Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Sean looked over at Skylar. “Do you play cards?”
She blinked at him. “Um, yes?”
“Great. Let’s go. Come on, Cian.”
“I’m good. You two go ahead—I need to finish this.”
“Okay, we’ll deal you in next hand.”
I rolled my eyes, having no intention of joining them. I went back to the open file, trying to find what I was overlooking. There was another mole in Orson’s organization—I knew there was. What I didn’t know was if we were on the same team or actually working against each other.
Half an hour later, I gave up. The world’s silliest game of Go Fish seemed to be happening in the other room, judging from the laughter I could hear. I went into the kitchen, drawn by the sound of Skylar’s giggle. It was such an oddly feminine noise and so out of place with the world I inhabited. A bowl of popcorn was on the table, both of them munching on it and sipping on beers. I grabbed one for myself and sat down. “Are you old enough to drink?”
Skylar rolled her eyes. “I’m twenty-three, fuckwit.”
I was surprised by the information. She looked far younger than that. “Okay, then. I didn’t want to be contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”
“Yeah,” she snorted. “Heaven forbid you have that on your conscience.”
A loud guffaw erupted from Sean at her wit. Skylar began laughing, and before I could stop myself, I winked at her and joined in their merriment. “I take it where I can get it.” I chuckled as I grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Now, deal me in—I’ll show you two how to play this game.”
What happened next was the strangest game of cards that was ever played, each of us making up rules as we went. Today was the first time I got a glimpse of what Skylar was really like. She was smart, funny, and ridiculously easy to tease. I loved how she blushed when flustered or trying to bluff her hand. Her eyes were so expressive—making her tells easy to identify. The best part was when she would call me Cian. It sounded nice slipping from her lips. Not once did she call me a “fuckwit” or curse at me in anything other than fun. It was a bizarrely enjoyable evening, considering the circumstances we were in. Three people, sitting around a table, laughing and acting like friends, when the truth was, we were anything but.
I glanced out the window, grateful Skylar was here with us, warm and safe. I saw her look past me to the storm, and I wondered if she was thinking the same thing. She smiled at me, then averted her eyes.
I thought perhaps she was grateful too.
My chest warmed at the thought I had done that for her.
Chapter 7
Cian
It felt good to sleep—really sleep. Skylar was safe in her room—the door locked, windows barred. As an added precaution, once she was in her room, I tied a rope around the door handle across the hall to mine. If somehow she managed to pick the lock with her toenail or by digging a screw out of the floorboards, when she opened her door, mine would slam shut and she’d be caught. I wasn’t taking any chances when it came to her. Knowing she was secure, sleep came easily.
I had checked on her not long after she’d gotten up to go to bed, clutching her prized bag of Oreos and still giggling over the fact that she’d beaten us both in cards. I’d found her curled up, already asleep, her book on the floor. I’d made sure her covers were wrapped around her and, for some reason, flicked on the bathroom light, in case she woke up scared.
I had to fight not to kiss her soft cheek.
I stretched in bed, glancing at the clock, surprised to see it was after eight. I heard movement in the house, so I got up and got ready for the day. In the kitchen, I found both Sean and Skylar. He was wolfing down a stack of pancakes, and Skylar was nibbling on some toast.
I sat down, reaching for the plate of pancakes. “Not hungry?” I asked Skylar quietly, after greeting them both. She shook her head.
Sean indicated the window. “The snow stopped for now, but it’s still blowing. I’m gonna do some shoveling. You can get the snowblower going after you’re done eating.”
“Okay—sounds good.”
“I can help,” Skylar offered.
Sean shook his head and took his plate to the sink. “Not with your hands.” He smiled at her. “We’ll play some cribbage after I’m done.”
He left the room, and after a few minutes, he passed through the kitchen, wearing his thick coat and boots. There was silence before Skylar spoke. “Do you play crib, Cian?”
I shook my head. “Not my favorite game.”
“What is?”
“Backgammon,” I stated without hesitation. “But we don’t have a board.” I finished my food and pushed away the plate.