Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
I couldn’t tell if it was a giggle or nerves that rolled out of me as I stared at my husband through the mirror.
Wearing the white, shimmery dress that Piper and Emery had dropped off earlier today, along with another pair of matching shoes.
I’d done my hair up in a twist, and I was wearing more makeup than I normally did.
“Rope, huh?”
“Gotta keep my wife close,” he mumbled at my neck. I could feel the force of his smile against my flesh.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Seriousness took over his expression as he straightened, and he splayed a palm over my belly as he held me close, the stacked Ss tattoo on the back of his hand standing like a proclamation between us. “Do you not want to go? Because what you want, you get. I’ll handle it if you want me to tell them we can’t make it.”
My head barely shook. “No…it’s just…I worry about leaving the kids without someone in the family.”
Understanding filled his features. “I know. Don’t like it much myself, but I know they’re going to be secure.”
They were spending the night at Ms. Liberty’s house, Nolan’s original babysitter when River and the guys had first come into town. She apparently was in the know about everything Sovereign Sanctum, and the girls had told me they trusted her unequivocally.
Plus, Cash and the rest of the guys had affiliations with that motorcycle club. The ones who were often stationed outside the house. Keeping watch any time that Cash was away.
Tonight, there would be four of them posted near Liberty’s house. Out of sight so the children wouldn’t feel nervous, but close enough they would be there if anything went awry.
“None of Silas’s men will let anyone get close to the kids.”
“I know.” My smile wasn’t exactly forced. It was just soggy and full of my truth. Laying myself bare to this man who knew me better than anyone else. “I just want this to be over.”
“It’ll be over soon, baby. I’m close to uncovering him.”
He’d found another trace of Ethan in Texas earlier in the week. He was moving, and somehow, I knew he was moving toward me. I thought Cash knew it too with the shiver of aggression that rippled through his body.
“But there will always be some semblance of threat in my life, Daisy.” Hazel eyes burned into me through our reflection.
“How could my safety be more important than someone else’s? What you guys do…”
Over the week, Cash had told me a bunch of stories about the women and children they helped. How gutting it was for him when he discovered how horrible the abuses went.
“It’s so incredibly important. I would never ask you not to be a part of it.”
Did it scare me? To know what he was involved in? That he could be hurt? That he could go to prison?
Of course.
But I could never take hope away from those women and children.
“Want you to know that I won’t be up for hire any longer.” His jaw clenched as he offered it.
My stomach fisted. I knew what he was referring to.
To the killing that he did.
The killing he did for purpose. Because he believed he could use his wickedness for good. I still struggled to understand the brutality he spoke of. I still struggled to comprehend that part of him. Maybe I would never fully be able to. Maybe I didn’t want to. Maybe I didn’t need to. Maybe the only thing that mattered was him, right there, right then.
“Is that what you want?” It tremored out of me.
His nod was slow, and he tucked me even closer, beginning to sway us in the fading light of the room. “Yeah. Only thing I want is to take care of you. These kids. The women and children who are stuck and need someone to stand for them. But beyond that, I have too much to be living for.” He pressed his lips to the delicate flesh behind my ear and murmured, “Because who I’m living for is you.”
Night was all around as we traveled down the winding road. The air whipping at our faces and our hearts beating in sync.
My arms were curled around his waist, and the skirt of my dress rode up high around my thighs where I was tucked against him, his big body trembling with power as he hugged the curves.
Stars sprinkled the blackened sky, the air cool yet warm.
The moment as close to perfect as it could be.
Cash kept a careful pace, though to me, it was entirely exhilarating, the road blipping by beneath us and sending my pulse scattering. Pumping it into a gleeful anticipation as we headed for our party.
He slowed when we hit the bottom of the mountain. The sign for Kane’s blinked red. Cash made a left turn into the lot, then eased his bike around to the nearly full side parking lot.