Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
The rift between us is still raw, a constant reminder of my past mistakes.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead.
"No, I haven't," I admit, my voice gruff. "She's gone radio silent on me too."
Iris's eyes widen slightly. "But how can you be sure she's okay? I mean, with her blocking my number and all..."
I hesitate for a moment, weighing my words carefully.
There's so much I haven't told Iris about my past, about the world I used to inhabit.
But as I look into her eyes, filled with genuine concern for my daughter, I know it's time to let her in a little more.
"She went back to college early," I say, my fingers absently tracing the tattoos on my forearm. "I know she's safe."
Iris tilts her head, curiosity piqued. "How do you know that? Did she tell you?"
I shake my head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Not exactly. I've got someone watching over her, keeping her safe."
"Someone watching her?" Iris echoes, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
I take a deep breath, knowing that once I start down this path, there's no turning back. "Remember when I told you about my time inside?" I ask, my voice low. Iris nods, her eyes never leaving mine. "Well, since getting out, I've been... reconnecting with some old contacts. Getting back to my roots, you could say."
I watch as understanding dawns in Iris's eyes.
She doesn't pull away, but I can see the wheels turning in her mind. "So, you're saying you've got someone from your old life keeping tabs on Allegra?"
"Something like that," I confirm, my voice steady despite the tension I feel building inside me. "It's not just about Allegra, though. I'm building something here, Iris. Something that'll keep us all safe, provide for our future."
I pause, searching her face for any sign of fear or judgment.
But all I see is the same fierce, enigmatic woman who's captured my heart. "I know it's not exactly conventional," I continue, "but it's a world I know how to navigate. A world where I can make sure nothing bad ever happens to the people I care about."
Iris's face clouds over, her dark eyes flashing with a mix of emotions I can't quite pin down.
She sets her mug down on the coffee table with a soft clink, the sound unnervingly loud in the sudden silence.
"Viper," she says, her voice tight, "I don't like this. The risk... it's too high."
Her hand unconsciously moves to her belly, still flat but harboring our growing child. "What if something goes wrong? What if you get caught up in something and they take you away again?"
I lean forward, my elbows on my knees, and meet her gaze unflinchingly. "Nothing bad is going to happen to me, Iris. Not ever again." My voice is low, intense, carrying the weight of my conviction. "I've learned from my mistakes. I know who to trust now, and more importantly, who not to."
Iris shakes her head, her straight black hair swaying with the movement. "You can't promise that, Viper. No one can."
I reach out, taking her hand in mine, feeling the delicate bones beneath her tattooed skin. "I can promise you this: everything I do, every move I make, it's all for us. For you, for the baby, for Allegra. I won't let anything jeopardize what we have."
She doesn't pull away, but I can feel the tension in her fingers. "I'm just... I'm scared, Viper," she confesses, her usual cocky demeanor cracking slightly. "For the first time in a long time, it feels like my life is actually put together. I have you, the baby, a real future ahead of me." Her eyes, usually so bold and challenging, are now vulnerable, searching mine. "I can't lose that. I can't lose you."
The raw honesty in her words hits me like a punch to the gut.
I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her, feeling her warmth against my chest. "You won't lose me, Iris. I swear it." I press a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair. "What we have, it's not just some fling. It's everything to me. You, the baby, the life we're building... I'll do whatever it takes to protect that."
I pull back slightly, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Speaking of our life together, how about we start celebrating early? Would you like to open one of your presents tonight?"
Iris's face lights up, her earlier worry melting away. "Really? I mean, yes, absolutely!"
I can't help but grin at her enthusiasm.
It's moments like these that remind me how young she is, how full of life despite everything she's been through.
I stand up, my muscles pleasantly sore from our cozy position on the couch, and make my way to the Christmas tree.