Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 801(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 534(@300wpm)
All right then.
48
Jared watched her worriedly.
He had several things he needed to do, but he knew that he couldn’t leave her like this. He couldn’t bear to think of her being upset and right now, she needed him.
She seemed to be moving really slowly and sadly.
Fuck.
He couldn’t believe that Beltran had gotten to Rex. It was the only explanation he could think of.
That fucking bastard was going to pay. He wasn’t sure how he’d managed to grab Rex, but North was trying to figure that out.
The cameras showed that the box was delivered by a FedEx driver. The head was fresh and had been kept in a tight bag, so that’s why it didn’t smell or leak.
Fuck.
He hated that one of his people had been killed. That he had failed once again.
His gaze shot to her. He wouldn’t fail her. Nothing could happen to Angie or North.
North gathered up all the food and then paused by them. “I can stay with her. You need to go to work.”
“No one has to stay with me,” she whispered.
Shit. Jared should have kept this conversation away from her.
“Baby girl.”
“You know I’ve never played with Lego,” North said, putting everything down and sitting next to her.
“Never?” She gaped at him.
“Never. Show me what to do.”
She swallowed heavily, then nodded. “Okay, Northie, it’s about time you learned. No, no, you don’t do it like that. See? This bit goes into this piece and then we can slowly build up walls.”
“Shouldn’t you follow the instructions?” North asked, looking through the booklet.
“Pfft. Instructions are for wimps. We’re brave soldiers. We got this. Where is the fun in following instructions?”
“Umm.” North gazed up at Jared as he grabbed everything and backed away. “Perhaps you should stay.”
“No, no, you got this.” Jared walked away. “I’ll check up on the two of you later.”
He could have sworn that North gave him a betrayed look. But he was certain that he imagined that.
“Have fun!”
“Time for bed,” Jared announced as he walked into the living room later on that evening.
He wasn’t any further ahead in figuring out Rex’s death, but he knew that he couldn’t do much more tonight. His brain was fried and he needed some sleep.
Angie glanced up from where she was lying on the sofa.
North had helped her make some creations with her Lego. Then after lunch, they’d come downstairs so that Angie could read while the two of them worked.
It had been a quiet, sad day.
She shook her head.
Jared raised his eyebrows. “Yes. Sleep. It’s past your bedtime.”
“Pfft, that’s silly, Daddy. I don’t have a bedtime.”
“Ahh, yes, you do. It’s ten and it’s close to that. So, bed.” He gave her a stern look.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “That feels like it’s illegal.”
“Illegal?” North asked. “What does that mean?”
“It means that it’s against Angie’s Laws. Those laws state that Angie can go to bed whenever she wants. And eat as much cake as she likes. Oh, and if she wants to slide down the banister, then she can.”
“Ahh, there is no such thing as Angie’s Laws, I’m afraid,” Jared told her, feeling amused. “They got abolished.”
“What? When?” she asked, her eyes wide.
She really was adorable. But she also looked far too tired. And fragile. He was glad that North was able to look after her today. But right now, Jared needed to hold her. To know that she was safe from Beltran.
Thank God she was here, with them.
She was here for better or worse.
And he was going to keep her safe.
“About, oh,” he checked his watch, “three minutes ago.”
“Well, that sucks,” she grumbled.
“Come here, baby. I will carry you up to bed. I want you with me tonight.” He glanced over at North. He wanted him close as well, but he knew the other man wouldn’t sleep with them.
He always slept on his own.
The other night he’d stayed with them for a while, though.
But he followed them up to the door to Jared’s bedroom.
“Want Northie, too,” Angie said.
“Sweetheart, North doesn’t like to sleep with others. He has insomnia most nights and he’s worried about waking us up.”
“Don’t care! I need you both. Please. Please,” she begged.
Jared turned to North, prepared to order him into bed. He knew it wasn’t the right thing to do, but in that moment, he just knew that he had to give her whatever she needed.
To his shock, though, he didn’t have to say anything. North simply nodded.
“I’ll get ready and come back.” Turning, he walked down the hallway to his room.
“Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you settled.” He helped her brush her teeth. Then he got her dressed in one of his T-shirts. It looked enormous on her but he thought she was adorable.
He placed her in the middle of the bed and then got in on his side.
“Do you think North is coming?” she asked quietly.