Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 146107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 731(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 487(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 731(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 487(@300wpm)
Nadia didn’t know what to think, but she got this instinctual feeling that whatever “issue” it was, it must’ve involved her; otherwise, why would he be bringing her along?
A little tingling of fear grew in her at not knowing what had possibly happened to make this never-ending roller coaster of a ride worse. Nadia just really wished she had her phone to check on Haley. She was sure she was worried by now.
The many possible scenarios filled her head as they got to Dante’s casino hotel and took the trek she had made just Friday, which now seemed like a lifetime ago.
Walking through the casino, going up the elevator, and heading to his office felt much different this time around. The first time, she had been slightly nervous, afraid that she wouldn’t walk out with the donation she needed. This time, however, she was smart enough to be afraid for her life.
When Dante opened his office door and held it open for her to enter first, she walked through slowly, frightened of the man who sat behind the huge wooden desk. She remembered walking in and seeing Dante in that same spot, but not even Dante’s icy exterior compared to this one’s foreboding one. The chill that went up her spine traveled all the way from her fingertips down to her toes. Her gift of intuition screamed for her to run, while his strange, blue-green gaze beckoned her to come closer, telling her that, if she took even one step in the opposite direction, it just might be her last, and that was when she knew exactly who she was face-to-face with … The Boogieman.
The second she knew she needed out of here was the same second Amo and Leo walked in as well, closing the door behind them. There was certainly no escaping now, as she had to keep herself from shivering in his presence. The wickedness in him affected her more than a usual person, and that was saying a lot, because she was certain there wasn’t anyone who wanted to look him in the eyes.
The smile that tugged up one side of his lips made him appear even more handsome than he already was, but for her, it served only as a reminder of just how dangerous he was.
“Ms. Brooks, it’s nice to meet you.” He waved a hand for her to sit down.
She could feel his strange gaze taking her in as she sat. Being looked at by men was nothing new to a woman, but he didn’t look at her like men usually did. He looked at her curiously, like she was under a microscope and he was simply trying to find out everything and anything about her in a single glance.
Frankly, she didn’t know which way would be worse for The Boogieman to look at her.
“Scoot,” Dante told him, motioning for him to get out of his chair, making Nadia look at the perplexing pair. The second she saw the two side-by-side, she knew before he spoke his next words. “Nadia, this is my oldest son … Lucca.”
She found herself frozen like a statue, not believing she hadn’t seen the resemblance at first. It was certainly blatantly obvious now. Knowing he was one of his sons, she was only shocked by the fact that it was Lucca. From what they had said about him, she would have never guessed he was the one all of Kansas City was frightened of.
“Nice to meet you,” she managed to get out.
“Scoot,” Dante told him again when his son continued to stare at her. “And are you going to tell me what it is that couldn’t wait till the fucking morning?”
“Yes.” He continued to stare at her a moment longer then stood to let his father take his place.
She was grateful to finally be released from his gaze, but it was short-lived when he threw a newspaper down on the desk.
Being closer, Dante didn’t need to pick up the paper to see what was plastered on the front page of The Kansas City Tribune.
Is that …?
“Oh, my fucking God!” Nadia screamed, picking up the paper off the desk to see herself in black and white. But it wasn’t just an innocent picture of her; it was a picture of her in a bathtub while Dante stared down at her. Someone on that passing cruise ship had taken a picture of them at the perfect moment, making them appear more than they were … Well, more than a one-time thing.
“Holy shit.” Amo came closer to get a look. “I gotta see thi—”
Nadia quickly folded the paper out of his view and smacked him with it.
Leo continued to stand quietly, but with a smile now, while Lucca began to curiously stare at her again.
When Amo jumped back, she opened the paper again to take another look at her humiliation, managing now to look past the photo to see the headline.