Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“I know!” she huffs. “Like I said, I’m always doing the wrong thing. In the wrong place at the wrong time, while Xanny gets away no problem.”
“Is your sister’s real name Xanadu?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Yes. Our parents were into LSD and all kinds of witchcraft. They even had a huge altar to Cthulhu in the kitchen where the stove should’ve been.” She shudders. “All the tentacles.”
I stare at her, nearing speechlessness. I’ve met plenty of people, but I’ve never heard anything close to that sort of back story. Is she running a game on me?
“Tell me the truth, little one.” I lower my voice and grip her chin. “Where’s your sister now?”
“I don’t know.” She pulls away from my grip.
This time I grip the nape of her neck and force her to look into my eyes. “Where is Xanadu?”
She glances away, but then when her gaze returns to mine, she softens a little. “I don’t know. I was there trying to ask Marvin what he’d done with her. If she ran. Or if he knew where she was. But then–” Her eyes water. “Then that man …” She takes a shuddering breath.
“You’re in shock.” I pull her against my chest, holding her tightly. “The whole thing just hit you, didn’t it?”
She nods, a sob shaking her small frame.
“Shh.” I stroke her back as she falls apart. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I can promise you I’m bigger and badder than anything life will throw your way.”
She clutches my jacket, all her false bravado from earlier evaporating as she lets it all out. “He’s dead. I didn’t like him. B-but I didn’t want M-Marvin dead. God, there was so much blood.”
I’d kept her clutched close to me as I made my way through the club. Marvin’s blood was just the start. I think the shooter may have sparked some other brawl in the place, or perhaps a stampede to the doors, and someone else began firing. Marvin isn’t the only one who lost his life tonight, but she doesn’t need to know that. I let her cry and rock her gently until her big sobs subside.
My driver looks at me in the rearview. I simply nod at him. We’re going to my place. Like I said, I can’t let this girl out of my sight. She’s the key to finding the money Xanadu stole. Not to mention, she’s got a killer on her tail. The thought alone sends tension shooting through me. I thought I knew all the murderers in this town. It seems I missed one. Whoever this asshole is, I’m going to find him and put him down like a rabid dog.
“Wh-what is it?” She sniffles. “You got all … Hard.”
“Nothing.” I go back to comforting her, rubbing my hand down her back. Granted, I’ve never comforted anyone in my life. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I can tell that when I touch her, she seems to enjoy it. Her body is warm and seems to relax as I run my fingers along it. I linger at the soft skin where her top meets her short skirt.
She came to the club looking like a delectable snack, her innocent aura like a beacon to every bad man in the place. It certainly called to me in a way I’ve never felt before.
Even now, I once again keep her firmly in my grip, though I’m careful not to hurt her. Like a butterfly caught in a bear trap, she’ll be fine as long as she doesn’t fight me. If she does … Well, my cock is already pressing against her ass. I feel every shift in her body, every hitch of her breath–I want her. Here, now, in the back of this car even though she’s crying and scared. But that’s what I won’t do. I’d never crush a butterfly like her. Not if I can help it.
“I need to go home. Bentley will be waiting for me.”
It hadn’t even occurred to me that she’d have a man waiting at home. He’s a fool to let a woman like this out of his sight. His loss. I hoist her higher, cradling her, her warm breath against the side of my neck.
“You aren’t going home. It’s not safe there. You’re staying with me.”
“But Bentley–”
“Bentley made a mistake by not protecting you. He can’t be trusted. He made an even bigger mistake by putting you in my path. You won’t be seeing him again.”
She gasps. “What? No!”
“Forget him. I already have.” I settle back, keeping her locked against me.
“Wait, we have to get him! You said it’s not safe.” She starts to wriggle again, making my cock jump against her backside.
She stills. “Is that …”
I laugh, the sound low and, admittedly, somewhat evil. “Yes. Would you like a closer inspection?”