Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 47758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 239(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“Maybe it’s a trap for you.”
“I’ll see it coming. Besides, they don’t have a clue where I am. I bet that’s pissing them off.”
“Probably. I bet my parents are going crazy. I wish I could see their faces.”
“I wish I could show you.” He laughed. “So, tell me, how was your day?”
“Fine. I didn’t leave the gates, though. I had hoped to go shopping. We’re running low on groceries and the veg garden I found out back isn’t going to last us much longer. I took the last of the tomatoes today.”
“I’ll head out tomorrow. You want to dress up? Go in plain sight?”
“Do you think it’s wise with whatever they’ve got cooking?”
“I know my brothers. They won’t hurt that girl and when it happens, whatever their plan is, I’ll be ready.”
“You always sound so confident,” she said. “You’re not afraid.”
“I don’t have the time or luxury to be afraid.”
“You never answer this, but I’m going to keep on asking. Are you wanting to kill your brothers? Is that why you’re always watching them?”
“Kill them? No. My father has a bounty out on my head. I killed him and until I can find that man, there’s no way I’m going home. You know this. Is there any other resource that can help me?”
“I gave you everything. I don’t know what else to suggest. You know, at times it feels like we’re in our own little world here, I get to talk and to do my own thing. It’s easy to forget about the old life. Being married off, and you having a death sentence hanging over your head. It doesn’t bother you?”
“No. I’ve got nothing left to live for, Jade. I told you.”
“What about your sister?”
“She’s safe and far away from any danger. I did what I had to do to keep us both alive. I’m not your savior, Jade. I was going to kill you, remember? I had every intention of slitting your throat. I’ve got nothing. The one person I cared about was taken from me.” What he didn’t like was how the pain had started to lessen over the past year. He didn’t get it. Sarah was his one and only and even now, thinking about her caused him a little pain but nothing it once did. There was no need to kill himself, to end what miserable existence he had.
He wouldn’t allow his change in feelings to stop him from doing what needed to be done, and that was to deal with the bounty hunter, wherever he was, and of course, keep Jade from being taken by her family.
****
Boredom sucked big time.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Tulip wanted a bath. She wanted to strip out of her clothes and wash the last day or however long she’d been locked up off her body. Only, she couldn’t do neither. Nope, she was fucking stuck here.
After sliding down the edge, she landed on the floor. Closing her eyes, she brought her palms together and then slumped forward. She slapped her hands to the ground and took several deep breaths, hoping to control her temper, but nothing was happening. Her anger was at an all-time high, and she was pissed off.
Finally, the door lock flicked open and in walked Rick with Gabriel. No Jacob this time.
Yay.
“I need a bath. I stink.”
“You can have a bath as soon as you agree to help me.”
“And what do I get out of it?”
“A life of luxury. A man who will be completely devoted to you.”
“This is if you believe I’m the right woman for him. This guy, he could kill me.”
“That’s true. I can’t tell you it won’t be a risk.”
“Ugh, I hate you right now. You know that, right? Like, I really fucking hate you.”
“It’s a given.”
“All I need to do is get this guy to fall for me and I get a bath. When can I go home? I mean, once I’ve lured him in, I don’t have to do anything, right?”
“What part of you will have this guy completely devoted to you don’t you understand?” Gabriel asked.
“Look, a week ago, I was a waitress and the post lady. In a matter of hours, I’ve been taken against my will, brought to a foreign land, and told that I’m someone’s twin, which by the way, hurts. I was never adopted. While my better half got a good life, I had to fight to survive and believe me, it wasn’t an easy fight, and now you’re telling me I don’t even get to go fucking home!” She looked from one to the other. “On top of that, because I’ve got issues with it, I can’t even have a bath!” She slumped back and groaned. “Kill me now.”
Rick chuckled. “We both know you’re going to take this deal.”
“How do you know? I don’t want to have some weirdo obsessed with me.” She didn’t see an alternative. Not that she intended to play along completely. She’d done this game with a foster dad who wanted to fuck her. He didn’t get what he wanted, but she got a warm bed for a short time. “Fine. Fine. I’ll do it.”