Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
“There is no such thing,” Raven rushed.
“See, I can stay forever,” Addy said with a hopeful smile.
Tender affection rolled from Daisy. “You’ll see them again soon.”
She sounded surer that time. Like maybe she was coming to her own conclusion. Like maybe she was getting wrapped up too and wanted to believe in this dream. Like this was going to last forever when it had to come to its end.
Or maybe she was only succumbing to the idea that she had no chance to outrun her ex, not realizing the lengths I would go for her.
Addy huffed but sat up and slipped on her sandals before she went to grab her bead kit from the table.
Daisy moved to Colin and prodded him, too. Only the kid was completely out. Limbs limp and body slack.
There was no stopping the thing that overcame me.
This feeling of possession.
One of duty and loyalty and something far greater than that.
Trying to keep my boots quiet, I shuffled that way. “I’ve got him,” I mumbled low, and I carefully picked him up and tucked his chest against mine. He mumbled a discordant, unintelligible sound before he rested his head on my shoulder and snuggled closer.
My heart twisted in the way it’d been doing all day.
Something getting mutilated inside me every time I pulled one of them into my arms. This foolish notion taking me hostage that maybe they belonged there. A lie murmuring in my ear that maybe I was created for something far more significant than I’d given myself credit for.
Daisy’s gaze softened as she looked up at me, biting at the inside of her cheek before she seemed to give and moved over to Eva and picked her up.
Daisy muttered a few more goodnights before we all moved down the corridor.
I reached out and opened the door.
My brothers were out on the porch, conversing beneath their breaths about something that was likely Sanctum business since they clipped off the second we stepped out.
Or maybe they were only gawking at me again.
Like they didn’t recognize me or what I was doing.
Seemed fitting considering I was having a hard time recognizing myself.
Everything scrambled and changed. Mind and spirit and soul getting distorted.
I jutted my chin at them. “We all good for tomorrow?”
I asked them to be present for tomorrow’s ceremony at the courthouse. Figured if I was doing this, I needed to make it look fully legit.
I procured the wedding license myself. Hacked my way in and forged the papers like the paperwork had been expedited to ensure we had what we needed with the short notice.
Once the decision had been made, action had been taken.
Could have made the marriage legal fully remote, a few brushstrokes and Daisy and I would be hitched, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have the physical proof if it ever came down to what Daisy had asked of me.
My soul thrashed at the thought. No chance it would come to that.
I wouldn’t stand for it.
Wouldn’t let it happen.
“Four o’clock,” River confirmed.
“Ah, yeah, wedding bells are in the air. But we haven’t had the bachelor party yet. Should we head down to the club?” Kane offered, a goading tease written in his expression. “I have an old bottle of scotch with my crew’s name on it. We need to celebrate this momentous occasion.”
“Won’t be necessary since this is only pretend,” I grumbled, deflecting the suggestion.
Only something inside me howled with rejection.
Otto grinned like he was rejecting the idea, too.
Hell, every single one of them was looking at me like they knew I was full of shit.
Like they saw exactly what I was feeling as I stood there with this little family surrounding me.
Colin in my arms and Daisy right next to me with Eva in hers.
Addy leaned against my side for support, sleep calling her back.
“What’s pretend, My Giant?” she asked through a yawn, still clinging to that bead set I’d gotten her like it was her most prized possession.
“Nothin’, sweetheart,” I forced out.
I didn’t know which statement was the lie.
Beside me, Daisy inhaled a shattered breath, and I sucked it all down, dipping my chin in parting at the rest of the family while Daisy once again whispered a bunch of goodbyes and thank yous.
We trudged down to the waiting SUV. I opened the back door on the passenger side so Daisy didn’t have to do it, then I guided Addy around the rear on the opposite side.
She climbed in when I opened the door, then I nestled Colin into his car seat. Worked through his straps to buckle him before I tugged at Addy’s to ensure they were secure.
The whole time, I could feel the turmoil that wheeled around Daisy as she buckled Eva in. The energy that crashed and lapped and whispered old promises that should have been ours but now could never come to fruition.