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)
“Why do you know how to braid hair?” she asks when I’m done.
“It’s no different than tying rope.” A giggle slips free from her. The sound is sweet.
“Didn’t picture you as a Boy Scout.”
“I wasn’t. My father taught me.”
“So you could tie people up and torture them.” That’s not the only reason I learned, but it’s what I use the skill most for.
“If I need to.” I shrug, making Ellie’s dark green eyes widen.
“I was joking!”
“No, you weren’t. You know who I am and what I do.” In fact, I think on some level, what she hasn’t come to terms with is part of the reason she’s drawn to me.
Ellie isn’t naïve to the world. I know she’s seen some shit even if it’s from behind a computer screen. There is bad stuff out there you can’t unsee, and some stuff you have no choice but to see if you want to fix it. I’m sure those things haunt her. They keep her on edge because she knows how fucked-up people can be and the things they will do.
Things that I do.
“Knowing and seeing are really two different things.”
“It doesn’t bother you what I do.”
“How do you know that?” She turns slightly in her chair to face me.
“You’re drawn to me.”
“And you hurt people.”
“Yes.”
“Kill people.”
“Yes.” Her brows pull together. She’s surprised that I’m being honest with her. I have no plans to lie to Ellie, only to protect her, but I can’t protect her from me. It’s better she knows, and she already does. Ellie can pretend otherwise if she prefers.
“Do you”—there is a small catch in her breath. So small I bet she doesn’t realize it herself—“enjoy it?”
I pause, not sure how to answer that one.
“You don’t want to admit it?”
“It’s not that. I don’t wish to go out and torture a person. But I can enjoy it when they deserve it.”
“Because you say they deserve it?” There is no challenge to her tone, and again I know what she’s getting at even if she doesn’t understand why she’s asking the question.
“Who is to decide these things?” I ask my own question. Ellie wants acceptance. And I’ll give her that.
“The law.”
“Whose laws?” I push. Ellie’s nose scrunches.
“The laws that are made and upheld by police.” She waves her hand in the air as if to say they’re all around us.
“Laws made by men.”
“Accepted by society,” Ellie says, but the slight shake of her head no says otherwise.
“I don’t accept them.”
“You don’t?” She leans closer to me.
“No.”
“Just like that?” She snaps her fingers.
“Just like that.” Her inquisitive eyes search my face. “Because another person thinks something is wrong doesn’t mean I have to or that you have to.”
“There are laws that are shit.”
“There are.” I nod in agreement.
“And if you have the means to fix it or help, you should.” She sounds as though she’s speaking from personal experience. These are the kind of moments I want from her. The ones where she’s giving me a peek into who she really is. Showing me a glimpse of her true self.
“See, I might think it’s wrong if you didn’t. If you have that power and ability.”
“I have it sometimes.” Ellie tilts her head, making her shirt fall off her shoulder.
“I know you do. The things you can do are remarkable.”
“You really think that?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.” My answer has a smile breaking out across her face. “You’re not the only one who wanted to know more. I looked into you. You’ve done a lot of good things for people.” A blush hits her cheeks.
“Some say I just mess with people to be annoying.” She shrugs. I hate that shit. It’s bullshit. My little fox should be proud.
“I think they’re jealous, and a lot of assholes will take hits at women who can do things they could never dream of.”
“I was kind of thinking that too.”
“Of course you were. You’re a smart girl. You know they’re full of shit.”
“You believe that?”
“When it comes to you, little fox, I believe you can do anything you set your mind to.”
God help anyone who stands in the way of that… because that’s where I come in.
Chapter Twelve
ELLIE
My eyes flutter open when I feel lips brush against mine. I already know it’s Ronan. He’s been here for over a week now. Each morning this is how he wakes me. I can barely turn around without running into him. I wish I could say it’s annoying, but I’m rather enjoying it. Not that I’d admit that in a million years.
“Morning, little fox.” Ronan brushes hair out of my face. “It’s that time again.” I let out a groan.
“I don’t want to.” I try to pull the blanket over my head, but Ronan stops me.
“Yes, you do.”
“Nope.” I shake my head adamantly.
“You don’t want to disappoint your dad.” I huff a breath because he’s right.