Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
He held it away. "Are you sure?"
"You see the name on it."
"However, there are many men named Max." He smiled and handed it to me. "You just going to smoke my shit up like it's cool?"
"I brought you a suit."
I stared at the case and buzzed with new hope-filled energy. "I thought I lost you."
"It was on the side of the trail near several burnt corpses."
"Thank God." I kissed the front of the case.
Rafael eyed me. "You really like it."
"This is important to me."
"Clearly." Rafael took another hit of the joint and handed it to me. “Aunt Océane claimed you had the best marijuana she’s ever smoked. After trying this, I must agree.”
"The strain is Special Queen." I beamed with pride as I took the joint “I’m somewhat of an herbal connoisseur.”
Rafael handed me a lighter. “But what did you think of my plants back in Nice?”
“What plants?”
“On the Nice property. I have a whole garden behind Jean-Pierre's house. Aunt Aimée was supposed to harvest it weeks ago. I’ve been gone and unable to tend to them.”
“You have weed growing on the property?”
Rafael nodded.
“Man, your aunts kept smoking me out of my shit like they had nothing around.”
Rafael snickered. “That also means that they smoked up all of my plants too.”
“I believe so.” I put the joint in my mouth and lit it. “They don’t play.”
Greedy old ladies!
“Great Eagle!” Timor fought to get out of his straight jacket. “Soar down and kill them!”
The man stopped Timur’s dolly in front of a hummer and then pulled a syringe out.
“The Great Snake is active.” Spit fell from Timur’s lips. “He’s slithered around and come for your most loyal!”
Fast, the man put the syringe in Timur’s neck and shot Timur up with something. Instantly, Timur’s head fell back. His body went limp. Then that was the end of that.
I looked back at Rafael. “What is Jean-Pierre’s and your plan in New Orleans?”
“The mission is to fix his father-in-law.”
“How would you all do that?”
“Magic.”
I studied him.
No humor covered his face.
I smirked. “Are you fucking around with me?”
“Not at all, Maxwell.”
“Magic?”
Rafael shrugged. “Do you have another idea?”
“Dude needs a mental hospital.”
“Jean-Pierre believes we don’t have time for a mental hospital. He checked in with my cousins in Italy. According to Giorgio and Louis, things are getting hot.”
“Yeah, man. I need to get back to Em.”
“Soon.” Rafael nodded. “But, I am glad you are here right now. We should have conversation before we get on the plane.”
I inhaled and blew out smoke. “About what?”
“About your interest in Eden.”
“Naw, man.” I took another hit. This time the smoke left my nostrils. “I was on some revenge shit due to Jean-Pierre kidnapping Em.”
Rafael quirked his brows. “And now?”
“Now, we survived together. Jean-Pierre is my people. I’ll fight someone over him. Therefore, I no longer have any intention to dirty mack." I handed the joint to Rafael. "I’m just trying to get back to Italy and be next to my sister.”
He took the joint. “That’s good to hear. I would have had to kill you and I’m becoming more of a godlier man.”
I grinned. “You think you can kill me?”
“One must always have a proper dose of confidence when walking in our world.”
“Common sense is good too.”
“We should be done soon. Everyone else is at the airport waiting.” Rafael tapped ash onto the ground and gave me the joint back. “Head to the Hummer and get in. Unless you feel like taking a few selfies around the place for your social media followers.”
“Naw, man. I’m good. I don’t want any memories of this place.” I tipped my own imaginary hat and headed off with the joint. “Thanks for finding my case, man.”
After that, we headed to the airport. I was so ready to get out of there, I didn’t even look out the car window to watch our departure. I kept my view straight. I didn’t want to see palm trees, grass, or ocean.
I was eager to be done with Timur’s place and the whole state. Everything that had happened there had changed me, and I yearned to put it all behind me and move on.
There was one good thing about the place. I’d lost my ache. That dying need didn’t fill me. That yearning was gone.
However, in its place were dreams of love, desires for a special woman, and a passion to find a warm woman to fill my heart.
I can’t believe I’m even thinking this way.
It was time to open myself. Open my heart. Open my soul. It was time to search for that special woman that could tame and heal me in the same moments. Time to be hopeful. Time to stop missing out on what everyone else was enjoying.
It was time for love and the belief that it was possible for me.
The very idea delivered a shiver through me.