Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Placing Hope down on her bed, it takes her a moment to release me.
When she does, I get a good look at her. Her little face is streaked with mud and tears, and her skin is blotchy.
It kills me.
“How about you have a shower,” I tell her, “and while you do, I’ll make you something to eat. Whatever you want. Then, I can read you a story before bed.”
Nodding, she tells me in a tiny, cracked voice, “I like grilled cheese.”
“Then I’m going to make you the best grilled cheese you’ve ever had.”
She glances at Fury, who is staring down at her, his face expressionless. Looking back at me, she reaches for a book on her bedside table and passes it to me. It’s one we’ve been reading in class. I knew she loved it from the moment she turned the page, because it’s about a little girl in the foster system who finds a new family and learns that love can come from so many different places.
I smile down at her. “Great choice, this one is my favorite, too.”
She takes her things and disappears into the shower. Turning, I face Fury, and his eyes follow her as she leaves the room, his brows slightly furrowed. Then, he turns and looks back to me. “Thanks.”
His voice is gruff, but it’s more than I had expected from him, so I’ll take it.
Shrugging, I tell him, “I get kids, it was no problem. She’s a great girl, but she’s going to struggle without her mom for a while. It’s not easy to understand when you’re so little.”
“We were raised the same,” Fury tells me, his voice tight. “Never thought she would go down that road. All it took was the wrong man ...”
My chest tightens, because if you ask me, I would tell you I never expected to go down this road either, and yet here I am. I was raised right, I knew my boundaries, I would have sworn I’d never let a man abuse me, but here I am, living in this nightmare, knowing that it’s wrong but being so afraid to leave. The fear is more than I could have ever expected—the way it sinks into your soul is crushing.
You don’t just run.
It’s not that easy.
People don’t understand, and that’s what makes it so much worse.
“The wrong man will do that to you,” I murmur.
“Stay.”
His statement shocks me, and I look at him with narrowed eyes. “Pardon?”
“Stay here with her. You’re the only person who seems to understand her. I’ll pay you. Just ... stay. I’m not made for this.”
Biting my lower lip, I wish I could do just that, but I can’t.
Not because I don’t want to, but because Ethan would never allow it.
“I can’t,” I say softly. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”
“Why not?”
There is an underlying demand in his tone, and as he stands before me, his presence is incredibly overwhelming, yet I’m not afraid of him. He’s a man I should be afraid of, he’s powerful and dangerous, his very presence reeks of strength, and yet I don’t feel any kind of fear when I’m around him.
“I have a job, Fury,” I say, quickly, a little too quickly. “It would go against all the rules and ...”
“Bullshit,” he cuts me off. “I know for a fact that there would be a way around it. You could be a friend of the family livin’ with me. Don’t try and make excuses. Tell me why you’re really sayin’ no.”
“I have a life,” I attempt again. “I can’t give it all up to take care of her. She was given to you, not me. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
Stepping closer to me, he leans in so close I suck in a breath. The overwhelming dominance he radiates is enough to make me weak at the knees as I look up into his intense gaze. “You’re lyin’ to me.”
My voice comes out shaky when I speak. “Please, I can’t. I’m sorry.”
“Is it your husband?”
I take a step away, not wanting to get into it, not wanting to tell him anything. That’s a secret he’ll never find out. Not if I have a choice. He is getting too close and I can’t allow it, this is not a part of my life he has a right to know.
“My personal life is none of your business,” I murmur, turning away from him.
He reaches out, taking my arm.
Once again, my reaction is immediate. Wincing, I freeze, closing my eyes. I hate anyone grabbing me like that. Something about the feeling of their fingers wrapping around my arm has everything inside me seizing. It’s Ethan’s favorite method of control, because it doesn’t matter where we are, he can take my arm and squeeze so hard that nobody around us notices.
But I do.
Oh, I do.