Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
“Yeah, it’s fine. She doesn’t care,” Alexei told him.
“I don’t care,” she repeated with a smile. “Our first family trip to the bathroom. What shall we do now? Have a bath together? Rob a bank together? Go skinny dipping in the ocean?”
“Why don’t we get you cleaned up and then we can sort out some dinner together,” Salem said.
“Hmm. All right. But I have to say, I liked my suggestions better.”
45
Astrange feeling started to fill her.
It started low in her gut and moved from there throughout her body.
What was it?
Oh. She thought maybe it was panic.
“I can’t go in there.”
She stopped at the small gate in front of the older home. A number of houses all had the same look on this street, although she noticed how lovely the garden was around the house. Someone took care of the garden here. The grass was kept tidily trimmed and everything looked clean and kind of . . . perfect.
Too perfect for her.
“Why not?” Salem turned to her with a slight frown on his face.
Oh no.
Had she upset him?
Because she couldn’t go into his family home with his family for a family dinner.
Family.
Yikes.
Nope.
“I know it’s not as nice as Roman’s house, but I promise we won’t stay long.” Salem sounded stiff and he had gone all tense.
They all had.
And she didn’t understand why. She wasn’t sure what he was even saying.
“What does Roman’s house have to do with anything?” she asked, her panic growing. She took a step back and banged into something solid.
Turning, she glanced up at Alexei. When the heck had he moved?
And how hadn’t she noticed?
All right. She needed to start paying attention to her surroundings. Anyone could sneak up on them at the moment and hurt one of her men.
And she couldn’t allow that.
It was her job to protect them.
But that’s not strictly true, is it?
Fuck.
Things were getting tricky and she didn’t know what she was supposed to do.
“Hey, darling girl, what’s wrong?” Roman stepped in front of her, his face concerned. “Are you still nervous about meeting Salem’s family?”
“I thought we talked about this,” Salem said. “My mum feels terrible and everyone is going to love you.”
“I know that. Why would I be nervous? I just don’t think I should go in there.”
Turning, she strode off.
There was a shocked silence behind her, then the pounding of footsteps. Someone grabbed her arm and even though she knew it was one of them, she couldn’t help but swing around and slip her arm from their hold before taking a defensive stance.
More shocked silence.
“What the fuck was that?” Alexei demanded.
But he hadn’t been the one to grab her arm. Nope, that was Salem. And he looked absolutely horrified as he gaped down at her.
“Did you . . . did you think I was going to hurt you, baby?” he asked quietly.
He held both of his hands up and she suddenly realized what a stupid move she’d just made.
Because their Tamsyn wouldn’t react like that.
His Tamsyn had been trained to kill first and ask questions later.
“Sorry,” she said, forcing a huff of laughter while hugging herself tight.
Best to act vulnerable . . . pull on their protective instincts.
To her surprise, she didn’t really have to act.
Because she felt really, really vulnerable right now. This was so bizarre. What was wrong with her?
Pull it together, Tamsyn.
This isn’t you.
Or was it? Was it the real her and the other her was the false one?
“Tamsyn?” Roman stepped closer again. “Can you tell us what’s going on?”
“How the hell did she break your hold like that?” Alexei asked.
Shit. Shit.
“I’m so sorry,” she told Roman, focusing in on him. “I want to go.”
“Go?” Salem repeated. “Baby, we can’t go. You have nothing to be scared of.”
She paced back and forth along the pavement. Alexei stood to her left and Roman to her right.
“I still want to know how you broke Salem’s hold like that,” Alexei said.
“I don’t know!” she cried. “I just did.”
Great.
Really eloquent, Tamsyn.
“This is a family dinner. I know nothing about families!”
“Is that why you’re scared to meet them?” Salem asked her quietly as she tried to walk around Alexei. “Because you don’t remember what it’s like to have a family?”
Alexei kept getting in her way. She spun back toward Salem.
“I didn’t say scared. I’m just . . . flummoxed.”
“Flummoxed?” Alexei grumbled. “What kind of word is flummoxed?”
“It means: out of sorts or flustered,” Roman explained.
“I know what it means,” he muttered.
Then why did he ask?
Honestly, sometimes men made no sense.
“I’m not scared of them. I’m just . . . they’re your family.”
“Ah, yes, I know,” Salem said.
“Well, then, you know. I’ll just be going now.” She glanced around. How far away was the nearest tube station?
“How are you planning on getting home?” Roman asked.
“I’ll take the underground. Where is the closest station?”
“You are not taking the underground!” Alexei barked.