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)
She’d had enough of this guy. Her head was throbbing and she felt ill.
Maybe there was something wrong with her. Maybe she’d survived all the shit in her life just to be taken out by an illness.
Wow.
Someone up there really did hate her if that was the case.
It felt like there was no winning in this life for her.
“And you don’t think asking my name is personal?” he said to her.
“You’re in my bedroom!”
“Good point. This is your room. In his house.”
She flinched. She didn’t need the reminder that she wasn’t safe anywhere.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
The words were right. But there was something about the way he delivered them . . . urgh, she was too dizzy and tired to work it out.
“I apologize. I should have introduced myself. I’m North, Jared’s assistant.”
Jared had asked him to get the books.
For her.
These books could keep her going for a long time. They could help her escape this shitty world she was living in.
Not that you’ll be here much longer.
There’s a plan, remember?
Right.
That thought made her feel better. She had an exit plan . . . she just had to hope it worked.
“He simply wanted you to have them.”
She blinked.
When was the last time someone had done something this nice for her?
She couldn’t remember.
And yet she couldn’t let herself trust in it, either. Because maybe this could be a way to reel her in. To set a trap.
“Tell him thank you.”
It was the best she could do. She stared at him, guarded and unsure.
“I do need one thing in return.”
“What’s that?” she asked.
“You cannot tell anyone that Jared did this. I’m not sure why he did. He’s not a good man. Or a kind man. Understand?”
She didn’t really understand the warning. Why would Jared do something nice, then have this guy tell her that he wasn’t a good guy?
Ahh. That was what he was worried about? That Fergus might be angry? Why? Because someone else was giving his wife a gift?
No.
It was more likely that Fergus would view this as a weakness in his son.
As kindness.
Angie couldn’t afford kindness. She needed to be hard. To be all edges and barbed wire if she was going to get out of here.
So she shrugged. “Why would I tell anyone and risk them taking the books from me? No skin off my nose if he wants to spend his money on me.”
It kind of hurt to be this . . . hard. To sound selfish and uncaring.
She really wasn’t that person.
But sometimes life shaped you that way. Or you had to pretend to be someone you weren’t in order to keep your soft parts protected.
“Good. Because if you fuck Jared over for this, I will come back and I will hurt you.”
A shudder ran through her at those words. He might look and sound mild-mannered.
But that was the most honest thing he’d said to her.
She was hungry.
Angie tried to never leave her room unless she was summoned. That way Fergus might forget she even existed.
But yesterday all the food she’d stored away had run out. She’d been rationing it, of course. Just eating a few things each day.
However, now she had to sneak out and grab some more. She’d waited until it was two in the morning to make her move.
Sometimes Fergus was still awake at this time. Sometimes, he’d just be getting home. But it was less risky than any other time.
Grabbing a bag and dressing in her darkest clothes, she made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen.
So far. So good.
The house was quiet. Cold.
She stuffed her bag full of snack food and fruit. A loaf of bread. Some butter. Ooh, cold cuts. She just took a few slices. She’d make herself a sandwich tonight.
Her hand brushed by a bag of coffee beans. God, she missed coffee so much.
But she knew if she tried to make some, that someone might hear her.
Instead, she took two of the iced coffees she found in the fridge.
“Those are mine.”
She jumped with a cry that she quickly muffled and dropped the iced coffees on the floor. Thankfully, neither of them broke. Turning, she stared at the man leaning against the breakfast bar.
Surprise filled her. “What are you doing here?” Angie winced after making that demand. Why did she speak to him like that? Was she insane?
What if he decided to punish her for her insolence?
It’s just that it had been months since she’d last seen him and she hadn’t realized he was back.
She swallowed heavily and took a step back.
“This is my family home. What are you doing?” Jared said as he studied her.
“I live here,” she replied shakily.
Unfortunately.
“I will rephrase.” He took a step forward. She took another back. “Why are you in the kitchen, stealing food at two in the morning? Why do you look like you’ve lost weight? Why are you staring at me like you think I’m going to attack you?”