Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
His face tightened. “Do not worry about me. I’ll be fine as long as you’re safe. If you need to get me any messages, send them with that firecracker lawyer. How did you find the funds to pay for her?”
“Um, that’s something we’re in negotiations over.”
“All right. As long as it doesn’t affect your exhibition. You can still do that, right? How bad is your arm? And your cheek?”
His face was growing dark with anger. That was the last thing she wanted . . . for him to lose his temper while in jail.
“It’s fine. I’m all good. I love you.”
“Love you too, Dee-dee.”
The screen went dark before she could say anything more.
Shit.
There was no way she was going to Freddy. But he was right, she’d be putting Mac and Silla in danger if she stayed with them.
Which really only left one choice.
A few minutes later, the door to her room opened and Gwen strode in with Hayes and Dominic walking in behind her.
“Damn it, Gwen. I told you to wait for me to check rooms before you go into them.”
“You’re not my bodyguard, you’re my man.”
“That’s the same thing,” Dominic told her firmly.
Gwen looked at him lovingly for a moment before turning back to her. “Now, what’s this nonsense about you not going to Sanctuary Ranch with Hayes?”
“Gwen,” Dominic said in a warning voice.
Gwen frowned, ignoring him. “It’s the safest place for you right now. These guys who killed your father aren’t playing around and they could try to hurt you for going to the police. You’re the only witness to what happened. You’ll be safe on Sanctuary Ranch. It’s well-protected. If staying with Hayes is the issue, we can arrange for you to stay with someone else.”
“She’s staying with me,” Hayes said in a low voice. “No arguments.”
“If she doesn’t want to stay with you⎯” Gwen started to say.
“I do!” she interrupted.
She didn’t want anyone getting upset about this. Hayes was already being so good to her. Offering to open up his home to her was beyond generous. And she hated the thought of being an inconvenience or annoyance.
But she hated the idea of staying with someone else even more. Hayes knew her. He was already used to being around her. And he didn’t mind taking over when everything became too overwhelming.
Something, she was coming to realize, she really needed.
“I want to go back to Sanctuary Ranch, with you, if that’s all right,” she said to him.
“It’s more than all right, baby. It’s right where I want you.”
35
“Knock. Knock.”
Devi glanced up as Mac poked his head around the door.
She was lying in bed with the TV on but the sound down low. She wasn’t really watching it so much as zoning out. It had felt like she’d spent most of the day in this weird state.
She was exhausted and she hadn’t even done anything.
Hayes told her that she was in shock.
But why would she be in shock? Because Derick had been murdered?
That didn’t feel right. It felt more like her system was in overload and moving to protect her.
Because she really wasn’t certain that she could survive any more shocks right now.
“Mac,” she said. “Hi, what are you doing here?”
“I came to visit you, darlin’. That okay?”
“Of course.” She attempted a smile but it weirdly wouldn’t come. Maybe she was just too tired. “Have a seat.”
Mac waved his hand. “I can only stay a short time. I just wanted to check on you after hearing about Derick.”
Hayes stood. “I’m just going to use the bathroom. Stay with her.”
It was a demand rather than a question but Mac didn’t take offense.
“Course I will. She’s safe with me.” Mac puffed up. “How are you doing, darlin’?”
“I’ve been worse. I’ve been better too.”
“You know when you’re getting out of this place?”
“Hopefully tomorrow. About that . . . I’m really grateful to you for offering me a place to stay, but . . . I . . . well . . .”
“You’re going with Hayes, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. How did you guess?”
“As much as I want to be selfish and keep you here, the best place for you to be is anywhere but here,” he told her. “Serious shit is going down in this town and I want you out of it and safe. I might not know him well, but I do know he’s serious about your safety.”
“I’m going to miss you, though. And Silla.”
“We’ll miss you too, darlin’. But you can always come back once this shit is done and those guys are found. I know he wasn’t much of a father, but I’m sorry that Derick died that way.”
“He wasn’t really a father at all. But I’m sorry he died that way too.” She took in a deep breath. “If I could have chosen my father, Mac, I would have chosen you.”