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)
Then he walked over to her, placing his hands on the counter on either side of her. “I’m not a good man.”
She swallowed heavily. What was he going to say? To do?
Was this the part where he . . . where he turned on her?
“But I am not my father. I will not harm you. And neither will anyone else.”
Angie frowned, running those words through her head.
“You know that I was safe even though I don’t live with Zander anymore, right? I’m nobody. No one wants to hurt me or is coming after me.”
“Don’t call yourself nobody.”
Good. Lord. He kept focusing on the wrong thing.
“I was safe. And I’m not sure why you’d care. We’re not friends. I haven’t heard from you since I escaped. So why would you care?”
He stared at her for a long moment. “You’re right. Why would I care?”
Okay. Why did that hurt her feelings? Had she wanted him to protest that he did care?
Last time she’d seen Jared, he’d been cold. Almost . . . mean. Definitely detached.
He didn’t seem quite as cold now. But he still had the potential to become that person.
And she wasn’t strong enough right now to protect herself from that sort of hurt.
“I want to bathe on my own.” Hurt was bubbling in her throat.
You’re being stupid.
Right? But at the moment, she just felt like she needed to cry.
Alone.
Angie hated crying. She rarely did it. Because it seemed like a complete waste of time.
And she certainly never cried in front of anyone.
“You need help washing your hair,” he stated.
“I really don’t. What I need is some privacy. If you’re not going to let me leave yet, then isn’t that the least that you can do for me?”
Angie thought he would refuse. But to her shock, he nodded and stepped back. Then he moved to the bath, running his fingers through it, before turning off the taps.
“There is shampoo and conditioner in the shower. You might want to wash your hair in there. Do not stay too long in here. We need to get some food and liquid into you. I will be waiting out in the bedroom. If you need me, call out.”
And then he lifted her down off the counter.
And left.
He’d just left her and she felt . . . weird.
Alone.
Don’t be stupid. He’s keeping you here against your will. You do not want his company.
Tears dripped down her face.
She was a complete mess.
Because she really, really wanted his company.
His, and the man who had kidnapped her. And neither of them were good choices for her. One was emotionally and physically distant. In fact, she wasn’t sure he had emotions.
And the other one was the son of the man who had nearly destroyed her. He’d also proven in the past that he could swing from warm and caring to cold and unfeeling in a heartbeat.
She needed normal.
Ordinary.
Maybe if she said it often enough it would come true.
23
Jared paced up and down her bedroom while she bathed.
What should he do?
She was meant to be safe with Zander. Tucked away where no one could reach her.
“You’re going to send her back to Zander?” North asked as he leaned against the wall next to the door.
“I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. If he makes stupid decisions, like letting her live on her own, then he obviously isn’t taking care of her properly.”
“In fairness, no one has ever gone after her. He likely thought that she was safe after all this time.”
“I don’t care what he thought! She was kidnapped because of his incompetence.”
“Yes, I didn’t think you’d like that part.”
“I still feel like you’re hiding something from me.” Jared stalked toward North. He leaned his hands on the wall on either side of North’s head. Then he bent down close. “What is it, North?”
North didn’t blink.
“You can tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it for you.”
“I’m not helpless. I don’t need you to take care of stuff for me. I explained why I took her. Aren’t you glad she’s here?”
It wasn’t that simple.
“I know you’ve always wanted a Little. Always wanted her.”
Jared grasped hold of North’s chin. Hard. “Remember what I said. She is not a replacement for you. You are enough.”
“I have the emotional capability of a tea bag. I am not enough.”
“What?” That was a bizarre thing for North to say.
“That’s what Angie told me.”
Jared shook his head. That shouldn’t amuse him, but it sort of did.
“Regardless of what you think, boy. You are enough.”
“You deserve more,” North said. “I brought you more. You’re welcome.”
Exasperation filled him. “Why didn’t you tell me straight away that you’d kidnapped her? When you came home smelling of her?”
“I guess I wanted her to submit to this. And then she became ill. And the brat refused to bathe.” Something flitted across North’s face. Too fast for Jared to read it.