Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 488(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Oh God. I think I’m going to vomit. I press a hand to my mouth to stop myself and then head back to the door. Except this time when I go to walk out there’s someone standing in the doorway, blocking my exit. No, not someone, several someones.
I blink and focus all my attention on the one person that means the most to me. Is this real?
Sebastian.
It can’t be. He’s not really here. It’s all a terrible dream. But then he steps inside, his hand reaching for me, closing around my upper arm. It can’t be real. A sudden burst of joy fills me, but is just as fast swept away by the bitter tang of reality. He’s a killer. He killed his grandfather. He kept me in his house under the ruse that he was caring for me, but that was only half of it. He also needed to make sure I didn’t reveal his secret, and now that I remember... What will he do to me when he finds out I know?
I’ve escaped one monster, only to be captured by another.
"Hey, it’s okay. Everything’s going to be okay. I’ve got you."
I open my mouth to tell him it won’t be okay; I know what he did; but the memory of that night in his grandfather’s study slams into me, taking me out at the knees, leaving me paralyzed in the dark.
CHAPTER 5
SEBASTIAN
Our gazes collide, and I hate the horror filtering through her blue depths. Before I can tell her it’s going to be okay her eyes slip closed. Panic rips through me, and all I can do is reach for her so she doesn’t hit the floor. I snake an arm around her middle and tug her trembling body closer, cradling her and taking her slight weight easily.
Did she pass out? Is she hurt?
Like magic, her eyes flutter back open, and I damn near sigh. The thought of losing her again, in any capacity, is unfathomable. Maybe it’s the exhaustion and fear making her fade in and out. Her mouth opens and closes half a dozen times, like she wants to say something but she can’t speak.
It doesn’t matter; she doesn’t need to say anything. I’ll take care of her and whatever happens in the future.
"Shhhh, you’re okay, Ely. Everything’s going to be okay. You’re safe now." I try to soothe her, but my voice against her ear sends her thrashing.
With more strength than I anticipate, she twists out of my hold and pushes me away, or at least tries to, though all she manages to do is put a foot of distance between us. I peer down at her tiny hand, pressing against my chest, her touch burning into my skin through the cotton of my T-shirt. I wasn’t sure if she’d be alive when I found her, or if there would even be anything to find. Fuck. I take half a second to relish the feeling of her body pressing this close to mine.
It took burning through my good will with Grady, Aries’ contacts, and all of us driving around for hours, checking shit hole after shit hole until we found this fucking roach motel, and I don’t want her here another second longer than necessary.
But her touch, even if it’s to push me away, helps to ease some of the ache in my chest.
She peers around the room, her features pinched tight with fear, like she’s expecting someone else to jump out at her. Giving her head a frantic shake and sending wet strands of mousy brown hair everywhere in the process she mumbles, “I’m not safe. Not with you, and not if I stay here. It won’t be long till he shows up. Till he finds out what I did.”
“You’re always safe with me. Always.” I reassure her, but I know she doesn’t believe me. There's a wild look in her eyes; she’s in fight or flight mode right now, her every instinct honed to hostility.
She fights against my grip, trying to break free, but subduing her is easy as I lift her off her feet, wrap both of my arms around her middle, and give her no room for escape.
“Who is he?” I ask while walking out of the room, carrying her out to the parking lot. I’m pretty sure I already know who she is referring to, but I want to make certain.
“My father. My life is over when he finds out what I’ve done.” She whimpers and kicks out her legs, her heels slamming into my shins.
I grit my teeth against the slight irritation. I’d walk through fire for this woman, so if she wants to escape, she’s going to need to try harder. I turn in the direction of Lee’s tricked out Jeep and climb into the backseat. Elyse continues to struggle in my grasp, but that only encourages me to hang on tighter. You’ll never be free of me, Little Prey.