Page 53 of Red

“He did. She gave him Marcus, his only son. She killed herself when we were in high school.” Kristoff barely took a day off to mourn her. The asshole.

“He wasn’t good to her?”

“My uncle and cousin weren’t good to anyone but themselves.”

“He was very powerful, though, your uncle?” It was refreshing and odd to find someone who didn’t know the ins and outs of the world his family lived in.

“He was a coward. Controlling a woman with fear isn’t being in control.”

She lifted her head up and grinned at him. “Yet, you threaten me with your belt?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Are you afraid of me? Or my belt?”

“It’s a lot worse than I thought it would be—the belt, not you.” She rested her cheek back on his chest. A tidal wave of relief washed through him with her acknowledgment.

“If I thought you wouldn’t gain anything by it, I wouldn’t have taken my belt to your ass. I wouldn’t have even approached the subject.” He would have starved the beast within him, but he wouldn’t have forced her into doing what was against her will.

Melinda sat up, looking down at him with her hair loose from the bun hanging around her face. Perfectly framing a soft, genuine smile.

The one he’d been waiting for.

The one he’d been ready to kill for.

Chapter 18

Melinda stepped onto the pavement outside the public library, her heart light. Erik had kept her in bed for most of the morning, growling at anyone who knocked on the door. She hadn’t minded his caveman tactics. Especially since she benefited from them so amazingly. The man knew exactly what buttons to press and in precisely what order.

“You don’t have to stay with me, Nico. I’m going to be here a few hours. It will get boring.” Melinda stopped short of the door he held open for her. He’d been on babysitting duty for the past several days. Erik claimed it was for safety but wouldn’t go into more detail.

“I’ll grab a book. I’ll be fine. But I don’t understand why you don’t do your writing at home,” Nico said.

“I’m comfortable here.” She shrugged and headed inside. The steady peace between Erik and her made the transition a bit easier to swallow, and his brothers were kind—never showing her an ounce of disrespect. But it wasn’t her home. How could she ever find full peace in a stranger’s home?

Nico followed her in his usual manner. He picked up a book from the shelf and skimmed through the pages. During his stint as her babysitter, he’d seemed to become more interested in reading.

“Here. I think you’ll like this one.” She handed him a book.

His gaze skimmed over the cover and laughed. “This is a romance.”

She grinned. “You could use a little in your life, I think. You spend too much time babysitting me and running errands for Erik.”

He frowned. “I’m here to protect you not babysit you. And Erik is family. You’re family.”

“I didn’t mean to imply anything.” She hadn’t intended to insult the man. “It was silly. A joke.” She reached for the book, but he tucked it against his chest.

“I know someone who might like this one.”

She grinned. “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”

His brow furrowed, and the dark expression Erik wore at times crossed his features. “I’m not.”

She didn’t push for any more information from him; he wouldn’t give it even if she tried. Melinda found an empty table and unpacked her laptop, getting her station ready to work.

“So, how did you get stuck with me three days in a row? Ian doesn’t want to hang out in the library?” she joked, sitting down on the hard chair.

“He’s been busy with his own project.” Nico said, skimming right over any details that would give her more insight into the Rawling businesses.

Melinda logged into the computer and brought up her current project. One more chapter and the first draft would be complete.

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