Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
I walked out of the elevator and into her arms, feeling how delicate and fragile she was, and I had to fight back tears. Burying my face in her neck, I trembled, trying to hold back the emotion and failing.
“Hey, hey, hey …” London tightened her embrace. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
It was so typical for London to be in the midst of something awful and still offer me comfort.
Pulling back, I ignored the tears drying on my cheeks and took her in.
Her lush red hair was in a messy topknot, so it only accentuated the hollowness of her cheekbones. Her freckles were covered with a thick layer of foundation, which wasn’t her usual style. When she wasn’t at work, London wore multiple piercings in her ears and a small hoop in her nose. She didn’t wear any jewelry now. “Oh, Spoon, you don’t look like yourself at all.”
Her expression tightened and she dropped her hold on me.
The sleeves of her cardigan had pushed up when she embraced me. I caught sight of the dark smudges around her forearms, and fury flushed through me.
“Are those bruises?” I reached for her, but London quickly shoved her sleeves down and crossed her arms. A huge diamond glinted on her ring finger, momentarily stunning me. Not just because London tended not to wear rings because she had to take them off for her job but because my friend was engaged.
And she hadn’t told me.
“You’re engaged?” I whispered.
London glanced unhappily down at her finger. “He proposed last night.”
Shouldn’t she be the happiest woman in the world then? “You look miserable.”
She flinched. “What are you doing here without warning?”
I gaped in shock at her sharp tone. “What am I doing here? Do you mean what am I doing here after being stabbed?”
She flinched again. “Silver …”
“Where have you been?” My anger made me push even as a voice in the back of my head told me to stop. “I got stabbed. I got dumped by a man I’m pretty sure I’m in love with, even though I also kind of hate him. I’m juggling two legal battles against the man who stabbed me and the man who ordered my murder after murdering my parents. What am I doing here? Where the fuck have you been? Why didn’t you tell me you got engaged?”
Tears filled London’s eyes as she stumbled back from me.
And I cursed myself.
Whatever Nick was doing to her … the last thing she needed was one more person emotionally wailing on her.
“I’m sorry.” I hurried to apologize. “I’m so worried about you, Spoon. Laurent said you quit two months ago! He said that you’ve been cagey, that you dropped all your friends, that you came into work a few times covering up bruises and injuries. Now you’re standing before me not looking like you at all and there are definite bruises on your arms.” I took a step toward her. “Did he do this to you?”
Fear seemed to swallow London’s entire face. “I … you should probably go. I’ll come to you. Just let me know where you’re staying, and I’ll come see you.” She gently shoved me toward the elevator.
“Spoon.” I took her hand. “Please.”
“I wanted to quit my job.” London was breathless now. “I’m taking time to figure out what I want to do, okay? And I d-don’t l-look like myself because you took off for Scotland and left me behind.” She none too gently shoved me onto the elevator. “You don’t get to come here and judge me when you left me behind. Nick didn’t leave. He’s the only person who hasn’t left me and he won’t.”
Oh God. “Spoon”—I reached out to stop the doors from closing—“that’s not true. I know you better than anyone. Remember that. No matter how much physical distance is between us, I will never truly leave you. I got on a fucking plane as soon as I could after the attack to make sure you’re okay.”
Her lips trembled as she tried to fight back tears and I saw her. I saw her buried behind the fear in her eyes.
“I won’t leave you alone in whatever this is,” I vowed. “I’m not leaving New York until I know you’re okay. I’ll be back. And if you need me, I’m staying at the Winton. Room 201.” I let go of the door. “I love you, Spoon.”
The doors closed between us, but I caught London’s sob before I was shut out from her.
I swiped angrily at my own tears, vowing to get her out of whatever mess this was with Nick.
Whatever it cost me.
39. Ramsay
Istepped back from the built-in closets in one of the guest bedrooms. Greig, Andrew, and Mikey, our decorators, were making their way through all the rooms, painting walls and paneling and hanging the wallpaper Silver and Cammie had chosen. As they finished up, I went in at the back of them to add the final staining to the built-ins and custom shelving.