Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
By the time there are twelve crackers on a plate and my finger tips are stained, Cassia grins happily.
As I wash my hands at the sink, she asks, “What do you want to drink?”
I dry my hands and join her by the fridge, picking up a tin of soda.
“Hmm…I should probably stick to water,” Cassia says. “But I’m going to have one of those as well.”
We carry our sodas and the plate to the living room, and when I sit down, Cassia takes the seat beside me.
“Taste one.”
Yeah, I still don’t know about cherries and cheese on salty crackers.
I pick one up and take a cautious bite, then I’m surprised when the little snack hits all the spots.
Gosh, it’s actually delicious.
She grins at me. “Good, right?”
I nod and pop the rest of the cracker into my mouth while I reach for the remote.
Choosing the first K-drama I watched that made me fall in love with them, I press play on episode one. We eat until the plate is empty, and I set it down on the coffee table.
I have to suppress a yawn when we’re halfway through the episode, and then suddenly I startle awake when a phone starts ringing.
“Shit,” Cassia whispers as she darts to her feet and runs to the kitchen. “Hey, what’s up?” A few seconds pass, then she says, “We’re watching TV.” She pauses again, probably listening to whoever called her. “No, you’re the one who woke her up. I was letting her sleep.” Cassia lets out a huff. “You’re being impossible, Enzo.” My head snaps to the side. “Fine, but you need to tone down the overprotectiveness. It’s a bit much.”
When I hear her heels tapping on the tiled floor, I quickly close my eyes and pretend to be asleep.
Cassia moves carefully around me as she switches off the TV, then a few seconds later, she takes hold of my shoulders and whispers, “Lie down, sweetheart.”
I let her move me, and when she covers me with a light blanket, I can’t keep pretending and open my eyes. Looking at her as she tucks me in, it feels as if she actually cares about me.
My lips part, and it takes a few seconds before the sound comes, soft and hoarse, “Thank you, Cassia.”
Her eyes snap to my face, shock tightening her features, then she sits down on the side of the couch and brushes her hand over my ponytail.
“You’re welcome. Get some sleep. I’ll check in on you again tomorrow. Okay?”
I nod, then close my eyes so she’ll think I’m going to sleep and listen as she lets herself out of the house, before I get up to lock the door.
Standing in the foyer, I lift my hand to my mouth and start to nibble on a nail.
Who is Enzo? Why does he care? Cassia said he’s overprotective.
That’s not a good thing.
Shoot. Am I in danger?
Feeling very confused, I wrap my arms around my middle and head to my bedroom so I can shower. I’m trying to stay awake so I can get my sleeping schedule right, because staying up at night to clean the house is just stupid.
As I go through my routine, my thoughts keep revolving around Cassia and my mystery employer, Enzo.
Who are they really?
How did they find out about me?
Why do they care so much?
The questions are endless, and even though I’m suspicious of their kindness, I really hope that’s all it is and I’m not being groomed for something nefarious or to be hunted like a deer.
God, I never should’ve watched that horror.
Chapter 12
ENZO
Feeling grumpy, because I haven’t been able to interact in person with Jenna and Cassia gets to spend every day with her, I drive to the lakehouse.
It’s one am, and Jenna went to bed at eleven, but I don’t care. I just need to see her. Watching her through the security cameras isn’t enough.
When I pull up to the property, I switch off the SUV's lights so they don’t shine into the house, but as I steer the vehicle up the driveway, two guards run closer, aiming their weapons at me.
I let the window down and say, “It’s Enzo.”
“Sorry, sir. We weren’t expecting you,” one of them replies before they return to their positions.
I drive up to the garages and switch off the engine. Picking up my phone from where it’s lying in the center console, I check the security feed to see if Jenna heard the SUV.
She’s still fast asleep in her bed, so I get out and let myself into the house via the front door.
I leave all the lights off as I head to the second floor.
I never took myself for a stalker, but Jenna just brings it out in me.
Her bedroom door is only partially closed, and I slip inside. My eyes instantly seek out her sleeping form as I creep closer to the bed, then I stand and stare down at my beautiful little angel.