Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I sigh. “Did you know she ran away from her security detail? She refuses to tell me where she’s at. She’s too damn stubborn.”
“Did you deal with her guards?” he asks, and he doesn’t sound worried. It doesn’t matter, I am enough for the both of us.
“Damn straight and I’m not finished yet. Emilia on the other hand, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with her. Do you know she isn’t giving an inch? All she would allow is to tell me to call tonight so we could talk terms of a mutual surrender.” I shake my head and scratch my jaw through my beard as I remember our conversation. I’d enjoy this game we’re playing a lot more if I wasn’t worried about her safety. I don’t like that she’s out there unprotected. There’s not much I can do, however. Well, except wait for tonight’s call to try and talk some sense into her.
Maxwell barks out a laugh, surprising me. “That’s my girl.”
“You’re enjoying this too damn much, Maxwell.”
Holding up his drink, he nods. “Indeed I am. I have to say, I can’t wait to see what kind of hell my grandbabies are going to give you, Niko.”
It’s weird as hell, but my heart stutters in my chest as images of miniature Emilias come to mind. The thought makes my cock stand at attention. What the actual fuck? I never pictured having kids. Now, the thought is not only appealing, but my damn body is also ready to make it happen. Imagining Emilia’s stomach stretched with my child takes my breath away.
“Maxwell?”
“Yeah?” I watch the laughter die on his face as he takes in my serious tone.
“Thank you for trusting me with your daughter. I promise I’ll never forget what a gift she is. I will do everything in my power to make her happy and bring out that fire she possesses—the one that reminds me of you.”
Maxwell’s face relaxes and a satisfied smile stretches across his face. “I knew you were the man for the job, Niko. My Emilia has been broken ever since we lost her mother. You will fill her heart with love again. I know it.”
“I think she’s teaching me about love. It’s not something I’ve ever had in life until her. Hell, there’s only two people I could ever say I loved. The first would be Callan, but the second, the second the feelings I have are like nothing I’ve ever seen or experienced.” He frowns as he looks at me. “I never had a father but that’s what you’ve always been to me. I love you, Maxwell. I will protect Emilia and make her happy until my dying breath.”
I can see the approval on his face. I also know he recognizes how hard it was for me to make that admission. This isn’t a conversation I ever imagined having.
He opens his mouth to respond, but the syllables die on his tongue with a painful gasp as shots ring out. The sound of the gunfire thunders in my ears. Time seems to slow down around me. It’s like a horror movie playing out in front of my very eyes. Maxwell’s eyes go wide, his head rocks back, and bright red color blooms across his forehead, running down into his eyes.
“No!” I scream, as the force of the bullet hitting him makes his chair teeter backwards.
“No!” I repeat terror filling me.
Even though I’m screaming, I can’t hear anything over the pounding of my own heart and the ringing in my ears. I jump up, bending over the table, adrenaline spiking through my veins as my heart races, trying to get to him as more shots ring out. I can’t let him get hit again. I reach out, trying to shield him as I feel the hot burning sensation tear through my body. I vaguely know I’ve been shot, but I don’t care. I have to help him. I wrap my arms around Maxwell trying to hold onto him as together we plummet toward the concrete patio.
I shift so I’m covering him completely. I hear our security team firing back and Victorio yelling something. My head hits the concrete and almost instantly my field of vision begins to shrink. I can feel a wetness at my back as I fight to stay alert. I’m half lying over Maxwell. I struggle to keep him covered. Yet, even as I try, I know I can’t. It doesn’t matter anyway. It’s too late. Maxwell eyes are wide open, completely unfocused and none of the warmth associated with the man is present. He’s looking up at the sky… lifeless.
“No,” I try to roar once more, but I’m not sure sound comes out. My own body begins to shut down.
I can’t catch my breath. It’s like I have a ton of bricks weighing me down. My thoughts swim as I lose consciousness, shuffling through images, nothing sticking until at last, Emilia’s face comes to my mind. Then, and only then, do I surrender to the darkness.