Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
With a contented, exhausted sigh, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.
Chapter Nine
Danica
The next week was an exercise in patience. Because we still didn’t know who’d called in the swatting incident, I’d taken time off from the coffee shop. Wylde rarely left his office. When he did, he snarled at everyone in the immediate vicinity for not bringing him coffee. So I started making sure he had fresh coffee every couple of hours, three or four meals a day, and plenty of snacks and soda. As far as I could tell, once I started leaving provisions on a table just outside his office, he didn’t come out. For any reason. By the middle of the second week, I was becoming alarmed.
“What’s going on?”
Bellarose, Atlas’s wife, gave me a soft smile. “This is apparently what he does when he’s hunting.”
Odette shrugged her delicate shoulders. She was Cyrus’s woman, and Cyrus was Wylde’s closest and best friend. From what I’d learned over the last week, Cyrus had as many issues as Wylde had with emotions but because he had a mild form of Asperger’s Syndrome instead of emotional childhood trauma. Though, I was becoming aware that more than one of the men and women in this close-knit group had had rough lives. “Cyrus says it’s how he works. He gets hyper-focused.” She smiled. “If you’re worried he doesn’t want you here, don’t be. Cyrus says you’re good for him. That you understand what he needs and provide it without him or anyone else having to ask.”
“Do you know what he’s working on? I assume it’s something for the club. I don’t mean to intrude, but I’ve barely seen him for over a week. When I do, he’s a completely different person than the Wylde I’ve seen before.”
“It wasn’t for the club to begin with. Wasn’t more than a project for him.” The big man approaching us was as large as the others, but had a slightly more civilized look about him. Sort of. “Once his woman and her sisters got caught up in this mess, it became the club’s business.”
“I don’t understand.” I had the thought I should be afraid of this guy because he looked so intense, but it was hard to fear him when he looked down at the woman next to him with such love and affection in his gaze.
“Wylde thinks what happened to you might be linked to a couple of gamers he’s been engaging with. The harder he digs, the more roadblocks he’s come up against. Which makes him more all the more suspicious.” He smiled at me. “I’m Roman. You’ve already meant Winter.” He indicated the woman at his side.
“Yes. I’ve met Serelda too.”
“If there’s a way to figure out who did this, Wylde will get it done.” Winter smiled.
“I know. I’m just worried about him. He barely comes out, and when he does he snaps at everyone.”
Instantly, Rose’s face hardened. “He being mean to you?”
“Me? No! Not at all. I just don’t see him much. I try to keep him fed and coffeed, but he must be, as you say, hyper focused on this.”
“He is.” Cyrus came up behind Odette and put his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “It’s his way. He gets cranky and locks himself in his office. I like that you started taking him food.” He gave me a small grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. It was nothing like the smile he gave Odette. It was oddly sweet, because I could see the same looks from Wylde. Apparently, the two men were more alike than either wanted to admit. “Let’s the rest of us keep out of his way.”
As if on cue, there was a frustrated roar followed by a loud crash from Wylde’s office. Roman gave a long-suffering sigh while Cyrus snorted.
“Speaking of which,” Bella said, taking my arm. “Maybe we should get him some more coffee. Or, you know, leave it at the entrance to the dragon’s lair.” Her lips twitched, but I could also see she was at least half serious. Probably trying to protect me. It seemed like everyone here tried to take care of both me and the girls.
“Mother fuck!” Wylde roared from his office.
“Nope.” I surprised myself with that. “You guys go on and clear a path. The man’s been holed up in that office for over a week. It’s time he came out and took a break.”
“Not sure that’s a wise idea, little sister,” Roman said with a worried look. “He’s pretty intense when he’s on the hunt.”
“Don’t care. This isn’t healthy and he needs a break. Even if it’s only for an hour.” I put my hand on the doorknob to turn it. Locked. I looked up at Roman with a raised brow. “Well?”
“Don’t look at me,” he chuckled, backing away a couple of steps with his hands raised. “I ain’t goin’ in there.”