Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“You’re a good man, Leif. Or should I call you Phoenix?”
“Leif is good. Buck goes by his SEAL name because it was always his nickname anyway. The rest of us go by our regular names.”
Flashback then…to my dead buddies. My heart races. Why did I use the present tense.
“The rest of us went by our regular names,” I clarify. “Buck and I are the only two left.”
Reid says nothing. What can he say?
We head into the building and stop at the security desk.
“Mr. Wolfe,” the guard on duty says.
“Good afternoon, Royal. This is Leif Ramsey, and he’s going to be taking apartment 405. He’s on my personal payroll, security duty. He’ll be watching specifically over Kelly Taylor.”
“Excuse me?” An angry female voice says. “He will be what?”
6
KELLY
“Ms. Taylor,” the man named Leif says.
“I don’t need a freaking babysitter.”
“He’s not a babysitter, Kelly,” Reid says. “He’s security for you. Plain and simple. There have been threats made against you, and we’re still not sure where—”
“I’ve told you. It’s Brindley.”
“She denies it, and we don’t have proof. But someone is making those threats, and I want to make sure you are adequately protected.” Reid rakes his fingers through his short black hair. “Leif here is the best. He’s an ex-Navy SEAL, and he’s been working for me for years. He has my complete faith and confidence.”
“Isn’t it more important that he have my complete faith and confidence?” I regard Leif Ramsey. He’s tall and broad and gorgeous, of course. Blond hair and blue eyes, fair skin. An obvious Nordic type. “Are you some kind of Viking?”
“My mother is of Norwegian descent,” he says. “My father’s family comes from the UK. I assure you my ethnicity has nothing to do with my qualifications.”
“I don’t care about your qualifications,” I say. “Consider yourself fired.”
“Fine by me.” Reid shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
“He’s not on your payroll, Ms. Taylor,” Reid says. “He’s on mine. I own this building, and Mr. Ramsey will be occupying apartment 405.”
“Isn’t that cozy? Since I’m in 407.”
“All of you ladies are on the fourth floor, may I remind you,” Reid says.
“Yeah, but you put this clown right next to me.”
I shake my head. “Dude, you’re not paying me enough.”
“You’re absolutely right,” Reid says. “Let me triple what I’m paying you for this job.”
“Why don’t you quadruple it,” I say, “because I sure am not going to make it easy for him.”
“Good enough.” Reid nods. “Quadruple it is, Leif. Enjoy yourself. Come on. Let me show you to your place.”
I follow them since I’m going up anyway. Inside the elevator, I feel cramped between these two broad-shouldered men.
Some of the women on the island were very tall—Aspen for example. She was a professional volleyball player. Which meant every time I looked at her, I remembered my mother crushing my volleyball dreams all those years ago.
But that wasn’t Aspen’s fault. The year of therapy on the island convinced me of that.
I was fucked up.
I’m still fucked up, but I’m learning.
And regressing…
I haven’t made it easy for the Wolfe family, even though I know none of this was their fault. It took me a while to accept that. I mean, how could their father have been doing all of this without anyone finding out about it?
Especially Reid, who worked side-by-side with his father at his company? The other three weren’t involved in his business, so it’s a little easier to give them a pass. But Reid? The guy in the elevator with me right now?
I’m having a hard time forgiving him.
Plus, he’s married to the one woman who managed to get away. Her name is Zinnia, Zee for short. Somehow, she escaped before she got to the island. I don’t know the whole story, although she’s made it clear that she’s willing to talk to any of us if we’d like to.
Maybe one day I will. She has a new baby at home, though.
How could she fall in love with Reid Wolfe? The son of the man who kidnapped her, nearly sent her to that horrific place?
The elevator dings as we reach the fourth floor. When the doors open, Reid and the Navy SEAL guy both stand there.
Gentlemen? I guess they’re waiting for me to go out. Ladies first and all.
I suppose I should be flattered but instead I’m more pissed off.
Seems I’m always pissed off.
Macy says I’m making amazing progress, but the other women here don’t seem nearly as angry as I am.
“We all go at our own speed,” Macy said to me once, “and your doctors at the retreat center wouldn’t have sent you back here if they didn’t feel you were ready.”
Of course, I’ve always wondered if they sent me here because they were tired of dealing with me. I didn’t make it easy for them, either. I walked out on several sessions, and that was tame compared to the time I hurled a book at a timid therapist named Dr. Nook. I never saw her again. Instead, I got a male therapist, Dr. Sweeney. I didn’t hurl a book at him. I hurled a paperweight from his desk, and I just missed his temple.