Nash: A Rough Romance by Piper Stone (book series for 12 year olds txt) 📕

the most. It was the way he said the words, including over the phone. He was very articulate in the way he phrased everything, very eloquent even. And so very cold. I knew he was simply telling me exactly what was going to happen.”

“What else did he say?”

She shrank against the couch before answering me.

“He said that I was one of the most beautiful creatures he’d ever laid eyes on and that it would be a shame to waste something so precious. Then he told me that he had a special cage designed in order to keep me as his pet but promised that if I ever tried to get away from him that he would kill me.”

A cold shiver skated down my spine as rage shifted into high gear. “What. The. Fuck?”

“That’s why I left my life behind.”

“Why didn’t you knock on my door?”

She half smiled. “From what I’d been told, he had people working for him everywhere, including even some members of law enforcement. I watched you cutting wood, the way you handled the maul and I was terrified. I couldn’t trust you.”

“And now?” No wonder the poor girl had acted the way she had.

“I want to trust you. I’m just… I’ve never been afraid in my life, at least not like this. But Giordani meant every word of what he said. If he finds me, I will disappear.”

“Over my dead body,” I snarled and took her hand into mine. Her fingers were like ice, trembling in my hold. I brought her hand to my lips, pressing them against her skin.

“Even if you are who you say you are, you’re just one man and while I believe you are very dangerous, you can’t fight a man like Giordani.”

My thoughts drifted to my buddies. As if a team of four men could take out some drug lord. However, it was entirely possible to keep her safe in Missoula. Hmmm… Maybe. “You might be surprised; however, I don’t think it’s going to come to that. Missoula is a long way from Chicago. This Dante fella is going to use but so many resources in an effort to find you.”

“Maybe so, but what am I supposed to do the rest of my life? Become a cowgirl? I drained my bank account before leaving, but I assure you that he’ll watch my credit cards. I have no doubt he has those kind of friends.” She pulled her hand away, shifting it under the blanket.

I grabbed my drink, thinking about what the fuck I was supposed to do with her. Take her to the Missoula sheriff? What good would that do? Fuck me. I wasn’t equipped to handle this kind of shit.

Mitch sighed, twisting her mouth. “Will you help me?”

“Are you asking for my protection?”

“I’m asking for your damn help. If you don’t want to do that, just tell me. I’ll figure out a way to leave.”

I wanted to ask her what the hell she thought she was going to do if I didn’t help her, but I bit down on my tongue. “You ain’t going anywhere, Mitch. I’ll help you, but on one condition.”

“What the hell is that?”

“You do everything I say.”

Groaning, she muttered something under her breath that sounded a hell of a lot like curse words. “Anything?”

“Yup. Anything. Are you agreeing or should I feed you to the wolves?”

“You’re a bastard.”

“We’ve already established that. The offer goes away in five seconds.” I said the words casually, but my heart continued to beat rapidly. “Four. Three. Two.”

“Fine. Whatever.”

“Then we’ll figure something out.”

“Why are you agreeing to help me? I mean other than extortion.”

Extortion? I couldn’t help but chuckle. She’d been in my face, basically accusing me of being a threat. Maybe she had good reason to question my reaction. “The truth is because you did an honorable thing. Very few people would have the courage to take on a monster.”

“Is that the real reason or just because you want to get back into my panties?” she asked in a defiant manner, her eyes full of the same spunk and anger as the first few seconds that I’d laid eyes on her.

Sadly, I could tell she was looking for something more… romantic. I wasn’t that kind of guy. Yeah, we’d fucked and in truth, I could do so again more than once, but she’d brought out the protective side in me as well.

I had nothing else to give, at least nothing worthwhile to anyone.

“Why don’t you like the name Michelle?” I asked in passing.

“Because I just don’t. Okay?” She’d grown agitated, her breath skipping.

“You need to get some sleep,” I said as I leaned forward, studying the fire. She had a real enemy on her hands.

“What if something happens?”

“Nothing is going to happen, Mitch. We are in the middle of a snowstorm in the mountains of Missoula, Montana. Trust me in that you’d have to be an expert tracker to get up the mountain right now. I seriously doubt that this group of thugs wants you badly enough to risk their lives trying to get to you.” But they would hunt her down. There was no way she could have been careful enough in her efforts to get away.

I knew instantly I’d said the wrong thing, the single soft sob a stake driving into me. Goddamn it. Well, I wasn’t the warm and fuzzy kind of guy. I kept my stare on the flames, still trying to figure out what to say to her. When she rose from the couch, she didn’t bother turning around before dropping the blanket.

“Because Giordani always called me Michelle although no one uses anything but Mitch. Even on every legal documentation including my driver’s license, Mitch is used. The bastard knew where I’d grown up. He knew about my brother. He knew where my parents lived in North Carolina. That’s why.”

The second she walked away I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off her.

So beautiful.

So bratty

So very much alone.

Jesus Christ.

While there was no way to search for