Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 54899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
I bristle. “Excuse me?”
“You’re scared. You’re ready to throw away his unconditional love because you’re afraid of getting hurt.”
“Of course I’m scared!” I burst out. “The man I love stalked me. He pretended to be someone else. He manipulated me.”
A smile ghosts around his mouth. “There it is.”
“What?”
“You love him. You just said it yourself.”
My mouth opens and closes. I’m at a loss for words.
I didn’t mean to admit it out loud, but now I’ve given voice to my undeniable feelings.
“He keeps hurting me,” I say raggedly. “I don’t think I can take any more.”
“You can. I know he’ll move heaven and earth to prevent you from experiencing more pain, but no one can promise a life without conflict. He’s told me about you. You’re all he’s talked about for years. The woman he described to me is brave and strong. You know the whole truth now, and you still love him. All that’s holding you back is fear.”
I’m wavering. I can’t waver.
Not safe.
I’m distracted from my inner turmoil by a strange, loud sound on the grounds of the estate.
“Get down!” Logan shouts, shoving me off the couch and onto the floor.
He covers me with his body.
“What’s happening?” I demand.
“Chopper,” he bites out. “Someone’s coming for you.”
I recognize the sound now: it’s a helicopter.
And it’s landing on the field right in front of the manor.
“We have to get to the safe room. Stay out of the range of the windows.”
An explosion rocks the manor.
“Fuck! They’ve breached the house.” He grabs my hand and drags me out of the study. “Run! And stay behind me.”
I don’t hesitate to obey. If Brandon’s enemies get to me, they’ll use me to hurt him.
I can’t let them do that.
I won’t allow anyone to harm the man I love, no matter how he’s ravaged my heart.
We race through two lavish sitting rooms and down a long corridor.
Glass shatters, and Logan grunts. He drops to one knee.
“Keep going,” he grits out. “The safe room is behind the portrait of the lady in a silver dress.”
He points to the end of the hallway, gesturing at the painting he’s described.
“The code is your birthday.”
“You’re not staying out here,” I insist. “Come on.”
He doesn’t stand when I try to pull him to his feet.
“I’m hit. You need to move.”
I see the bullet wound now. A crimson stain is spreading on the right shoulder of his white t-shirt.
“I’m not leaving you. Put your arm around me.”
He shoves me away, and I stumble. He’s not quite as big as Brandon, but he’s much stronger than I am, even injured.
“He’ll kill me if anything happens to you. I might as well die now rather than my best friend murdering me later. They’re coming.”
“Then you’d better get up,” I demand.
Logan grits his teeth and struggles to his feet. “He told me you’re brave. He never said how fucking stubborn you are.”
“You can insult me later. We have to get to that safe room.”
We lumber forward five steps, but we’re still yards away from the portrait when he drops to his knees again. This time, he sags all the way to the floor. Blood pours from his wound, a darker crimson soaking into the red carpet.
Boots pound on the hardwood floors. There must be at least a dozen of them in the house.
“Logan!” I shake him, but his eyes slide closed. “Please get up.”
I can’t simply abandon Brandon’s friend.
There’s a knife sheathed at Logan’s belt. I draw it and round on the men who burst into the corridor.
They’re dressed in black tactical gear, and I can’t help taking half a step back at the intimidating sight of them closing in on me.
The one at the front of the pack lifts a gun. “Drop the knife.”
I raise it between us instead. “Stay away from me.”
They creep closer, forming a wall of black-clad muscle between me and the way out. There’s still time for me to make a break for the safe room. I might not reach it in time, but I could at least try.
But Logan isn’t moving. He’s barely breathing.
He’s not dead yet. I won’t leave him as long as his heart is still beating.
The four men pause just out of lunging range. If I want to cut into them, I’ll have to throw myself at them. And they all have assault weapons.
“The boss wants you mostly intact,” the leader says. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
Ice crystallizes in my veins. They’re not simply here to kill me. They want to take me somewhere.
They’ll set a trap for Brandon.
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I hiss.
He sighs and gives the others a lazy wave. “Try not to fuck up her face.”
I have to act now. I fling myself at the leader with a shriek of protective rage. I can’t let them use me to lure Brandon into danger.