Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 164910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 825(@200wpm)___ 660(@250wpm)___ 550(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164910 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 825(@200wpm)___ 660(@250wpm)___ 550(@300wpm)
In a moment, though, I hear her voice. “We went for pizza,” she says just above a whisper. “I like Fiore’s. They have a window where the kids can watch them make everything.”
Her voice is raspy, and I don’t know how long she’s been crying.
“What”—I swallow the lump in my throat—“kind did you get?”
“Spicy salami,” she whispers, “with mushrooms and arugula.”
Yuck.
“What did Callum get?” I ask, but my heart skips a beat. I don’t know if I should bring him up at all.
She replies quickly, though. “He said it was too many carbs.” She grips the mug in both hands, her knees bent up to her chest. “He always eats my leftovers, though.”
“What happened then?”
Sipping a little more bourbon, she opens her mouth, but it closes again as she frowns. “We went home,” she says. “He had to make some calls, and Milo…”
“Milo was with you?”
Air suddenly pours into my lungs.
She licks her lips. “He said I was going to get into trouble for the windows.”
I lift my eyes, her beautiful work changing the view outside with every color.
“And then?” I press.
“He said the dean would spank me,” she explains.
I lock my jaw. Spank her?
Panic rises in her voice. “And I know they still do that here, if they have the parents’ permission, they can—”
“Anna—”
“But he said if I let him do it,” she rushes out, sobs starting again, “he’d go easier and we could get it out of the way.”
She cries into my mug, and if she tells me he laid a fucking hand on her, I’ll kill him. That motherfucker should’ve been fed to the swamp four years ago.
I blink long and hard. “Did he touch you?”
She struggles to take in little breaths as she stifles her tears. “He…he started to undo my pants…”
Breaking into tears again, she loses her grip, and I grab the mug before she spills it.
“Why won’t people leave me alone?” she begs. “I didn’t think men were going to be like this.”
“They’re not men.” I turn around again and swallow the rest of the liquor.
But the guilt creeps in. How many times have I flirted with wording to get someone to do what I wanted? I called it teasing or seduction or playing, but then I never saw them go home and face themselves. I didn’t think about it after we were done, so I never thought they did, either.
Callum was the only one who really got into my head. At least, given the minimal amount I let him talk.
“Where was Callum?” I ask her.
She lies back down, tucking her hands under her head. “In his father’s office,” she tells me. “I ran before he came back out. Walked around for a while, to the park and stuff.”
I exhale, grateful he wasn’t to blame. I wish he was, but I’m also relieved.
She sniffles. “He’s going to be so mad I ran away.”
I stand up. “I’m gonna make him mad at me instead, so don’t worry.”
Taking the cup back to the drawer, I put away the bottle and return to Sophia, squatting down to eye level. “I want to talk to your brother tonight. Will you sleep over at my house?”
I think I hear footfalls on the stairs, and I’m tempted to clean the tears from her face, but I’m not going to touch her. Hanging my arms over my knees, I lock my hands together. “I have brothers and sisters, and there are kids, and no one will hurt you.”
She shakes her head, whispering, “You can’t promise that.”
I go silent, only beginning to imagine what’s happened to her to think there’s danger everywhere now.
“I can,” I state. “People are too afraid of my oldest brother to mess with our women. Is it okay if I pick you up right now?”
She doesn’t move for a moment, but then she nods.
Approaching her slowly, I slide my hands under her body and lift her up, turning to see Army in the doorway.
I nod at him. “This is one of my brothers,” I tell her.
She’s so light. I don’t think she’s underweight, but she might be close. Could she be keeping her weight down on purpose? Anna-Katherine wants to be seen as a child.
She looks at my brother, dressed in his uniform, and he looks like he wants to talk to me, but I shake my head.
“You trust me?” I ask her.
She looks down.
“Will you trust me?” I try to catch her eye.
Finally, she whispers, “Okay.”
I lift my gaze to my brother. “Take her to the Bay, please.”
I hand her gently into his arms, and I’m sure he’s wondering why she can’t walk to his car.
“Tell Krisjen to put her to bed.” Then I look at Sophia. “You know Krisjen Conroy.”
Her eyes light up, and Sophia is back. “She’s there?”
Her voice is light again.
“So is Clay Collins,” I assure her. “She’s gonna marry my sister.”