Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
So he took them off for dinner?
I waited for him to do the same to his left hand.
He didn’t.
The hand stayed covered.
And his right hand, from what I could tell was completely flawless just like the rest of him.
Even his nails looked manicured, not covered in blood like I assumed, nor scarred, just, perfect.
He reached for his wine.
And cleared his throat loudly making me jerk away, making it so I was staring directly into Chase’s cold expression again. He didn’t even blink. Just reached for his wine, his tattooed arms flexing with the motion. I gave him a small smile as a trickle of sweat ran down my spine.
“So,” Dante began. “How’s business, Drei? Things looking good?”
“No business during dinner,” Tex interrupted gruffly, “Though I have to say I’m curious. This is the first time you’ve brought a girl. Was it the sprinkles on the cupcake that did it? Or the way I smacked your ass afterward that convinced you to listen this time?”
A few of the guys snickered like they were in middle school, while Tex kept his rapt attention on Andrei like he really cared about his dating life.
“Well…” Andrei sounded annoyed. “You know how much I love pink frosting… and since none of you jackasses can keep a secret, I knew family dinner would most likely be a surprise party with a cake since last year I showed up and almost shot Chase when he suggested pin the tail on the donkey.” He leaned back, cool, composed. “Besides, why spend your birthday alone when you can spend it with someone like this…”
I almost choked on the piece of bread as his arm snaked around me and squeezed. Did he realize that he was gloveless on that right hand?
He rarely touched me, and if he did, it seemed like he hated every second of it.
I leaned into him and smiled, playing my part even though the bread was sitting like a rock in my stomach. Even though I could feel his fingertips almost tremble against the fur I was still stupidly wearing.
Tex flashed us a grin. “Playa, playa.”
“Please never. Ever, again, again, ever…” Chase grumbled. “You can’t say Playa. You’re too Italian, you sound like a white rapper, but like a really really shitty one.”
Tex chucked a roll in his direction.
Chase snatched it midair and grinned. “Still got it.”
“So.” Trace drew out the word louder than necessary as her eyes darted around the table and landed on me. “If you don’t work at the club what do you do?”
Nixon gave her a drop-it look.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, like I clean toilets, wonderful manicure is that new?
When Andrei said in a bored tone, “What do you think? She’s a whore.”
Everything dropped at once.
Tex, his fork.
Nixon, his knife.
Chase, multiple F-bombs.
Phoenix’s hands over his son’s ears.
And multiple wine glasses.
Tears burned the back of my throat as I watched the shocked expressions. All looking at me to nod my head, make a joke. I could kill him. I wanted to strangle him for hurting me, for embarrassing me.
For making me play a role I never wanted to play.
But he said I had to make it believable.
So through tears of hurt and humiliation, tears of anger at the man who said he’d keep me safe, I whispered. “Good thing I come at a cost, huh Andrei?”
His eyes flashed with fury.
And then I kept eating, my fork scraping against the plate, filling the uncomfortable silence with the precision of an atomic bomb.
I imagined what they were thinking about me, and about him, our relationship.
My brother had made me feel used.
Dirty.
Unwanted.
This stranger, Andrei had made me feel worse. He’d given me hope, he’d dressed me, fed me, he’d made me think I was safe.
Only to announce I was none of those things in front of the monsters I’d begged to kill me.
No. I was going to be a whore.
Not his girlfriend.
His whore.
Until I imagined he got bored and killed me.
At least the death, I imagined, would be swift. After all, hadn’t he promised I had only to ask and I would not draw my next breath?
I lifted my wine glass to my lips and drank.
I didn’t cry.
I didn’t hunch my shoulders.
I was trained for this.
I was a mother fucking De Lange woman.
I drained my glass and held it to Andrei for more, and then I turned to Chase and beamed. “Lovely pasta.”
And in that moment, I could have sworn, the Capo saw me, really saw me, and smiled a real smile of approval.
As if it had been a test, and I had passed with flying colors.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Phoenix
It was nearing midnight.
I sent Junior home with Bee and waited for the inevitable. I sat in the shadows of the living room as Dante finally approached with El by his side.
I knew what was coming.