Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78487 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Do I trust their word that they’ll stay away? No fucking way.
But do I trust their lust for money and their desire to keep breathing? Absolutely.
They don’t want to risk waging a war against the Kings of Mayhem, and they know it.
They’re getting away with everything lightly. Initiating a hit against a King is not only a declaration of war but also plain stupid.
Jack gave them a free pass.
They’d be wise not to poke the bear again.
After dropping off the rental car, we walk over to the airport.
Just before we’re about to board our flight, my cell rings. It’s Paw.
“Rory just woke up.”
RORY
Damn, my chest feels like I’ve been run over by a military convoy.
I reach for the cup of water on the tray and suck it down like I’m drinking for Olympic gold.
For the last two days, I’ve lingered in and out of an opiate haze. I’ve snatched rare moments of wakefulness between fractured dreams and nothingness, but not enough to ask any questions. Although, I was lucid enough to know that every time I opened my eyes, Ares was sitting beside me with a tortured look on his face and red eyes that pleaded with me not to die.
We haven’t spoken. I couldn’t have formed words in my medicated brain if I’d tried.
Today, they’re starting me on new meds. I’m not sure why.
When Ares appears in the doorway, my stomach knots. My warrior king looks like he’s about to fall apart, and it makes my chest ache.
I smile up at him and watch the relief cross his face.
“You’re awake,” he says, sitting beside me and taking my hand. To my complete surprise, tears well in his beautiful warm eyes, and he has to fight them off.
I reach up to cup his face. “Hey, it’s okay. Turns out I am infallible after all, maybe even a superhero.”
“You took a bullet for me. Are you crazy? You could’ve died.”
“I think a simple thank you would suffice here.”
“You’re seriously quoting me right now.” He presses a kiss to the back of my hand. “Baby, promise me you won’t ever do something like that again.”
“You mean I might have to?”
“Don’t be cute.”
“Don’t be so tightly wound.”
His eyes are impossibly warm.
I can see how much he loves me.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“Don’t you apologize to me. It’s me who needs to apologize. Fuck, Rory. I should never have walked away from you.”
“We didn’t know this was going to happen.”
“But it did.”
I squeeze his hand. “And now it’s over so we can move forward, right?”
“Can we?”
“If you can forgive me for coming to Flintlock to kill you. Or do I need to take a few more bullets first?” I raise an eyebrow at him to let him know I’m joking, but he only looks more tortured. “Sorry, too soon?”
“Don’t even joke about that, baby.” He smiles, but it’s weak. “I don’t think my heart could take it.”
“You don’t need to apologize to me.”
“Are you quoting me again?”
“Yes, but I’m serious. Can we put this behind us? Forgive each other and move forward?”
“Is that what you want?”
“More than anything in the world,” I whisper.
God, the way he looks at me turns my insides to mush. Then he leans down and kisses me, and I sink into heaven feeling his gentle lips against mine.
Two months ago, I came to town looking for Ares for completely different reasons.
Five weeks ago, I wanted just one night with this man.
But one night was never going to be enough with him.
And now, a lifetime doesn’t seem long enough.
It’s hard to believe so much has happened since then—that I’ve found the love of my life.
How grateful I am that I learned the truth.
We break off the kiss when the doctor walks in. He’s a man about forty years old with a kind face and a nice smile.
“There she is… you’re looking a lot better. How are you feeling?” he asks in a clipped British accent as he picks up my chart and reads it.
“Like someone used my chest as a sieve.”
“That’s to be expected. You’ll be sore for a few weeks, but you will bounce back as good as new. It was a close call,” he says as he writes something on my chart. “Congratulations, by the way.”
Slightly confused, I ask, “For not dying?”
The doctor chuckles. “Well, there’s that. But on the other news.”
“Other news?”
“You’re pregnant. Five weeks to be exact.”
ARES
The room is bathed in moonlight.
I stand at the end of the altar dressed in a suit. Beside me, Paw does his best to calm my restlessness, but he’s not succeeding.
“I’m not nervous,” I tell him.
But I’m lying.
I feel angsty because I want to see my girl. I haven’t seen her since yesterday, which is the longest I’ve gone without her since she was shot, and I almost lost her.
I’m so in love with her it physically hurts.