Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
She flinched, then moaned as the movement made pain lash through her. Was this what broken ribs felt like?
Aadan’s eyes narrowed. “Who hurt her? Well?”
None of the men said anything.
Smart.
“Do I have to kill you all?” he roared.
One guy stepped forward, looking sweaty and pale. “We were just trying to get him off you.”
“You never fucking hurt her!” Aadan roared, stepping toward the guy. He drew his gun and pointed it at the guy’s head.
Oh no.
No, no, no.
You’re the only one that can stop this.
“Aadan,” she said. “I don’t feel good. I need to sit down. Can you help me?”
Aadan breathed heavily. “You’re in pain because of him.”
“He was just doing his job, right? It was my fault. I got in the way.”
This could backfire on her. She’d never been in this sort of situation before. Where she was having to actually negotiate for a man’s life.
A man that had just kicked the shit out of her.
Kind of ironic.
She just hoped that Aadan didn’t get mad at her. What was wrong with him? He’d never been this unhinged before.
“Tie him up and then get out,” Aadan snapped at everyone.
One of the guys zip tied Tyler’s hands behind his back and they dumped him on the floor. She winced but didn’t say anything. Trying to read Aadan’s mood and mind was difficult when he was so erratic, but it was pretty clear that he didn’t like it when she showed that she cared for anyone but him.
Aadan helped her into a chair. This time he was so careful with her, treating her like she was made of glass.
These changes in his behavior made it feel like she was on a rollercoaster.
“My poor princess. Are you all right?” he asked her. “What can I get you?”
“W-water? Please?” Maybe it would pay to act weaker than she was. It would give her the element of surprise.
“Of course.” He snapped his fingers.
She jumped, groaning in pain as her ribs protested.
Getting kicked in the ribs was not something she recommended.
Out of the shadows, a younger woman appeared. Where the hell had she come from? How hadn’t she noticed her before?
Her stomach dropped. Maybe she should have worked harder to do something about him.
“Get some water,” he ordered.
“Thank you,” she said quietly when the woman brought back a glass of water. With shaky hands, she took sips.
“Here, princess, let me help you,” Aadan said.
Play along.
Don’t let him see your disgust for him.
After she’d taken a few sips, he set the glass aside. “Now, I want you to tell me about these men that helped you leave. Why would they do that? Why did you go?”
Did he not remember her telling him that she wanted to leave? The argument they’d had? The way he’d pinned her to the wall and she’d been scared he would hurt her.
“Why would they have taken you from me if they were my men? Did you ask them to?”
“No, I thought you asked them to.”
“Why would I ask them to?” he asked in a louder voice.
Shit. She swallowed hastily.
Tread carefully.
“Why would they have helped her leave unless you told them to?” Tyler asked. “This doesn’t really seem like a democracy where your men are taught to think for themselves. And they weren’t going to listen to Caren, were they?”
Bollocks.
Why wouldn’t he just shut up?
Aadan turned to Tyler. “I think my men should have just shot you. But, no matter, your body will be easier to dispose of now.”
“Why did it take you so long to find me?” she blurted out.
Shit. That sounded accusatory.
“I mean . . . I’m just surprised. If you didn’t tell them to take me to the airport, if you didn’t want me to go . . . then why not come after me? It’s been nine months.”
“Because I was stuck in a hellhole in Nigeria for over six months. Then when I was rescued, I came back here to find that my girl had abandoned me!”
Careful. Careful.
“I thought you wanted me to go,” she said quietly. “I didn’t realize . . . if I had . . .”
She couldn’t bring herself to say it, but Aadan wasn’t a stupid guy. Although, there was definitely something different about him. A strange look in his eyes.
What had that hellhole in Nigeria done to him?
He seemed even more . . . unhinged.
Which was a terrifying thought.
Just concentrate on getting through this alive. And keeping Tyler alive.
Although he seemed determined to get himself killed.
Which was really inconsiderate of him.
“I just thought the order came from you,” she added.
“It doesn’t make sense,” he said, frowning. “Why would they do that? And you don’t know who it was?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t. I never really looked at your men or paid attention to them.”
He nodded arrogantly. “Of course not, why would you when you had me to concentrate on.”