Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Jordyn didn’t speak, but the grip she had on my forearm seemed to say, I know.
“Unfortunately, some truly awful people exist in this world. And I can’t erase them all, but I’ll be damned if I don’t erase the ones who try to take you from me.”
I angled my body just enough to kiss her ear and then whispered, “I will never leave you. I won’t take from you. Listen, stop me if this is the wrong time to say this, but please, don’t confuse my restraint with disinterest.”
“I’m trying not to,” she murmured, burrowing her body against mine. “I’m listening.”
“You already have everything I am, Jordyn. My heart. Loyalty. A promise of a future. I just want to give it to you the right way.”
She turned in my arms, cheeks damp with tears. “I don’t want to ruin this by wanting too much.”
“You’re not ruining anything.”
Her chin trembled as her hand slid up to the side of my face. “Then I’m good where we are in our relationship, Jamie.”
I pressed my forehead to hers, letting the quiet fall between us.
I’d stoked the fire again sometime last night, then pulled Jordyn back into my arms. Now, I awoke to the scent of pine and ash. Pale winter light filtered through the frosted windows.
Jordyn stirred beneath the heavy quilt beside me, her breath catching before her eyes opened.
“You okay?” I asked. Last night, seeing her beneath Rocket. Man, that still gutted me.
“I wasn’t. But sleep … And you—and your emo black hair …” She grinned as if just noticing my dye job.
“I’ve gotta wash this out.” I started to rise.
Jordyn wrapped her arms around me, not letting me go. “No ya don’t, Mr. MacKenzie. You haven’t been relieved of duty.”
I laughed, hugging her back. My arms became a shield around her body as I pressed my lips against hers. “We can’t continue doing this indefinitely. Me. You. Same bed. Maybe once more … If I marry you tomorrow, will you say—”
“I’ll say yes.” Jordyn cackled.
I flipped her until she was on top of me, and my fingers tangled into her hair. Then I caught myself. “Yeah. Can’t do this.”
She got off me with a groan.
I grabbed her thigh. “You said yes, Jordyn. Remember that tomorrow.” Apparently, I had twenty-four hours to find and kill Chelomey.
“Boy, if this is a joke, I’m the butt end of it.”
“You’re not, but we both know I have a list. I just have to cross a few things off first.”
“Like what?”
“Aleksandr.” We sat up in bed. “I’ve got something to discuss with you. First, where’s Rebel?”
Compassion warmed Jordyn’s face as she wrapped a flannel blanket around her shoulders. “I’m so sorry—”
Terror tightened my chest. I’d bought the pup from a kid. That sick kid was trying to drown her. I named her, trained her, and loved her. Rebel was my little girl. “She’s dead?”
“No. Okay, so I’m sorry for the inference as well. You know you’re the first person I’ve really socialized with. You and your mom.” Jordyn shook her head. “Big Brody, Leith, Camdyn, and Lachlan had to take her to a veterinarian in San Bernardino. Apparently, the nearest place was all out of antibiotics.” Again, she murmured an apology.
“Ugh. I can’t reprimand them. We had a Rottweiler once. Of all our dogs, she was the best.” I shoved a few fingers through my hair, pushing it out of the way. “So, it was just you and Mam?”
“Your other brother dropped by with Rocket around dinner time …”
One of my brothers brought Rocket here? I knew the answer but chose to play dumb. Best to err on the side of caution before I killed a man—my blood. “Which brother? You only named half of them.”
She chewed her lip. “Little Brody. You … uh … just got quiet. Weird quiet. So, I’ll just say this—you can’t kill him.”
“Why not?” I climbed out of bed.
“Because … because Brody had good intentions.” She explained about Mam and the others, and how Brody had made Rocket apologize and then followed him down the hill.
“I hear you, JorJor. However, all I understand is that Brody’s here now, right?”
“Ye—”
“And he allowed this to happen.”
“N—”
Before I reached the door, Jordyn flew past me.
My brow lifted. “What are you doing?”
“Stopping you from murdering your brother.”
I picked her up by the waist and placed her out of the way. Reached for the door.
“Jamie, you went after Nolan or Old Bones Hagerty. Which one?”
A muscle underneath my jaw twitched. Seems we are gonna have this chat now. I gritted out, “Hagerty. One shot. It’s over. Now, may I?”
Her eyes welled, yet no tears fell. “You really …?”
Eye for an eye flashed before my eyes. How would I punish my eldest brother for what he allowed?
Ring his neck since Jordyn’s throat shows slight handprints. Just squeeze it until he—