Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
I still had doubts and insecurities like everyone else and, just like everyone else, those would probably be with me for the rest of my life. It was how I reacted to those things that had changed.
That Cass had helped me change.
With actions.
With determination.
With words.
He’d never given up on me even though he’d had plenty of reasons to. But when he’d talked about something being for us, I’d truly, deeply understood that his love for me wasn’t compartmentalized like so many of the other things in his mind were. I’d fallen asleep in Cass’s arms a new and happy man. I’d woken up that way too, also in his arms.
Cass’s chuckle pulled me from my thoughts. Holy hell, had I spoken any of what I’d been thinking out loud? I instantly thought about how inappropriate my behavior just minutes earlier had been. God, did I remind him of the JJ who’d visited Tank’s night after night?
“Cass, I’m sorry. I was just so horny—” I blurted before I could stop myself.
He laughed and shot me a wink before saying, “I can say without a doubt, that was the first time I’ve ever enjoyed the drive up to this place.”
I gave him a grin just as we cleared the line of trees on each side of the driveway and entered the roundabout for a massive house unlike anything I’d ever seen before. I hadn’t missed the fact that Cass had called the mansion a place, not a home. I kind of had to agree with him. Calling the mansion a house didn’t work either because the massive structure looked more like a museum than anything else. Everything was perfect but not in a good way. It was all too perfect. There wasn’t a single thing out of place. No weeds in sight, no section of grass untrimmed, no dirt on the driveway.
Despite the warm, sunny day, the man waiting at the bottom of the steps leading up to the front door wore a striking black suit. Not a single hair was out of place, and he held himself straight and stiff with his arms behind his back and a grim expression pasted on his face. Two valet attendants who appeared from seemingly nowhere opened the car doors for us. They were just as pristinely dressed but wore white gloves. They too had suits on, ties included. Every move was curt but graceful. The men reminded me more of government agents than guys who parked cars for a living.
“Leave it here, please,” Cass instructed the valet on his side of the car. “Renly,” he said with a nod when he approached the statue-like man by the steps.
“Mr. Ashby,” Renly responded as he gave Cass a respectful nod. Despite looking like he belonged in Buckingham Palace, there was something off about the perfectly groomed and dignified man. He remained rigid even after Cass’s friendly greeting. From what Cass had told me, Renly had been with the Ashbys for more than twenty years and yet there was no true warmth in his eyes when greeting Patricia Ashby’s beloved grandson.
I figured the man was like everyone else in the city. He believed Cass had committed murder and gotten away with it but was forced to treat him as he did other family members.
“Your grandmother will be pleased to see you again,” the man said as he motioned to the steps leading up to the huge double wooden doors that were at least twice my height. Cass intentionally didn’t introduce me to Renly, but I had no doubt the man knew exactly who I was.
Renly confirmed it a few seconds later when he said, “Officer Ferguson.” There was no nod for me, and he didn’t wait for me to precede him up the stairs.
“It’s just Ferguson now,” I commented. “You can call me JJ.” I kept my voice friendly and made sure there wasn’t even an ounce of concern in my tone. I had one job to do while Cass visited his grandmother.
Observe.
I needed to study everyone and everything I saw and heard while remaining as invisible as possible. When I’d fought with Cass about me going with him, I’d pointed out that he was naturally biased either positively or negatively when it came to his grandmother, her staff, and the rest of his family. The mansion itself probably had Cass leaning one way and then the other. He may not have had the best childhood in the unwelcoming structure that was supposed to pass as a home, but this was where he’d spent the first eighteen years of his life. He’d had a loving grandmother who’d taken him under her wing as well as cruel relatives, including his own father, who still mentally lingered in his mind. That made it nearly impossible for him to be able to pick up any nuances or nonsensical behaviors, especially while he was spending time with his grandmother.