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)
After a few deep breaths to stop her shaking, she glanced up into Jared’s stern face.
Oops.
“What do you think you are doing?” he asked in a low voice.
He looked like he wanted to yell at her. Maybe it would be best if he did yell. That would release all the tension she could see in his body.
“Well?” he asked.
“Um, would you believe that I was checking on the temperature to see what I should wear?” she asked.
He ran his gaze over her white pants and pale blue soft knit top. This thing was like being hugged all the time, it was so soft and cuddly.
“You’re already dressed. Or, if you weren’t sure, you could have walked outside.”
“How can I walk outside when I’m locked in here?”
Jared stared at her for a long moment. “The door wasn’t locked.”
“It . . . it wasn’t? So, I could just leave at any time?”
Why hadn’t she checked the door?
Was it because you wanted to stay here? Because you don’t actually want to leave?
Shit.
“I didn’t want you to feel like a prisoner. But all of the doors to outside as well as the windows have alarms that send alerts to our phones.”
“So I can’t leave?”
“You can move around the house, but no, you cannot leave until I know you’re safe. Why were you hanging out the window like that?”
She remained quiet, knowing better than to say anything. If he knew the truth . . . what would he do?
Angie swallowed heavily as she watched him.
Jared held out a hand to her and she stared down at it. Fear flooded her and she breathed through it.
If he hurt her, she’d find a way to get revenge. She was no one’s doormat or punching bag anymore.
Slipping her hand into his, she waited to see if he’d squeeze too hard or use it to pull her against him. Instead, he held her gently and studied her for a long moment.
“While I don’t like you putting yourself in danger, like hanging out of a window, I would never lock you up.”
North had though. She kept that to herself but he seemed to be some sort of mind reader as he raised his eyebrows.
“North will never do it again, either. Come on, you need to eat something. How are you feeling?”
“Wait. You’re not going to have someone bring me food? I really can move around?”
“I don’t say things that I don’t mean,” Jared told her. “We try to eat together in the dining room for breakfast at seven and dinner again at seven. I would like for you to join us.”
Right. Which meant she had to.
“Again, not my father. It’s not an order, but I want to ensure that you are eating.”
“Don’t want the prisoner to starve to death, huh?” she half-joked.
“I don’t consider you my prisoner.”
“Then I can call my sister?” she challenged.
To her shock, he nodded. “We’ll do that soon.”
Did he . . . did he mean that?
“Can we do it now?” she asked as he led her out of the room.
Jared shot her a look.
Right. Eat, first.
While he might not be like his father, Jared Bartolli still liked to be in charge. And that was something she had to remember.
They walked down the stairs.
“I don’t want to catch you risking yourself like that again, understand me?” he said firmly as they walked into a room with a small dining table.
North was already there, staring down at his phone. But he glanced up at Jared’s words.
“Risking herself?” North studied her. Was he concerned?
No, she doubted it.
“What did she do now?” North turned his gaze to Jared.
“What do you mean, what did I do now? You make it sound like I’m always putting myself at risk,” she huffed.
“She was leaning too far out the window,” Jared explained. “She couldn’t pull herself back in.”
North’s eyes narrowed. “That was foolish. You could have fallen and hurt yourself.”
Was he being serious right now? Whose fault would it be if she was injured?
But before she could say anything, Jared drew out a chair for her.
Weird. She hadn’t expected him to have manners like this. She nearly blushed as she sat. She couldn’t remember anyone ever doing this for her. How did she sit? What if she sat too soon?
Oh fuck, she was going to mess this up.
“What is it? Are you all right?” Jared asked her.
“Did you spank her for putting herself at risk again?” North asked. “She looks like she doesn’t want to sit.”
“No, he didn’t spank me!” she cried. “What sort of question is that? He’s not ever going to spank me.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Jared commented mildly. “And the truth is, I did think about putting you over my knee. But I hate how you keep staring at me like I’m a monster. So until you stop thinking that I’m going to act like him, I won’t be spanking you.”