Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
“Addie, look away,” Cash commanded.
Addie closed her eyes, trying to block out the sound of metal hitting skin. Those cries of pain were going to stay with her for a long time.
And then it was silent, except for a loud sob. Who was that? One of the men? Was it Cash? Was it Ralen?
She really needed to open her eyes and check.
Someone grabbed her by the upper arms, and she screamed again, trying to fight her way free.
“Addie, Addie, it’s me. Open your eyes. It’s me,” Cash said.
Forcing her eyes open, she stared up into his concerned face. She was breathing heavily, her entire body trembling in shock as she stared up at him.
Addie sobbed as he drew her into his chest. Only this time, she didn’t get such a feeling of safety. Not because of Cash, but because this night had been pure hell. And she wasn’t certain that she would ever feel safe again.
“Jesus, you took your time, didn’t you?” Cash asked.
Was he talking to her? She’d hurried as quickly as she could to grab the crowbar. It wasn’t her fault that she couldn’t find it.
But then Ralen spoke, and she realized Cash had been speaking to him, not her.
“I stopped for a pee. And something to eat. Sorry, man. If I knew there was a fight going on back here, I would’ve rushed back quicker.”
“Christ, I didn’t think I was going to be able to take them all.”
“Yeah, well, you probably shouldn’t have tried,” Ralen told him.
That was something she agreed with him on.
“It was fight them or let them take Crystal and Addie.”
Crystal? Who the heck was Crystal?
“Yeah, we couldn’t let them do that, could we? What the fuck are we going to do with these four?” Ralen said.
“Leave them here,” Cash suggested.
“Seems like the best idea,” Ralen said. “One good thing is I no longer feel like vomiting. How about you, Addie?”
She turned away from Cash’s chest and stared at Ralen. Huh. He was right. She no longer felt like vomiting.
Passing out? Crying? Screaming?
Yep. All of those.
Was she trembling like a leaf? Did her throat ache? Yep.
But it seemed her stomach had actually settled.
“I need a fucking drink,” Cash said.
“Me too,” said Ralen. “Shall we stop at a bar?”
She leaned back to stare at them both incredulously.
Cash grinned down at her. “Don’t worry, Addie. We don’t need to stop at a bar. Ink has likely got something in his office.”
She nodded in relief. Thank goodness.
Wait, who was Ink?
9
Cash wasn’t happy.
Addie had disobeyed him.
He’d told her to run and hide. And instead she’d turned up with a crowbar, ready to help him fight.
Not acceptable.
“I think we should get going, man,” Ralen said.
Yeah, it was close to dawn and someone was likely to drive past soon. They were lucky that they hadn’t already.
So Cash didn’t say anything more as he helped her into the cab of the truck. He got in next to her, buckling her in. Then he turned to her.
“You’re in big trouble.”
Her eyes widened as she stared up at him.
“A-am not.” She cleared her throat as if it was hurting her. Had she hurt it?
“Is your throat okay?” he asked.
She quickly nodded.
Hmm. Was she lying to him?
Oh, he didn’t like that at all. He started his truck and drove away from those assholes.
Addie leaned forward, her hand out as though searching for something. Her toy?
“Are you searching for this, Addie?” Ralen held up the saber-toothed tiger.
She took hold of him and leaned briefly against Ralen. “Thank you.”
Cash knew it was ridiculous, but for some reason, he didn’t want her touching Ralen. Talking to him.
You’re being a dick. She can talk to whoever she likes.
“Do you know why you’re in trouble?”
She nodded.
Okay, that surprised him. He thought she would say that she had no idea.
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
She nodded again, her shoulders slumping. He glanced over at Ralen, who looked just as puzzled as he felt.
“What did you do wrong?” he asked more gently. “Why don’t you explain it to me?”
“Dude, maybe she doesn’t want to say anything,” Ralen suggested.
“You can write it out on your phone if you want.”
“I r-rely too much on m-my phone. And my s-sisters.” She coughed. She still sounded like her throat was hurting her.
Her voice was filled with sadness and dejection. Where the hell were her sisters? God, he hoped they were all right.
“Watched him instead of leaving.”
“That’s right. You should have stayed hidden . . . wait a minute, what did you just say?”
That wasn’t what he was expecting her to say. She watched who instead of leaving?
“You watched me fight instead of leaving and hiding?” he said. “Is that what you mean?”
She shook her head. “No.”
So, what was she talking about?
Cash scratched his head. “I’m just tired of only knowing half the story. Addie, I need you to be straight with me. There’s some reason you’re in trouble?”