Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
I was stupid. I let my guard down for two seconds, and everything blew up in my face. That must be instant karma for watching Ronan. How the hell am I going to explain this to him?
I won’t. I’ll just tell him that someone might be after him and know where he is. He’s not going to take me seriously if Zero doesn't. If I went in person, he might. He can’t hang up on me, but Ronan might also not let me past his gate. It’s not that far of a drive.
I give myself another pep talk before I pull the trigger and call him. It rings and rings, and he doesn’t answer. Oh God! What if something already happened?
“I need to calm down and stop being dramatic.”
I scream when the phone starts to ring in my hand. It’s Ronan calling me back. “Hello?” I want to kick myself when it comes out like a question. Be cool. I tell myself to be cool, but how can I remain calm when I’m informing someone that I might have sent one of the craziest hackers in the world after them?
“Relax.” Ronan’s deep voice comes through the line. Did he just tell me to relax?
“Ahh, so, yeah.” I stumble over my words, displaying a lack of coolness. I’m such a dork.
“It’s going to be fine. Stay put.” What the hell is he talking about? Why am I the confused one here?
“Listen, wait. Did Zero call you? Shit, I mean Z.”
“We’ll deal with Z later. Relax and get some sleep.” He ends the call.
I’m so dumbstruck I sit down, forgetting to destroy the phone for a second. After I do destroy it, I lie down in the back of the truck, staring up at the stars, feeling extremely angry with myself. How the heck did I let this get so out of hand?
I fight back tears that burn in my eyes. I love the Marino family, and now I’ve gone and messed up, and they warned me. It’s not until the sun starts to peek over the horizon that I make myself get up and back into the driver’s seat to head back home.
My dad is going to chew my ass, and right now I deserve it.
“Dad,” I call out when I enter the house, dropping my bag by the front door. “I know I was—” I stop speaking when I see someone sitting at the table with him. The man turns in his chair, the wood creaking under him in the process. My eyes lock with his, my heart dropping.
Why the hell is my dad sitting at the table in the dining room, drinking a cup of coffee with Ronan?
Chapter Seven
RONAN
Various emotions play across Ellie’s face. Does she know how expressive she is? I take it all in, loving all of it. I could stare at her for hours. Is this why people can study art for hours on end? It must be.
Fuck, I’ve missed seeing her in person. It’s been too long.
I stand from my chair, Ellie’s eyes widening more, but she doesn’t run, not that she’d make it far. I’m too close now to ever let her go again. I’m over our little cat and mouse games. I need her close, especially after I found out who was after her. Both Marks and Cyberius walked right into the trap I set. I was patient, but now it’s all gone.
There is no stopping me as I make my way toward her. She still doesn't move, not even when I'm standing right in front of her, sinking my fingers into her soft wild red hair that I've fantasized about, wanting to see it spread out across the sheets as I thrust balls deep inside of her while she moans my name. It is what I fantasize about when I stroke my cock for her. Ellie needs to see what she does to me.
"What's happening?" she whispers, but I don't answer her, not with words. They have never been my strong suit.
Instead, I lean down, claiming her mouth with mine. Her lips are even softer than they appear somehow. I should go slow, take my time, but I'll die if I don't find out what she tastes like.
I sweep my tongue between her lips, peppermint and chocolate. Damn does that suit her. The taste is both sweet and overpowering. Ellie's body collapses into mine. I wrap my arm around her waist, keeping her pressed to me as I deepen the kiss, her tongue soon stroking against mine.
"So this is Ronan?" Frank asks. I heard him get up, but I didn't give a fuck. I wasn't going to stop kissing Ellie until she decided to pull back.
She lets out a small gasp, leaning back. I follow, not releasing her mouth quite yet, wanting her to know that she can run, but I'll chase. Ellie's fingers grip the front of my shirt, and I finally let her lips go.