Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Don’t you have better things to do?” Regent grumbled at his brother, tired of people questioning him. “You’re meant to be moving house right now.”
“The movers did most of it. And Gracen told me to leave her to it for a while. Apparently, I get in the way.”
Yeah, right.
Sometimes, he wondered if his father hadn’t been right to rule with an iron fist. No one had ever dared question him.
“Anyway, don’t you have better things to do?” Victor challenged.
“If I did, then I would be doing them. But I delegated—to you. And instead, you’re here. So why don’t you go help Gracen?”
To his shock, Victor flashed him a quick grin. This wasn’t like his brother at all. Victor was the one he relied on the most. The one who did whatever he asked.
But since meeting Gracen, the stoic bastard had gone and changed on him.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because Jardin and Maxim owe me a hundred bucks. They said you were here because you obviously had some agenda. Something you wanted from Jilly. But you’re doing it because you care about her.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Anne asked me to check on her, so I did.”
“She didn’t ask you to act as her nursemaid, though.” Victor stood and rinsed his cup. “Thanks for the coffee, Gerald. Got to get back to Gracen. Seriously, though. You should move her to the house. It isn’t safe here. I’ve got guys stationed outside, but the neighbors are starting to give them strange looks.”
He wasn’t saying anything that Regent hadn’t thought about. But he just nodded sharply.
Victor left and Gerald poured him another coffee.
“Can you make us some dinner before you leave, Gerald?”
“I can stay. Especially if you need to go elsewhere.”
Regent instantly wanted to refuse, but perhaps it wasn’t a stupid idea. He did have some things to take care of.
“Perhaps you could stay a few hours while I handle some things.”
His stomach rebelled at the thought of leaving her.
Fuck. This wasn’t good.
Gerald raised his eyebrows.
“Do you have something to say as well?”
“No, Sir. Just that there is no food in the house.”
“Yeah, she doesn’t keep the fridge very stocked. She can’t cook. Is there nothing in the cupboards you can use?”
“There’s nothing in the cupboards either. I’ve done an inventory. There are three packets of ramen noodles, two packets of instant rice, half a carton of Cinnabon creamer, coffee, and something that appears to be frozen, grated cauliflower.”
That sounded disgusting.
“That’s it? That can’t be it.” Were things that bad the other night? No, she’d had other things in the cupboard and fridge.
But not a lot.
“I’m afraid it is.”
What the hell?
“And while I am no snoop, I did find a few things . . .”
No snoop? Gerald had perfected the art of being invisible yet still knowing everything that was going on.
The older man set some papers in front of him. All bills. All unpaid.
“Money trouble?” Regent queried.
“It’s been a long time since I saw so little food in a house.”
Fuck.
Why hadn’t she told him? Anger rose inside him, but he squelched it. The other night, she’d cooked him dinner. Had she used money she didn’t have?
Didn’t she know he would give her money if she needed it?
Well, obviously she didn’t. “Can you take care of these?”
“Of course.”
“And order some food. But don’t buy too much stuff.”
Gerald frowned.
“She might not be here for long,” was all he said.
He glanced up as Jose entered the kitchen, carrying a neon pink bag covered in glitter.
“Uh, boss?” he said, scratching at his head.
“Yes?”
“An old lady across the street gave me this. I think it’s meant for Jilly.”
“What is it?” He took the bag, looking in it. “Is that . . .”
“Yeah. She winked at me and said have fun and not to, uh, strain myself.” Jose looked uneasy. “Boss, she said that she wants Jilly to have a good time but that her incantation might have worked too well as she didn’t intend for Jilly to have multiple hunks. That if Jilly said enough was enough, we’re to stop immediately. And she won’t hesitate to chop off my willy if I hurt her.” Jose reached down to cup himself. “I fully believed her too.”
“What the hell?” Regent reached into the bag and drew out the largest bottle of lube he’d ever seen.
“Well, that’s a big bottle,” Gerald said.
Regent flicked a glance up at the older man, but he looked as unflappable as ever.
Then, he drew out three boxes of condoms.
“Well. That explains the need for the lube,” Gerald said.
Regent just shook his head and stuffed everything back in the bag. “Just get rid of this.”
“Boss, it’s supposed to go to Jilly,” Jose said.
“No, Jilly isn’t well enough for this.”
“Hmm, she might want them when she is well enough, though,” Gerald mused.
“No, she won’t!” Regent snapped. Then he ran his hand over his face. Exhaustion tugged at him. “Just put it somewhere. I don’t have time to worry about orgies and neighbors and giant bottles of lube.”