Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
I don’t know how much Avery is paying this little spitfire, but she deserves every damn penny. “You’re on a sinking ship, Sullivan. The harder you fight, the faster you sink.” She flicks her eyes around the room to the other police watching. “I’d be careful. If I were some of you, I'd be jumping off his ship.” You can see some of the officers visibly stiffen.
Elliott edges closer, his eyes glued to the attorney with the mile-high attitude. He’s clearly smitten. So am I, at least a little bit.
“My daughter is clearly in the middle of some kind of breakdown. Maybe it’s best if we admit her to the hospital.” He’s so far gone that he’s willing to burn this place down while standing in it, all while trying to put me in the loony bin. I suppose that might be better than prison. Easier to escape, even?
“That’s not a game you want to play with me, Detective Sullivan.” The woman stands up even straighter. “You think I don’t know what you’re trying to do? Even if my client was emotionally unstable, that would be a matter left for her husband to handle. The conservatorship you tried to file is already dead in the water. Kind of like you. It has been since she said ‘I do’ to her husband and became Mrs. Avery Harbin.”
“She belongs to me now.” Avery holds out his hand. “The ring,” he demands. I’ve never seen Avery look more serious. My father finally reaches into his pocket and pulls out the ring, handing it over. Avery wastes no time putting it back onto my finger.
“Shall we?” the fiery blonde asks, turning her back on my father. She gives me a warm smile. Everyone Avery hangs out with is so badass. They make my father look pathetic and not one bit scary.
She flicks a glare around to the cops lingering. They all scatter.
“This isn’t over,” my father says as we start to exit out of the front of the police station. “You might want to mention to your lawyer that Mrs. Hoover has reported missing items from her home.”
Avery’s hold on my hip tightens. My father is really grasping at anything at this point. It only proves that he’s not going to stop. Calista flicks her eyes my way. One of her perfect brows lifts. I'm sure my face says it all. Thankfully, we’ve all got our backs to them as we continue to walk out the door.
“I plead the fifth!” I shout as we somehow make it out unscathed. At least for now.
“I’m going to ruin that man,” Calista says when the doors fall closed behind us and we make our way down the stairs of the police station.
“Get in line,” Avery growls back.
“He killed my mom,” I say, barely above a whisper. “He’s not going to go down without a fight. In fact, he’ll try to take us all with him.”
“Fuck.” Elliott scrubs a hand down his face.
“You know what to do,” Avery tells Elliott. “Handle it tonight. I’ll meet you at the warehouse, but don’t start without me.”
“Got it.” Elliott nods.
I think I know exactly what they’re discussing, but I ask anyway. “What are you–”
“You’ll regret this!” My father bellows impotently from the top steps of the police station.
Avery whirls, his face like a thundercloud. “There will definitely be regret, Sullivan. But it won’t be on my part.” He takes my hand and leads me to the waiting car.
For once in my life, I feel like I have the upper hand. If there’s any justice in this world, I know Avery will deliver it to me. My father doesn’t realize it, but his days are numbered.
And as for me? My happy days are only just beginning.
23
AVERY
I take her mouth in a searing kiss the moment we get into the car. She kisses me back, her tongue adventurous and wild as I run my hands down her dress, feeling her through the satin and lace.
“We’ll speak more later.” Calista closes the door as Elliott starts to ask about giving her a ride.
I don’t have time for them. Not when my bride needs me.
Pulling her into my lap, I hike her dress up so she can straddle me as Mr. Lou pulls away from the station and onto the road.
“Home. Fast,” I bark before returning to my precious Goldie.
She presses her palms to my chest. “I was so scared he’d hurt you.”
I fasten my lips to her neck, tasting her sweet skin and licking up to her ear. “Never worry about me. Not with the cops. I can handle them.”
“Your lawyer is pretty badass.”
“Not as badass as you.” I pull back and stare into her eyes. “You stood up to your father. Do you know how much courage something like that takes?”
She shrugs. “I, um, I guess I just wanted him to know that you’re the one. You’re the only one I care about, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”