Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 101(@200wpm)___ 81(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
“Give the phone to Mike now.” I quickly toss the phone to Mike while I look around my bare bedroom. I can’t hear what he’s saying, but I can tell he’s shouting on the other end.
“We’ve got to go,” Mike says. He’s already tucked his phone away.
“Okay,” I sob, thinking about all my familial photos and memories I’d brought with me from Nebraska. They were all here along with my laptop, textbooks, and everything I needed for school.
We get out the front door, and there’s a hail of gunfire. Just as Mike goes to brace me, I slip on the ice and we slide down the steps, missing the gunshots. I can’t hear any more shots over the sound of my screams or the squeal of the tires, but I feel my body move as Mike leads me over to our vehicle. We’re almost there when another SUV pulls up and Killian jumps out, pulling me into his arms. “Fuck, babe. Are you okay?” His hands run all over my body.
“I’m fine. I’m fine, I think,” I groan. My ass hurts from hitting the steps, but I really can’t complain. Still, something is seriously wrong. We were just shot at seconds ago. How did Killian get here so fast?
He leads me into his SUV and then Mike jumps into the back seat instead of getting into his SUV. As we start driving away, a large explosion happens behind us. “Holy shit,” I shout, turning my head and seeing the SUV on fire. They blew it up.
“You’re safe.”
“What’s going on?” I sob.
“I’m not quite sure just yet,” he says.
“You’re lying to me.”
“I’m not.” The conviction in his tone tells me not to argue again. I shut my mouth and sit back, fighting the urge to either cry or punch him in the face. I was almost gunned down. He’s keeping something from me, but every nerve ending in my body is on the fritz so it’s not like I can control myself.
He reaches out and takes my hand. The feeling is too much, too powerful, so I pull away. I see the hurt in his eyes that is quickly masked. He doesn’t say another word until we’re back at his condo in the city. The immaculate place feels colder with his tension radiating off him.
He paces and then turns to face me, taking my hands in his. “I apologize for being rude, but what I meant is I don’t know why they attacked you so brazenly and how they knew you’d be there.”
“Who are they?” Who was Killian? Who had I really married?
“My enemies who get my father’s property if you don’t give me a child,” he answered with clenched teeth.
“They’d kill me for it?” I gasped, unable to process all this. My life was in danger over someone else’s property.
“In my world, it would be a badge of honor to take the empire of the top crime family.”
“Oh my God.” I married a mobster.
“I’m sorry, Magnolia. I am sorry, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re my wife.”
“No, but you could have picked someone else.” Even as the words fall from my lips, I don’t like the taste of them. On the phone I’d been irrationally jealous that he’d had a relationship with my former roommate. I couldn’t picture him with another wife.
“No, I couldn’t have because you’re the only one I wanted, and I would have killed any other bastard that dared try to bid on you.” I should hate his confession, but I don’t. I should slap him and run away, but I want to climb all over his stupid, cruelly possessive body and let him show me how dominating he can be. Damn him.
He checks his phone and then says, “I have some business to attend to; I’ll be back later. Please behave, and don’t make me punish you.”
“Are you going to be safe?” I questioned.
“I’m always safe.” I doubt that’s the freaking case, but I’m sure that’s not up for debate. The man isn’t the kind you challenge, and frankly, I don’t want to know the details of his business. I sit on the sofa and try to relax, even though I’m a real mess right now. My roommate set me up, stole my things, and then someone tried to gun me down. Yeah, life in New York isn’t what I expected it to be.
****
It's the early morning hours when I feel Killian pulling me closer. “You’re home.”
“That I am, beautiful, and I was here all night. You’re a heavy sleeper,” he mutters. “Rest.”
“I need to pee.” He lets me get up, and I shuffle over to the bathroom. When I come out, I scoop up my phone and check social media. A news report claims that notorious arms dealer Carlos Mendez and his sister Sandra have been arrested for human trafficking. My mouth falls open, and I turn to Killian who is still sleeping.