Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 698(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
"It gets noisy in here," he says, his voice low enough that I'm sure I'm the only one who can hear him. "We can step out back."
I nod, reaching for him again when he moves his hand away, our fingers locking together as we leave the room.
He opens the door off the kitchen, guiding me out onto the patio. Only it isn't a patio. It's an oasis. There's a massive pool, and to the side, what looks like a pool house, but it's also bigger than any pool house I've ever seen.
The landscaping around the area is incredible, and the accommodations are quadruple that of what a regular house would have. I guess considering the number of people who are here, it all makes sense.
Flower-lined sidewalks lead to a handful of houses, and these must be the houses Emmalyn was talking about earlier.
"We can sit if you like," he says, pointing to a few loungers.
The pool glistens as the sun sets behind the houses, giving the area a very romantic feel.
He doesn't release my hand until I sit down, and then he takes a seat on the lounger right next to mine.
"The original guys live in those houses," he says, pointing to the beautiful homes. "I don't know what it looked like in the beginning, but the property is almost like a city now."
"It's beautiful back here," I say, my eyes roaming over every single flower.
The upkeep alone on this place must be insane, but I know, with the team of people they have and their willingness to help, they'd be quick tasks.
"Do they have maintenance and housekeeping come in?"
He laughs. "Not a chance. Understand that every Cerberus member was in the Marine Corps. It's a requirement. We're trained to be cleaned, but everyone just sort of pitches in to help."
"Like family," I whisper.
"Like family," he says as if he's just now realizing it.
Silence swarms around us, but I don't feel the urge to fill the gap, and he doesn't seem obligated either.
As the sun sets, lighting in and around the pool comes to life, making the area look magical and full of wonder.
We sit, just existing together in the cooling air, and I can't think of the last time I felt this relaxed and safe.
I pull in a deep breath and release it slowly, knowing that at least for tonight some of the weight holding me down has been lifted.
I roll my head on the lounger, looking in his direction.
His eyes are closed, A softness to his face that I've never seen before, and it makes me glad I agreed to stay.
He has spent so much time protecting me that I don't know that he's had any time to relax.
Chapter 39
Nyx
Knowing that she's here and safe, I think I slept better last night than I have in a very long time.
I was up before the sun, but that's not unusual for me.
I didn't get up right away.
I tortured myself with memories of us sitting by the pool yesterday evening, the silence between us comfortable as if we'd known each other our entire lives and didn't feel the need to fill the gap with useless chatter.
We have a lot to do today, starting with getting to Juniper House, loading up all the women's belongings, and getting them set up here.
I wasn't offended when I saw the task list in our app this morning. I have been selected to help move belongings, not drive the women to the property. I don't have the most welcoming personality, so I'm not surprised at the allocations.
Juliet isn't in the kitchen or any of the common areas when I leave my room, but I didn't really expect her to be. The way she cursed her phone when her alarm clock went off the other day, I imagine she's getting some much-needed sleep without the obligation of having to be somewhere so early.
I'm just glad she didn't insist on leaving the property to help the other women prepare for the day. I don't know that I would've said no if she had insisted, but her being here makes things safer for everyone, given the threat against her right now.
I can't even lie to myself and say that I don't want to put a wall of protective barriers around her to shield her from anything that could cause her harm or stress because I do.
What I don't want to do is smother her while trying to protect her, and I know just how thin a line that is right now with her piece of shit ex in town. The threat won't be alleviated until that motherfucker is six feet under, and I hope that happens sooner rather than later.
I hang out in the kitchen, waiting for the others to get up and start their day, enjoying the silence that comes along with such early mornings.