Unedited Excerpt, Assumed Calling, Book Five Identity Series, Lila Munro

“You know, young man, if you kept better tabs on your charge, you wouldn’t have to be told where she was or go looking for her.” Allen started to slam the door only to be stopped by one of Linn’s hands snaking around the edge of it, staying it.

Nicki could see Allen could have overpowered him and had his way. The cords of his neck bulged and his forearm rippled with power. So why didn’t he? Why didn’t he just slam the damn thing on Linn’s hand? The hand that had hurt her more than once and not in a good way.

“What I do with my charge is none of your damn business,” Linn argued, managing to peek around the door. “Nicki, let’s go.”

“The minute you brought her into my house, you made it my business.” Allen turned his head, a look Nicki couldn’t quite place swirling in his eyes. “You don’t want to go with him, do you, doll?”

All she managed was a rapid shaking of her head, her stomach now flipping over again and again at the thought of spending one more night with Linn.

“There’s your answer. She no longer wants to be with you. Now go before I have you tossed out.”

“She drove. How am I supposed to get back to the hotel?” Typical Linn. Self-absorbed and worried about himself only. It was clear Nicki’s absence in his life would hold no bearing whatsoever. She was, as she’d always known, just a toy for him.

“You walk to the end of the drive, turn left, and keep walking.” With that, Allen ended further discussion on the matter by forcing the door back on him. Just before it made contact with the frame, Linn jerked his hand away, saving it from being squashed.

A man, a real-life, flesh and blood man, had stood up for her.  A man that had known her all of a few hours respected her enough to stand up for her.

“Come here,” Allen said, retaking his place on the edge of the bed and patting his lap.

Without hesitation, Nicki moved like a lightning bolt and was nestled in his arms before she realized she was there.