Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Even if she’s trouble, even if she might tear my family to pieces—I can’t let her go. I won’t throw her to the wolves.
“There is absolutely no way I am ever going to marry you,” she says, and all I can do is laugh.
Chapter 16
Evander
There’s only one safe place I can think of in the entire city.
“Where are we going?” she asks as I roll through Hyde Park, turn off a quiet side street, and down a shady avenue. No Trespassing - Private Property signs are plastered all over along with more cameras than Buckingham Palace.
Somewhere not too far, a small army of well-paid, loyal, and heavily armed men watch every inch of the property for anything out of the ordinary.
“This is where I live.” I reach a gate and it opens before I can even roll down the window. The guard nods to me respectfully as I drive along a tree-lined, shady driveway until we come into view of the Kazan family home.
Camille sucks in a breath. I try not to smile to myself, but even after all this time, a swell of pride fills my chest. This is the heart of my family’s power, the nexus around which the city turns, and it’s all mine.
It’s a beautiful Tudor building with tall peaks and a stone facade. Trees surround the property, the grass perfect manicured, the bushes trimmed to lovely little round dumplings. I park the truck beside my sister’s Corvette and kill the engine as Camille gapes.
“How?” she breathes. “This place is massive. How the hell is this even here, in the middle of the city? This property has to be priceless.”
“My family has been in Chicago for a very long time,” I say and get out of the truck. She scrambles to keep up. “My ancestors built this place eight generations ago, before there was much else around here, and the city sprouted up around us. But our property remains.” I breathe deeply, smelling the fresh air and the briny scent of the lake not far from our garden.
This is my home, the place where I grew up. My best memories and worst nightmares are inside those walls—too much heartbreak, too much rage and sadness, but also triumph and excitement and joy.
The Kazan family may be depleted, but we are still powerful.
I begin to climb the front steps, but Camille stops and doesn’t move. “Wait,” she says and her tone’s firm now. “I’m not going in there.”
I turn back to face her. “This is the only place where Conti and the Italians can’t touch you. If you want to leave, I can give you the keys to my truck, but—” I let the repercussions remain unspoken and allow her to fill in the gaps.
Her hands curl into fists and she glares at me. “This is moving too fast. You told Christopher that—that—”
“I told him that you’re my woman.” I descend the stairs again and stand in front of her. I marvel at how small she is, and how beautiful. I find her more attractive every day, because every day she comes into herself a little bit more, growing into the gaps left behind by years of getting pummeled down and down in a loveless and abusive marriage.
I’m not supposed to care. Wanting her, feeling for her, that only makes things more complicated. If I could silence the heat in my chest whenever she’s close, I would.
But I am a man, and I have my needs.
“I am not your woman.” She stares into my face, and I have to admit, I’m impressed. Even if she pisses me off. Most people would cower when I loom over them, but not Camille. “Just because we slept together one time—”
“And I went down on you earlier today,” I remind her.
She grimaces. “Right, that too, but that doesn’t mean I’m yours. I’m not anybody’s,” she says fiercely.
I let that sink in for a moment and take a slow, steady breath. I can understand why she might not like my choice of words, but this is how things are in my world. If I don’t lay claim to her then I don’t own her, and if she’s not all mine—
Then she’s fair game, and I can’t have that.
Not now that I dragged her into this mess and made her life harder.
“I promised you I could keep you safe, and I keep my promises,” I say and hold her gaze. “That was before I understood who exactly you were running from, but it doesn’t change anything. I can still make sure Conti never touches you again.”
“By taking me away? By owning me, like you’re a fucking caveman?” She’s working herself up into a rage. “I’m not going to let you throw me over your shoulder and drag me into your lair.”
“Does it look like I want to chain you up in some dungeon? Open your eyes, asteraki mu. I’m offering you luxury.”