Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 504(@300wpm)
“Put men on Hunter’s guard detail, but only ones you trust, and keep their shift rotation sporadic so she doesn’t learn their routine.”
“This shit is crazy.” Abel huffed with his hands on his head as he eyed me like he didn’t know who I was anymore. He was probably onto something because I wasn’t so sure either. “You don’t think you’re being a little greedy?”
“Last I checked, I was the one paying you, not the other way around. I give the orders, and you follow them. If you can’t understand that, maybe I should find someone who will.”
“Well, don’t come crying to me when your fiancée finds out, or one of them kills yo’ ass.” Dropping his arms and shaking his head, Abel spun around without another word and stormed off.
He was probably right, but I couldn’t see myself letting either of them go or worse—choosing between them. I wasn’t dumb enough to think the choice would be up to me anyway.
Reaching the double doors of my suite, I pulled a black key card from my pocket—similar to the ones I used at Glainne—and scanned it before pushing inside the dark room.
My eyes immediately went to the Alaskan king, expecting to find the bed occupied, but it was empty, so I followed the sound of running water.
There was light pouring in from under the closed bathroom door.
I was still torn between giving Coby privacy and interrupting to settle my own peace of mind when I heard a faint sound behind me.
Exhaustion had slowed my reflexes.
Something heavy crashed over my head. Pain erupted through my skull as I went down. My knees hit the carpet, and the base of the lamp landed next to me with a thud.
I reached back and touched the spot on my head where I’d been hit and felt blood.
A soft gasp came from behind me when Coby realized she hadn’t succeeded in knocking me out, and then I heard hurried footsteps retreating from the bedroom.
Coby was halfway down the hall when I finally shook off my disorientation and rose to my feet. I staggered out of the bedroom just as she reached the end of the corridor. I started to call out to her when Coby ran into the open to turn down another hall, but then Abel appeared out of nowhere, catching her around the waist and lifting my fleeing fiancée off her feet.
“You bitch ass dick-sucking cunt! Let me go!” Her short legs were flailing wildly, and she even managed to knee Abel in the stomach, making him grunt before he threw her over his shoulder.
“Is this a good time to remind you why you keep me around?” Abel shouted as I approached. “We both know you left her alone too long to chase the other one. I figured her ass was plotting, so I stuck around.” A smug grin took over Abel’s scarred face. “I guess that means you should listen to me more.”
“I thought you were going to let them kill me?” I took Coby from him, and as soon as her back was to my chest, she kicked out at Abel, which he narrowly dodged. I tightened my arm around her waist until all the breath left her and she piped the fuck down.
“Yeah, well, I can’t get paid if you’re dead, and I’d rather not work for your damn daddy.” Abel left without another word.
I peered around the corner to ensure we were alone this time before wrapping my free hand around Coby’s throat and shifting her until she faced me. I drove her back into the wall hard enough to rattle the framed art above us.
“My patience is running thin, Coby.” She pursed her lips to spit in my face, but I clapped my other hand over her mouth just in time. “If you won’t at least behave for your brother’s sake, I’ll have to assume he’s no good to me and pay him a visit. Is that what you want?”
Coby’s eyes flared wide and then filled with unshed tears before she shook her head no.
“Good girl.”
Coby sniffled and then stared up at me. “Did you find Hunter?” Slowly, I nodded but didn’t offer more information than that. I should have known it wouldn’t be enough for Coby. “And? Where is she?”
“Home,” I answered carefully because I didn’t want to lie to my wife. “Safe and sound. All tucked in.”
Coby visibly relaxed against the wall. We stood like that for a full minute before she began looking at me warily. “Why am I here, Ocean?”
“My father is in Ireland dealing with a family dispute. He’ll be gone for a few weeks.”
“No,” she said with a shake of her head. “Why am I here… with you?” She bit her bottom lip.
“Because you are my wife,” I stated simply. “Or at least you will be soon.”