Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Regent looked up at him. “How is Gracen?”
“Not great. She asked for some time alone.” He clenched his hands into fists, feeling helpless. “I should be out there searching for Ice. Teaching the bastard a lesson.” He was torn between being here with her and destroying the asshole who’d hurt her.
Regent leaned back in his chair. “I’ve got my guys searching for him. Once we find him, you can take care of him.”
Good. Nothing would make him happier.
“I received some interesting images from my informant just now,” Regent said. “I’m just printing them off.”
Victor grunted. Regent had managed to turn one of Santiago’s men. But at the moment, he could care less about what was going on with Santiago. All he cared about was his girl and what was going on in her head.
“Victor? Are you listening?”
A knock on the door had them both turning to look. There was only one person it could be. Victor jumped up to find Gracen picking a big, silver tray off the floor where she’d obviously set it while she knocked. It had a pot of coffee on it, a couple of cups, sugar, creamer, and two large pieces of what looked to be lemon cake.
“Baby, you shouldn’t be carrying that,” he scolded. “It’s too heavy.”
“I know it might not seem like it lately, but I’m not weak.”
He took the tray with a scowl. “Nobody said anything about you being weak. But that still doesn’t mean you carry around heavy things when I’m here to do it for you.”
“But you won’t always be here.”
He was planning on being with her as much as possible.
Victor set the tray on Regent’s desk then turned to study her. She looked tired. He knew she’d hardly slept last night because neither had he. He’d kept expecting her to say something about her niece, but she’d been surprisingly quiet on the subject.
He didn’t like it.
Running his finger along the underside of her eye and down her cheek, he pressed it under her chin, tilting her face back. “You’re exhausted.”
She just shrugged, her lower lip trembling before she took in a deep breath. “I’m all right.”
Leaning in, he whispered in her ear. “You know better than to lie, little bit.”
A small shiver ran threw her.
“Have you eaten?”
“Uh, no. But I’m not hungry.”
“You need to eat.” She looked drawn and pale. “Why don’t I go make you some grilled cheese?”
That was something he could make.
“Or I could find a meal to heat up that Gerald left.”
“I’m really fine, Victor. Would you both like coffee?” She reached for the carafe, but her hand was shaking.
“Allow me,” Regent said smoothly. “What’s this?”
“It’s lemon cake. I baked it earlier. I didn’t put icing on it since I know you don’t like things too sweet. Would you like to try it?”
Victor sent Regent a look over her head. He better fucking say yes.
“I would be privileged to try it,” Regent told her.
“Sit down, baby. Did you have any cake? Do you want coffee?”
“Uh, no. I don’t think I need more caffeine. I feel a bit jittery already.”
She needed sleep. As soon as he could, he was carrying her upstairs and putting her to bed. Even if he had to tie her to it.
A plan in place, he settled on the chair next to her.
“I’ve been . . . I’ve been thinking about my niece.” She straightened her shoulders, staring from Regent to him. “I think I might call her.”
Victor sucked in a breath. “Are you sure, baby?”
“I need her to know that I know what she did. To tell her how upset I am with her. I just need to get these feelings out.”
She had her hands clenched tightly into fists and her body was vibrating with emotion.
His poor girl. He wished he could take away all of her anxiety and worries. Her niece had a lot to answer for. Gracen had taken the girl in when her father died, given her a home and a job, and this is how she repaid her?
He didn’t care that she was just nineteen. This wasn’t the way you treated family.
Lifting her to his lap, he carefully pulled her fists apart, rubbing gently at the red marks her nails had made in the skin. “Don’t hurt yourself, baby.”
“I didn’t mean to. I didn’t feel it.”
Which worried him. But if she wasn’t able to take care of herself, then he was here and willing.
“If you feel you need to, then I don’t see the issue in calling your niece,” Regent told her. “You realize that you may not get any apology or real closure, though.”
“I know. I just want to know why.”
“She might not tell you that either,” Victor said.
“No, maybe not.”
“But we might also be able to figure out whether it was your niece’s idea or her boyfriend’s. Because there are some interesting connections going on here.” Regent tapped a photo in front of him. “Recognize this man, Victor?”