Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
A tear rolled down my face, and I shook my head even though he wasn’t looking at me. “No. You stopped him. I might have lost you, but you ended the nightmare.”
He let out a laugh. It wasn’t amused or hard but filled with pain. When he lifted his head and leveled his eyes on me, I let out a sob. The unsaid words, anguish for all that was no more, it was there in his blue eyes.
“I still failed you,” he said in a husky voice. “And I can’t undo it. I have to live with it.”
“We were young. Pirate was not well. I’m equally to blame,” I told him, hating the raw vulnerability in his eyes as they turned glassy.
I couldn’t stand seeing him like this. Kash was unbreakable. He was fierce, wild, dangerous. If he cried, I would fall apart.
He clenched his jaw as he fought for control over the onslaught of emotions we were both dealing with.
“Can I hold you?” he asked.
I nodded and moved over so that he could sit down on the bed. Once he was seated with his back against the headboard and his feet stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles, he reached over and pulled me to his chest with his arm around my shoulders.
I didn’t hesitate and went willingly, burying my face in his chest, then began to sob.
When I opened my eyes, the sunlight filled the room, and I was alone with the only reassurance that Kash had ever been there was the smell of leather and spice on the pillow he’d leaned against.
Seventeen
Kash
“You gonna tell us why we’re going to Arkansas?” Gathe asked, staring at me like I’d lost my mind over his mug of beer.
“I need to find a man named Arthur Howt,” I told him.
“Then do what with him?” Than asked.
“Kill him,” I replied.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Damn. I was afraid that was the answer.”
“Tell me this has nothing to do with Cressida,” Gathe said with dread.
“Of course it does,” Than said, picking up his glass. “If Kash is going to kill a man without an order, it’s about Cressida.”
Gathe set his mug down and placed his elbows on the table as he leaned in my direction. “You are aware that it is mentally unstable for you to off every man she’s fucked?”
“She didn’t fuck him,” I said, hating to even think about her with another man.
“He’s got the wild look in his eyes,” Than said. “I’d back up.”
Gathe straightened while studying me. “You do this, and they’ll find out. Then there is no way in hell you’ll get to move home.”
“He’s right,” Than added. “Is it really worth it? What did the man do?”
I picked up my whiskey glass and downed it, needing something to take the edge off as I thought about the things Cressida had and hadn’t told me. “Enough. He hurt her. His sister is her stepmother.”
Than winced. “I didn’t know she had one of those.”
“Her mom is dead.”
“Damn,” Gathe muttered. “I mean, when you say hurt, like how exactly? Hurt her feelings? Grabbed her? We gotta weigh this against you being banished to Alabama for life.”
I didn’t know exactly, but I would. When I had him strung up, I’d get him to talk. “It’s worth it. I’m going with or without you. It’ll be easier with help, but I can do it alone.”
Than blew out another long breath. “Fine. If we can’t stop you, I’m not letting you go alone.”
Gathe turned to look at Than. “I’m not letting him go alone either, but you coulda tried harder to change his mind about this before you caved.”
Than rolled his eyes. “He’s only been gone for four years. Have you forgotten that he’s a stubborn motherfucker? We would be wasting our breath. It has to do with Cressida.”
“We need to leave tonight. Bane is leaving. Not sure where, but I overheard Oz telling Dad that Bane had some business to handle and was going out of town tonight. Linc doesn’t seem to be the one who doesn’t trust me. Bane, however, has sent a threatening text to Cressida to stay away from me.”
Gathe scrunched his nose. “How did she know it was Bane? Mighta been Linc. Sounds like him.”
“It was Bane’s number. He didn’t even block it from her when he texted.”
“And you know this how?” Gathe asked.
“He’s in contact with her, most likely been to see her. How else does he know about Arthur?” Than said with annoyance.
Gathe nodded. “Oh, yeah. Makes sense.”
“And she’s working for Aunt Glenda,” I told them both.
Than’s eyes widened slightly. “No shit?”
I nodded.
“If Bane is gonna be this fucking controlling, why doesn’t he take over already?” Gathe asked, taking another drink.
“I don’t think he wants to,” Than said with a shrug.