Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Something happened on his last job. I asked him about it this morning, but he only brushed me aside. He’ll talk about it sooner or later when he’s ready, but clearly whatever went down is still bothering him. He looks thin and on edge, not the outgoing, smirking older brother who taught me how to hotwire cars.
“Most of my decorations are in a few boxes.” I look around my new house, frowning slightly. The place is the definition of minimalist. There’s almost no personality anywhere. Everything’s cold gray and dark wood.
Brenden follows my gaze and gives me one of his old smirks. “I can see why you might want them.”
“Do you mind making another trip?” I stretch my back, eager to get this over with as soon as possible. I’m not happy about moving in with Alexan, but there’s clearly no alternative.
I’m his wife, like it or not, and this is what’s expected.
“Nah, it’s fine.” He moves toward the door and pauses on the stairs. “You know, Dad should be helping.”
“I’m not sure I want his help right now.”
“Come on, Riles. You know he didn’t have much of a choice.”
“That’s what he says, but there are other McGrath girls.”
He gives me a slight frown. “And you’d rather one of them took your place?”
Bastard. I glare at him, annoyed. But he’s right. I wouldn’t swap places with anyone else in my family, only because I couldn’t imagine dooming any of them to this nightmare.
There’s a noise on the steps. I look over to find my husband watching me with his head tilted. His lips push together when he scans the bags and boxes Brenden and I stacked in the living room.
“I see you brought everything you own,” Alexan says.
“Sorry, I guess nobody told you that I’d be moving in. You know, to live here permanently?” I give him a hard look. When Brenden said it, he only annoyed me a little. But Alexan manages to piss me off without really trying.
“I’ll make another trip and let you get settled,” Brenden mutters to me. He nods at Alexan. “You two probably have some talking to do.”
“Wait, it’s fine, you can stay—” But he shuts the door and leaves anyway.
I let out a sigh and face my husband.
“You can unpack upstairs,” Alexan says and turns away. “Bring your things to our bedroom. I made space for you.” He starts to walk upstairs before his words actually break through my annoyed, foggy skull.
“Hold up. Our bedroom?” I follow him to the second floor. He disappears into the master, and I pause at the threshold. Beyond is the bed I’m so familiar with, the cameras in the ceiling, that full-length mirror, all those dirty memories. I step inside, but only a few feet past the door. I can’t bring myself to go further. “I’m staying in the guest room like last night.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” he says, turning to face me. He sits on the edge of the bed and leans back on his hands. His shoulder and chest muscles flex, and I have to try very hard not to lick my lips. For as frustrating as he can be, Alexan is really physically gorgeous.
Even though he’s cold as ice on the outside.
“Forgive me if that doesn’t sound like a good thing,” I say, forcing myself to stay steady.
“I met with Iron Head last night. He’s giving me another month to figure this watch thing out, but after that, he made it clear that the entire Brotherhood and I will suffer if I fail.”
“What does that have to do with me staying in your bedroom?”
He brushes a thumb down his lips before pointing at me. “You are in danger.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Yeah, no kidding. You made that clear already.”
“No, baby, you don’t understand. Iron Head—”
“Stop calling him that,” I say, interrupting. “His name’s Jeremy.”
“Iron Head,” he repeats, looking annoyed, “is personally interested in solving this problem as well, which means he’s absolutely looking into it. If he figures out that you’re the one who took it before I can figure a way out of this, he’ll come for you. I need to make sure you’re safe.”
I try not to laugh at the absurdity of his logic. “And in order to do that… you need me to sleep in your bed? Sounds real convenient.”
“Not necessarily in my bed, but in my room.”
“Great, huge difference, like I’m going to be on the floor or something. We both know you just want a repeat of our first meeting.”
He licks his lips and shrugs. “I can’t deny that.”
“Then it’s a hard no from me. I’ll take my chances in the other room.” I turn to leave, but he says a single word before I can move.
“Artakarg.”
Suddenly, an iron wall slams down in front of me, blocking the exit. More shutters cover the windows. All of them are metal and reinforced. The lights dim to a dull red and cameras descend from the ceiling. Something flutters from a hidden alcove near the dressers and begins buzzing out.