Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
I sure as hell hope not because he is my only hope. I don’t want to think about how much worse things would be for me now if he hadn’t come to my rescue. He is my salvation.
He walks beside me through the house, and I lead the way into the office where Mom sits staring at the door, anticipating us. “All right. Now, can someone please tell me what’s going on?” she asks.
Kade looks my way out of the corner of his eye before shrugging. “I’m gonna stay here in the house for now.”
Oh fuck. I didn’t realize his plan was to walk in and ram her with a bulldozer like that.
“You’re what?” she asks before letting out a laugh. “I don’t recall inviting you to stay.”
I have to defuse this. And fast. “This is for me, Mom,” I explain. “He’s staying as a favor to me.”
She jerks her head back, her lips tight. “Whose house is this? Refresh my memory. Why would you invite him here without consulting me first?”
“Well, it’s because…” Because I killed the psychotic asshole you tried selling me to. Because if he doesn’t, I’m afraid of what will happen. Because he is the only thing making it possible for me to sleep through the night.
“Well?” she prompts.
“Something happened the other night I didn’t want to tell you about. I was on my way home after you called me, and…” Just thinking about it makes me shiver. I’m right back at that moment, scared for my life, frantically turning the wheel. “And I almost got run off the road.”
Her mouth falls open. “Why wouldn’t you tell me this? Who was it?”
“I didn’t want to scare you. I didn’t even know who it was. And I’m fine. Obviously. Not a scratch.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just an accident? We’ve had a lot of snow lately.”
I don’t know if she’s lying to herself or being deliberately obtuse. “It happened twice,” I say, deadpan. “They didn’t stop after the first time, when I got back on the road.”
Color leaves her cheeks. “I see.”
I give Kade a panicked look from the corner of my eye. I’m floundering here. What else am I supposed to say?
Finally, he steps in. “Last night, a couple of strangers from Utah were at the bar. They left me with a bad feeling. I noticed them again today, waiting outside the station while Allie went in to talk to the sheriff.”
God, he’s good at this. So much better than I am, and I always thought I was pretty decent at thinking on the fly. “I noticed it looked like they were following her when she left, and I remembered the bad feeling they gave me. So I followed them.”
“She’s not your responsibility.” She must realize how sharp she sounds—if not, the horrified look on my face probably clues her in. “Thank you for looking out for her anyway,” she adds.
“Allie was on her way to visit with Saint, meaning they trespassed on our land, and we stopped them,” he concludes. “My brothers and I. They didn’t give us much information, but it was clear they thought themselves untouchable. They kept referencing their boss and saying they were only doing their job. I made sure to let them know the Bishop name means something around here. We won’t be intimidated.”
“It has to be Joseph,” I whisper. “Who else would it be?”
“I just don’t understand.” Mom sighs shakily. I can’t remember the last time I saw her look and sound this lost. Oh, yes, I can—the last time Kade showed up to talk to her. She’s usually in control, holding it in her tightly clenched fist. “I’ve done everything I can to help Joseph figure out what happened to Jackson. Why would he turn around and do something like this?” she asks.
She shakes her head, and her shoulders slump. I would swear she’s aged ten years in the past week or two, between planning the gala and kissing Lowry’s ass to make this marriage happen.
And of course, the drama with Kade didn’t help things.
I swear, it’s like he can read my thoughts. “After that scene I made at your party,” he concludes, “I thought I could make it up to you this way. If those guys show up, they’ll see me. They’ll know you are not to be fucked with.”
Mom looks at me. “What do you think?”
I think we don’t have any choice, but that’s not what she needs to hear. “I think I’d feel a lot better knowing Kade is here if they show up again,” I reply, and it’s kind of a relief to be able to tell the truth for once.
“Yes. Fine.” With a heavy sigh, she unlocks her desk and pulls out a key, which she holds out across the desk. “Here you go. I’m trusting you, Kade. Please don’t make me regret it.”