Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Is she awake?”
The sound of Locke’s voice had my head snapping back around. He’d stepped out of the elevator when it opened for Linc. What the fuck was he doing here?
Linc simply nodded his head once, then stepped into the elevator. I watched as Locke made his way to the room, trying to decide if I cared that he’d come to check on her. He’d helped me bring her here. It shouldn’t bother me.
He glanced my way briefly as he walked past me and into the room. Silently, I watched him. Unsure what I thought about it. I wanted to believe he was down here for concern, but something in his eyes made me think otherwise.
“You’re awake,” he said. “I’ve been down here three other times to find you sleeping. It’s good to see your eyes open. How are you feeling?”
I didn’t like that. The tone in his voice was making me edgy.
“I, uh…” She paused, sounding uncertain.
I tore my glare off his back to see her looking at me for…guidance? Was I reading this wrong? It sure seemed like she was waiting on me for something.
“She’s in pain,” I told him.
She didn’t remember Locke. That much was obvious. The little she’d seen of him before she passed out in my arms hadn’t been enough to make an impression.
“And she doesn’t know who the fuck you are,” I added, feeling a little smug about that. She didn’t remember me from before either, but she preferred me. It was as if she trusted me. Not a role anyone had ever placed me in.
He cut his eyes at me, clearly annoyed with my response, then turned his attention back to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in here and confuse you.”
Why was he using that tone of voice? Like he was trying to charm a female out of her panties?
“I’m Locke,” he told her. “I was with Luther when we found you. I drove the truck.”
Her body seemed to relax the slightest bit. I’d rather her not get comfortable with his presence.
“Oh,” she replied just above a whisper. “I-I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”
“No need to be sorry,” he told her. “You’ve got other things more important to work on remembering.”
The corners of her lips quirked, as if she might smile, and I tensed. Why the fuck did I care? All I needed was for her to remember who the fuck she was so I could go kill the bastard who had hurt her, then send her back to her life. One that would be safer than it had been.
It wasn’t like I planned on doing anything with her or forming any bond. Hell, I was most likely twice her age. Not that age had been a factor in who I fucked before, but that was fucking. This woman wasn’t one that you had a good time with, then moved on. She was the other kind. The type I stayed the hell away from.
Locke would figure that out soon enough. Those eyes of hers and that damn mouth were distracting him, much like they had me. But if he stepped back and saw the entire package, he’d realize she wasn’t what we were looking for in a female.
This didn’t affect me. I sure as shit wasn’t going to get fucking feelings for the woman.
Turning, I walked toward the elevator. Proving to myself that I didn’t care what Locke said to her or how long he visited her. When we did find out who she was, I had a feeling it was going to come with a load of baggage that we’d have to clean up. He was too damn young to think beyond the pretty package. She was a beautiful little wounded bird but the day would come when she could fly again, and I would be happy to let her go.
Four
Her
I didn’t almost pass out this time, I told myself. That’s progress.
I’d walked to the bathroom and used it without help. Jayda walked with me and waited outside. I felt a sense of independence at accomplishing it alone. That was all I had accomplished though.
Five days, and still, I had no idea who I was. No memories from my past had tried to creep in, and every time the doctor asked me and I had to tell him no, I felt like a failure. I also tensed up with dread, as if I were going to be punished. Which was odd. He was a nice man, and not once had he made me feel as if he were angry or frustrated with me. But I did it, nonetheless. I tried to focus on that when I was alone down here, in case it stirred any memories.
“No one is here except us today,” Jayda told me as she walked beside me, back to the room I’d been living in. “How do you feel about going upstairs for a bit? Maybe sitting outside in the sunshine. I think it might do you some good. You’ve got to be tired of not even having windows to see out of. It might bring back your appetite too. You’ve barely touched any of the food I’ve brought you.”