Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 541(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“Margot.” I clasp her chin and tilt her face up. “This is the kind of shit I need to know. No excuses.”
She sighs again, leaning into me.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I just… Everyone’s been on edge lately. Including you. Especially you. I know you’ve got a lot on your mind with the kids.”
And you.
I don’t say it, but she knows.
I slide a hand around her waist, pressing her against me.
“You know I can’t protect you or the kids if I don’t know who the hell I’m protecting you from.”
“Yeah. But we don’t know anything right now. The detective was a guy from down in Bar Harbor, and he said they’ll keep looking into it. He wants to follow up on some smaller crimes outside Sully Bay. Until then, we just have to be careful.”
“Next time, you tell me if something comes up, okay?” I growl, meeting her gaze. “Even if you think it’s news that’ll ruin my day.”
“Okay.” She nods slowly. “You’re right. It was selfish to keep it to myself.”
I look at the kids. They’re still right where I left them, fixated as the musical trio launch into another song.
Blissfully oblivious to our dilemma.
Just as it should be.
If I could, I’d keep them like that forever, but we all grow up.
“Try not to worry,” I tell Margot now, noticing the lines around her eyes. “Viola Babin won’t start more shit. If she gets in your face a second time, I’ll make sure she’s behind bars.”
She shakes her head. “I dunno. It’s not worth it. It’s not even your problem, Kane.”
“I meant what I said. I protect the people I care about, whatever the cost.” That absolutely means Margot Blackthorn too.
I’m not afraid if she knows it.
I also don’t care if she knows how precious she’s become.
“Easier said than done. I don’t want you having to back that up,” she mutters. A small smile pulls at her lips.
“Trust me.” I swipe my thumb across her jaw. “While I’m around, you let me do the worrying for both of us.”
I realize my mistake the second I say it.
While I’m around.
She straightens and turns away from me.
I hate how accurate that is.
She might be safe for as long as I’m here, yeah—but that isn’t long enough.
Less than a week to go.
Less than seven days before we’re back home, separated with nothing but ashes of kisses and dead promises.
“Right. Well, thanks for the reminder. I appreciate everything you do.”
“Margot,” I start, but she’s already shaking her head.
“It’s cool. We both know it’s coming eventually. I mean, neither of us live here. We can’t turn everything upside down for… for this.” Her throat ticks as she swallows.
Now isn’t the time.
There are people swarming around.
Still, I see the way she’s closing off, reverting back to the pretty, remote woman I first met, before she softened up and showed me the person inside.
Less than a week.
Less than a fucking week.
One day at a time, though.
While I’m here, I’ll damn sure make the most of our time, even if I have to spend it keeping her safe.
I hate that she might have to stay longer, just to make sure the place doesn’t burn down mysteriously.
Maybe I can figure out some workaround.
She doesn’t even have to tell me that’s what she’ll do if it comes down to it. But with the kids, I can’t risk staying much longer.
I can’t be her personal shield when I have a family and handing them off to my mother only works for so long.
But leaving her alone, without worrying about her here?
Fucking impossible.
With the pissy way the Babins keep acting, I don’t trust them not to do something, no matter what the police said.
“Shit,” I whisper, taking her wrists, pulling her into me again.
She doesn’t ask what I mean.
She doesn’t need to.
Her forehead rests in the hollow between my shoulder and neck and her hands tangle in my shirt.
For a few heady seconds, we just stand there, filling the silence with thick, needy breaths.
“It’ll be fine,” she whispers again when I pull back.
“Margot,” I start, and I don’t know how I’m planning to finish that sentence when someone taps me on the shoulder.
An older man I don’t recognize.
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt…” He grimaces apologetically at Margot, who steps back with a smile.
I look at her, but it’s obvious he’s talking to me.
First time anyone in this town has shown me the slightest interest over her. I’m not sure I like it.
He looks like he’s in his late fifties with a gut and greying scruff on his cheeks. I’ve never seen him before in my life.
“Yeah?” I try to hide my irritation.
“If it’s no trouble, I was just hoping for an autograph,” the man says, handing me a napkin. He winces again. “Sorry I don’t have anything better on me. If I knew I had a chance to meet the Kane Saint today, I’d have come prepared.”