Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I feel precious and cared for as he tends to me, and I follow him into the bedroom part of the room. He tugs sweats and a t-shirt from his own bag, getting dressed quickly.
Pressing a palm to my back when he approaches, he urges me toward the bed.
I freeze when a thump hits the door from the outside.
"Easy," he says. "That's someone from my team."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, baby. I never would've left us both vulnerable in the shower if I didn't have someone out there."
I climb into the bed, reveling in his warmth when he slides between the sheets with me.
When he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest, I cling to him, more tears leaking from my eyes.
I don't deserve any of this. I haven't earned the love he's offering, but I find myself being incredibly selfish at the moment.
I know I could easily get lost in him again the way I did back in New Mexico, but there is no bubble here in the middle of Ohio. Pretending that the evil world I've been a part of nearly my entire life doesn't exist would be foolish.
"Thank you for not giving up on me," I whisper against his chest.
"I need you to know that I never will," he vows. "No matter what happens. You're mine until my last breath."
I believe him, God, do I believe this man. Somehow it also feels like punishment because I've learned that wanting things and having things only leads to disappointment when they're gone. But I also know life is short, and finding someone who cares so deeply doesn't happen every day.
"I haven't decided if you're brave or stupid," I mutter, my fingers curling into his chest. "The way you just walked up and knocked on that door. You could've gotten yourself killed."
"It all worked out how it was supposed to," he whispers as his hand traces circles on my back.
"I wanted to go to you. It was so hard not to run into your arms," I confess.
He squeezes me tighter, and it tells me that he had doubts, that I played my part as Nathan's daughter and my loyalty to my family very well.
"I'll take the love you're offering for as long as you're willing to offer it," I say, knowing that there's a chance there will come a time that he decides I'm not worth the risk, and I'll have to be okay with it.
Silence swarms around us, and I know both of us need sleep but neither of us will get any tonight.
"This is far from over," I murmur, my body finally accepting that although I may not be safe in the long run, I'm safe at this moment in his arms. "Nathan isn't the type to just give up."
"I know, baby, but you have some pretty amazing men and women willing to fight to protect you."
I pull in a deep breath, wanting to argue my worth once again but knowing it will get me nowhere right now.
"Cerberus is my family, and since I love you that makes them your family too. We protect our family."
"I feel like I betrayed all of them," I confess. "With the way I snuck out of the courthouse."
"You betrayed no one, Brielle. Fear can make people do a lot of insane shit, and no one faults you for trying to escape."
"I have so many mistakes to account for," I whisper, my voice growing ragged and clogged with emotion. "A lot of begging for forgiveness."
"There's nothing to be forgiven," he assures me, pressing his lips to the top of my head.
I want to believe him, and I think there's a part of me that does, but I've never been a part of something that isn't a hundred percent transactional. I grew up needing to pay my way, be it for food and shelter or simply because Nathan or Xan showed me mercy. Nothing in life is free, and if Beck's telling me differently, then I'll have to reevaluate everything I know.
Chapter 37
Newton
I do my best not to look directly at her.
It's been two weeks since we returned to New Mexico, and I feel like I'm watching her too closely. I know it's going to annoy the shit out of her eventually, but I just can't seem to help myself.
"And how does it make you feel?"
"Being here?" Brielle says, drawing in a deep breath before answering Dr. Alverez. "I can't help but think we're doomed if we're already in couples therapy."
I roll my lips between my teeth to keep from smiling when Dr. Alverez flinches because, I, more than most, understand her dark humor. I think it's a trait that most people who have suffered trauma end up with. We can joke about darkness and the macabre because we've seen so much worse.
"As I explained, we can meet separately. This doesn't have to be viewed as a couple's session."