Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“What’s happening?” he whispered.
“He wanted to talk.”
“You know,” he said, slipping into the room, “as a rule, this one is not a hugger, not a big toucher. I think he’s got some sensory issues that aren’t just socks with no seams—”
“I don’t like socks with seams either,” I reminded him.
“Yes, and that’s why you buy the seamless kind, which is what Sin gets for him.”
“Okay…”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that normally, the sensory piece affects him in other ways too, like not wanting to be touched by others.”
I shrugged.
“But I guess when your guardian angel holds you, that’s okay.”
“Is there such a thing as a guardian demon?”
He scoffed. “You’re an angel, make no mistake.”
“Don’t make me barf on the kid, all right?”
His chuckle was soft and warm and ran right through me. My whine just popped out, and I realized how needy I was.
Bending, he slipped his hand around the side of my neck, his fingers featherlight on my skin as he kissed me. It was gentle, just his mouth on mine for a moment, but when he began to lift away, I clutched at his sweater to keep him close.
“Oh,” he breathed out, “he needs me.”
Part of me was horrified at the thought that anyone could be necessary, but of course it was all right if it was just for sex and closeness.
“George?” he teased me, smiling with his twinkling eyes.
“Hell,” I grumbled, because even as I thought it, I knew it was a lie. It wasn’t just screwing I craved, because if that were true, anyone would do, and really, the only person I wanted anything from was him. The idea of lying in bed, just having him wrapped around me, sounded heavenly.
His soft laughter, husky and low, made me groan.
“I will get rid of this kid, and we—”
“Uncle Kurt?”
Turning, we saw Toby standing just outside the door to our bedroom.
“Hey, buddy,” Kurt greeted him. “Do you want to come in and meet George?”
He nodded, looking apprehensive, but I understood. Eleven wasn’t so big, after all.
“Hi,” I said, holding out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Rushing forward, he took hold of my hand and held tight. “Thank you for saving me and my family.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied with a smile.
“It doesn’t seem enough just to say words.”
“It is, though,” I assured him.
“I was scared.”
“So was I.”
“No you weren’t.”
“I was,” I stated, letting him hear the sincerity in my words. “But when you get older, you separate the fear from everything else and—”
“Compartmentalize,” he apprised me.
“Uh, yeah.”
He shrugged. “I know. I have a therapist.”
“I know, kid.”
He took a breath. “Uncle Kurt, Mom says that if she doesn’t have the party, she has to pay back a lot of money to her sponsors, so she has to have it anyway.”
“No,” Kurt said quickly, bolting out of the room.
We both watched him go, then turned back to one another.
“It’s not her fault,” Toby said. “Dad talked her into it.”
“Why would he do that?”
“It’s because he borrowed money he has to pay back or he’s gonna get in trouble.”
I nodded. “So if your mom doesn’t have the party, then your dad can’t repay his loan, right?” He nodded. “Would you tell me how you know that?”
“I was listening when he was on his cell phone. I didn’t do it on purpose, but I needed a screwdriver. He was in his bedroom, and I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I know that’s bad.”
I was about to ask more questions, like how he was so sure about everything, but then he said, “He had his phone on speaker, so I could hear.” After a moment he added, “He sounded scared.”
I was so tired. I just wanted Kurt, and I wanted to sleep. But everything Toby was telling me had to be dealt with, and I could have kicked myself. Earlier, I’d felt something was off when I was talking to the cops, but I’d allowed myself to stop thinking about it and let it go. Even thinking I’d have to be watchful hadn’t stopped me from taking myself off high alert. But I knew better. Until there was a clear answer, you stayed ready, which meant there was only one thing to do. I had to act.
“Hey,” I said softly, and Toby met my gaze. “Do you know how to pack?”
His brows furrowed. “Like for a trip or for school?”
“Trip.”
He nodded.
“Like toothbrush, underwear, all that?” I verified.
“Sure.”
“Do me a favor, Toby. Go pack a week of stuff for you and Dennis. Can you do that?”
“Yeah.”
“And bring stuff for both of you to play with too.”
“Got it,” he said, serious.
“And any homework that’s supposed to be done.”
He groaned as he left my room, and I was smirking after him as I laid his brother down on the bed and called my buddy, Chris Mancuso, who’d been in the Army once upon a time but was now a contract killer—I didn’t like to use that word, but that’s what he was. And he had intel on everyone. I could have called one of the guys in my unit, but then I’d have to explain everything, and I just wasn’t up for that. I needed help without background. So I turned to Chris, the guy who’d been my mentor and basically made me far more lethal than I would have been without him. He picked up on the second ring.