Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119476 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 597(@200wpm)___ 478(@250wpm)___ 398(@300wpm)
“Well…” Ellis throws the car into park, but keeps it running. “Why don't y'all head inside and I'll go pick up dinner.” He shifts uncomfortably, unable to meet Nora’s eyes. “Give y'all time to... get settled... and to talk.”
“Because that’s not ominous or anything,” she mutters as I slide my arm from around her to undo her seat belt.
“Wait here, Pip.” I climb out of the back seat before hauling ass to Nora’s side to get the door for her. “Let’s get you inside and comfy and then we can talk, okay?”
She crosses her arms as she regards me, her nose wrinkling as she stares me down. She’s trying to look tough, but I see just how exhausted she is. “I guess.”
“I love you, Nora. Truly.” I offer her my hand and she takes it, allowing me to help her out of the car. “Just… do me a favor and keep an open mind.”
“That’s my cue,” Ellis says, signaling for me to shut the door. I nudge it closed and then turn my attention to the slip of a woman who’s single-handedly become my everything.
“Shower first and then we can talk?” I ask, as we both watch him drive away.
“No.” She plants her hands on her hips. “You can talk while I shower.”
God, I’m glad she still has her fire. My girl’s strong as hell. “Deal.”
I unlock the door and hold it open for Nora before following behind her into the house, pausing to resecure the lock. Every step feels like an eternity—like I’m stuck in some fucked-up limbo, waiting impatiently to learn my fate.
Beads of sweat dot my hairline, and my blood’s fizzy in my veins as I run through all of the possible reactions Nora may have to learning the truth about how I found her—hurt, betrayal, anger, hatred…
Please, please, please don’t let her hate me.
I enter the bathroom only moments after her, shocked to find her with the water already heating as she struggles to undress.
“Pip, let me help you.”
She huffs an annoyed breath at me and narrows her eyes at me, like she wants to tell me no.
I’m not above begging, though. I’ll do just about anything to make her life easier.
Thankfully, she relents and allows me to step in. “Fine.” She braces her hands on my shoulders, sagging against me. “I’m huge and sore and tired—”
“You’re perfect,” I murmur, kneeling down so I can help her out of the leggings Ellis brought her. I push her borrowed sweater up as I stand, pausing to press a soft kiss to her rounded belly before gently tugging the garment over her head and tossing it to the floor, leaving her completely naked.
I hover like a mother hen as she steps into the shower, torn between wanting to spill my guts or take this shit to the grave for all eternity.
But my girl’s not having it. Not by a long shot. And she deserves the truth—no matter how uncomfortable it is for me.
“I’m in the shower, Atlas.” I hear the snick of a soap bottle opening. “Now talk.”
I swallow roughly as I slide down the wall until I’m seated on my ass with my legs out in front of me. “You said it was luck that I found you—and the first time, at the motel, I guess you could say it was. But today…”
Fuck, why is this so hard?
“Today what?” she asks, her feather-soft words hitting me square in the gut like a boulder.
I drag my fingers through my hair, tugging on the ends. “It’s because of your necklace.”
My half-assed admission is met with silence. I can just picture the confusion written all over her face, and it’s a struggle not to beg her to say something—anything.
But, eventually, she asks, “What about it?”
Here goes nothing…
“It has a GPS chip in it. I used it to track your location. And I know—I know that’s fucked up, Pip. I know it’s a breach of your trust, but I also know I don’t regret it, not even a little, because you’re here and safe and—”
She whips the curtain open, and my eyes fly up to hers, widening at the sight of her standing there, dripping wet, covered in soap bubbles and bruises, with the compass charm clutched between her trembling fingers.
“This has a tracker in it?” She looks down at the golden compass and then back to me. Confusion, hurt, and disbelief are flashing across her delicate features.
“Nora, baby—”
She stares down at me, but I don’t think she’s actually seeing me. “Like I’m… Like I’m a dog,” she whispers brokenly.
Her fucking words more than gut me—they crack my ribs, tear me open, and steal my still-beating heart from my chest.
“Absolutely not.” I bolt up from the floor and take a step toward her, only to draw up short when she flinches at my sudden movement.