Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“For example, mine or Judah’s bathrooms might require cleaning,” I added, knowing that in a twisted sort of way, our rooms were the safest place in the entire mansion for her. And I was always in Judah’s room. I could insist Warren leave so he doesn’t wake up his son. Before he could even realize Sadie was there.
“Thank you,” she said.
“But if I were you, I’d find a new job and never look back. I wish I’d had someone to tell me to run before it was too late,” I added, looking down at Judah who was toying with the cross around my neck.
Sadie gave me a frantic nod.
And two days later, she was suddenly gone from the house.
One less person for me to worry about.
It was on the third day that Warren brought the older maid back in, taking my son from my arms, and making my stomach twist.
Another outing.
But this time… at night. When I was supposed to be putting Judah to bed. And he was fussy and whiny when he was tired, but also in that phase where he was fighting sleep tooth and nail.
There was no way he wouldn’t be screaming his head off while we were gone.
My heart ached as I followed Warren toward the SUV.
It wasn’t until he turned in his seat to face me that I realized this wasn’t a normal trip.
Because in his hand were a pair of handcuffs.
The next thing I knew, he was grabbing my arm, slapping on one of the cuffs, then yanking my arm across the guard to my side and up, clasping the other bracelet to the ‘Oh, shit’ bar over the door.
I knew, even before I saw the second car fill up with guards, then pull out of the driveway behind us, that this was the night.
The night they were going to double-cross someone they were doing business with.
The night where Warren was going to put a bullet in a man’s head.
While I sat there in the car, helpless.
Possibly set right in the center of a gunfight.
My heart was hammering in my chest, my mind on my son, on him possibly becoming motherless thanks to a stray bullet, left in the care of his wicked father.
“Wait,” I said when Denny parked the car, and the men started to climb out.
“What, Claire?” Warren snapped.
“Can you crack the window? It’s hot in here,” I insisted. Even though there was a cold chill moving over me, goosebumps rising on my skin.
Warren sighed, but nodded his head toward Denny, who climbed back in, and turned over the car for long enough to roll the back window halfway down.
“Now sit there and shut up,” Warren snapped as the door slammed, then the locks engaged.
As if I could get away while handcuffed so hard that my wrist felt raw.
I sat there, watching the men slink off into the distance, checking their guns, then tucking them away.
I couldn’t tell you how long I sat there.
Then I saw several cars pulling in, their headlights turning away from me as they parked, then climbed out, completely unaware of their fate.
But one final car came closer, the lights flooding the SUV for a moment as it parked a few yards behind me.
Despite my heartbeat hammering in my ears, I heard the door click closed, then footsteps making their way closer.
Before starting to veer off.
I couldn’t tell you why I did it.
Why I cared.
When I had so much to worry about already.
But before I could stop myself, the word was rushing out of my mouth.
“Hey!”
The man stopped.
Then turned, gaze landing on me.
And, God.
I wasn’t prepared for the unexpected jolt of desire that flooded me as I looked at this stranger.
He was tall and fit in a well-tailored gray suit with black hair that had a hint of gray streaking through at the temples, amazing bone structure, and warm brown eyes framed in thick, enviable lashes.
Handsome.
Almost obnoxiously so.
“Angel, what—“ he started as his gaze moved from me to the cuff around my wrist.
“It’s an ambush,” I rushed out, watching his gaze flick back to me.
“What?”
“It’s an ambush. Warren is going to double-cross and kill you,” I told him, watching him tense. “What are you doing?” I gasped as he drew closer, making me look toward where Warren had disappeared to, wondering if he was watching.
“I have to get you out of here,” he said as I saw his comrades start to walk toward the direction where Warren had disappeared.
“No. You can’t. I can’t. Get out of here. They’re going to kill you,” I said, pointing toward his friends.
The man looked back at me, conflicted.
“Go!” I demanded, voice cracking.
Couldn’t he see?
This was his chance?
To get away?
To get everything I wished I could.
Why was he still standing there?
It was a gunshot that had him finally turning and running, leaving me to sit there, heartbeat slamming against my ribcage, watching as this man ran toward danger instead of away from it.