Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“I know, but maybe there’s a little of that part of him in me. I mean, I’m more pissed at Kinsley and Damon. And to top it off, I, uh—” I take another deep breath, not wanting to admit this but also wanting to get it out. “I got excited.” I touch my chest over my heart. “That might not be the right word, but he’s been watching, and I haven’t been alone as long as I thought.” There, I said it out loud.
It’s crazy to miss him, but maybe I am crazy. How can Eros be so sure I’m not like my father? Take him, for example. Why is Eros, a man who has killed before and likely will again, the first man I’m drawn to?
Eros drops down to one knee in front of me, making his eyes level with mine. “You need to stop putting rules on yourself that society has. Just because others think it’s wrong doesn't mean you have to. You can live on your own terms. You can’t help how you feel, and there is no point in fighting it.”
I snort a laugh. “It’s clear you don’t fight it.” He saw me and then took me. In his mind, that was it. Eros didn’t fight it at all, even when it went against his own family.
“When it comes to you, the only fight I’ll have is if someone thinks they can take you from me.” I can tell from the coldness in his eyes he means that. He leans in closer. “That includes your father.”
“That is not helping my thoughts right now.” I don’t have a clue how to compartmentalize that.
“He might not want me dead,” Eros says, almost making me laugh.
“You took me,” I point out. “Put me in a hole. I think you may be toward the top of his list. I’m just saying.”
“I didn’t put you in a hole, and I got you out.”
A gasp leaves me. “What about—”
“Everyone is on notice. There is no way your father can make it onto the farm and into a house without us knowing.” I nod because the rest of them might not be safe from him.
“As hurt as I am by everyone, I don't want them to get hurt because of me.” And that’s Eros's family. If anyone can understand loving your family even when they do shit you don’t agree with, it’s me.
“No one is going to get hurt.”
“I want to go to the farm.” At least if I’m there and my father somehow shows up, I might be able to talk reason into him. I’m the only one that can.
“I’m going to get us loaded up.” He presses a kiss to my lips before he stands and does just that. It’s not long before we’re on the road and heading toward the farm.
“What happens when we get there? We’ll be together, right? I don’t want to sleep without you.”
“Are you saying I can stop sneaking into bed after you go to sleep and out before you wake up?” He shoots me a smirk.
I’m getting a lot more of those from him the more time we spend together and I open up. I think he’s doing the same, letting me see different parts of him and maybe parts that are for me alone.
“Watch it,” I warn teasingly. “And what about Binx? Is everyone okay with him coming too?” This is going to be strange, staying with his family.
“Yes, I have a room at my parents’ place. I don’t stay there often, but Mom keeps rooms for each of her kids, and they are big. She has fantasies about her kids coming home often and bringing their kids with them. So when they built the house a decade ago, they built it accordingly.”
“I don’t know if that’s sweet or cult-like.”
“I’m sure Naomi can answer that one for you.” I laugh. They had mentioned a bunker and hanging out with them. I’m not sure I’m willing to go with any Marino anywhere or people adjacent to them, except Eros.
"She's strange, but I've been called the same, so…" I shrug. I suppose strange is better than cookie-cutter or generic.
“I’m close with my brothers Jax and Damon, but there are still small groups in the family. Damon and Jax are extra tight, and I have always been extra tight with Mac and Naomi.”
That makes me smile. I’m noticing in the Marino family gender doesn’t set you in a certain role.
“I like them,” I tell him. “Naomi and Mac,” I add to make that extra clear. “Jax and Damon are on my shit list.”
“I don’t think Jax would have known till after the fact.”
“Okay, then the list goes: Damon, Kinsley, and then Jax.”
“Got it.” He nods.
“Got it?”
“Who we are hating right now. I got it.” He flicks a glance over to me. “I’m supposed to hate who you hate, right? That’s what Mac and Naomi say.”