Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51624 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 258(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“You can leave, Lake. Cross will take me to Lisa and Carson’s.”
“Sorry, I can’t let that happen. My orders were to collect you and bring you back so that you aren’t walking the ranch alone.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Still, he doesn’t let it drop. “No. It’s not happening,” he counters.
Finally, I’ve had enough and reach into my pocket, grab my cell, and call Carson. I put it on speakerphone so everyone could hear me. I don’t want this guy twisting anything I say or do.
“Hey, Livy. Everything okay? We sent Lake there to pick you up if you’re—”
“Carson, that’s why I’m calling. Can you give Lake the approval to head back to the house without me?”
“Livy, love—”
“I’m serious. Cross is going to bring me up in a bit. I think the less time I spend with Lake the better,” I respond. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I can literally feel Lake’s anger ratchet up. I take a deep breath and face his glare.
“Has he done something to upset you?” Carson probes.
“No, he’s fine. We just don’t like one another. It’s easier this way for my sanity,” I admit with a small—but admittedly bitter—laugh. “I’ll have Cross drop me off and you or Jeff can drive me home when you get back. Although I will point out that I’d be safe walking home. This place is constantly guarded.”
“One of us will drive you home,” Carson says at once, making me shake my head. “Are you sure you’re okay with Lake guarding the house with the others tonight?”
“Of course. You said he’s one of your best men. Just because the two of us are oil and water is no reason to pull him off the detail. I’ll be inside with Claire. The most important thing is to keep her safe,” I murmur.
“And you, Livy. I promised when you agreed to move here that you’d always feel safe here and never threatened. I slipped up, allowing Ray inside. If you’re having problems, I need to know,” Carson says immediately.
“She—” I interrupt Cross at once and shoot him the meanest glare I can manage.
“I’m fine. I’m getting tired of people treating me like I’m glass. I’m not,” I practically growl at once. “I’m a survivor. There’s a difference. Don’t think I don’t realize why Cross showed up on his first official date with Deb and offered to stay with me instead.” I take a breath and then drop my gaze, as the next words tear open a wound inside me that will never disappear. “You guys need to let me breathe. Bear made me promise that I’d hold on until his men saved me and then I’d live for both of us. I will not disappoint him. Carson, please, just let me function normally and stop trying to surround me in bubble wrap.”
“You realize that we’re all scared of my cousin and she’s going to have our asses handed to us if we do what you ask?” he jokes.
“Well, right now Winnie is having her first official dinner party, and I need …” I watch Cross with a half-smile—before I finish my sentence. I want him to see the truth. “I need my second father and my big brothers to see that I’m healing, and they’ve made sure I feel safe enough to do that.”
Carson clears his throat. “Fine, little sister. Your niece is waiting for you. Do you need anything else?”
My gaze lands on Cross. He can be a tough man with everyone but me. I see the tears shining in his eyes. I don’t look at Lake. He doesn’t matter. “Well, you have deep pockets, right?”
Carson laughs even as I hear Lake’s grunt. “Yeah, I've got deep pockets.”
“Well, Cross, if you could bribe Blade when he eats Winnie’s dinner, I’d appreciate it. I want to see the exact moment when he discovers that as amazing as Winnie is, she can’t cook worth shit,” I giggle. My joke helps, and the tension is relieved—at least with Cross and Carson. That was my aim.
“Okay, brat. Get your ass up here. Now, I have something to blackmail you with if you don’t do as I ask. I’ll make sure Winnie gets wind of what you just said.”
“Oh please. She loves me more than she does you. I’m safe. Plus, you know I’m right. She can make two or three things relatively well. The others are scary.”
“Blade will make her have the restaurant cater it,” Carson confirms, and practically cackles. I can picture Carson wiping his face like he’s dodged a bullet. Somewhere in the middle of the laughter, Lake leaves, and I breathe easier. It’s better this way. The two of us will never have to deal with one another again.
I ignore the emptiness inside my heart with that thought.
What is wrong with me?
8
SHE’S STRONGER THAN ME