
“Laurie says nobody needs to go after Tommy, that he’s just thankful to be free, but if he beat Laurie, he’s just going to do it again to someone else.”
Matteo snarled, “Did he hit that sweet young man?”
“Yes, but the emotional abuse was worse.”
“He’s going to die,” Matteo declared.
That was when it hit me. Owning a fashion label together would be fun, and we could absolutely do that, but what would be even more meaningful would be helping people in the same position Laurie was in. We could give them what they needed to start a new life—clothes, job opportunities, a decent place to live. As soon as I was home, I was going to talk to Laurie about it. We were going to build something wonderful together. We could make our own label too, but neither of us was going to want to deal with the business side of things day-to-day.
“You’re thinking awfully hard,” Ford said.
“Are you suggesting that’s unusual for me?”
“No. I’m suggesting you’d like other people to think it’s unusual for you. Your dumb rich boy act has served you well.”
“Well, I’m done with it. Unless I really need to bring it out to get something I want.”
Miles snorted, and Carter turned around and glared at me. “Your money gets you anything you want.”
“True enough, but I’ve got an idea.”
Miles frowned. “That sounds disturbing.”
I flipped him off. “An idea about something Laurie and I could do together.”
“Jesus, you don’t need to share the details,” Ford said.
I huffed. “A charity we could build together.”
Carter smiled. “Now that sounds like a very good idea.”
“I want to talk to Laurie about it before I say anything else.”
“Times up anyway.” Matteo pulled the car into a dark parking lot, and the atmosphere turned serious as Carter shifted in his seat, ready to brief us all.
30
LAURIE
When Worth’s friends arrived to pick him up for their rescue mission, Ben was with them as promised. I felt awkward around him at first, not sure what he had been told about my situation, but he was so open and easy to talk to that I quickly got over my shyness.
“So, Miles told me you’re a good friend of Beck’s,” Ben said once the others had left.
I nodded.
“They’re going to find him. You’d be amazed by what they can accomplish and what they can get away with.”
“I can’t stand the thought that…We have no idea what these cartel men have done to Beck.”
“If they want to make a trade, then he will be in good shape.”
“Physically maybe, but emotionally, mentally?”
“Worth will find someone to help with that if they need to,” Ben assured. “Miles has a very good medical staff and great connections. Tell me how you met Worth. I know it was in Aruba, but that’s all.”
“Technically, I met him several years ago when he was visiting Beck back when Beck was still in St. Louis.”
“Oh, that’s interesting.”
I laughed. “Yes, Worth’s presence was quite startling to a sheltered college sophomore who’d never been far from home and never met a man anywhere close to his class other than Beck.”
“Did you and Beck date, or were you just friends?”
“We were never more than friends. I wouldn’t have gone from him to his brother, if anyone thinks that.”
Ben held up a hand. “I didn’t mean it as a criticism. They are both gorgeous.”
“It’s okay. I’d want to know too.” I smiled. “Beck’s the type of guy who just decides you’re going to be friends and then you are. He chose me and never looked back. He offered to help me so many times, but I didn’t want to just take from him.”
Ben nodded, seeming to truly understand.