Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
“Mick Sands?” I ask. “I know Mick. He’s a good guy that I’ve done business with. In fact, I did a deal with him recently. The Mercury deal. We need to look that up but wait—isn’t he married?”
“Separated.”
“So we think she’s with Mick?” Carrie asks. “Then why would Elijah be focused on Reid?”
“He must think I’m the other man,” he says. “But I’m with you.” I scrub my jaw. “Get us where we need to go here, Blake. What are we missing?”
The doorbell rings. “That’s your wire,” Blake says. “And that’s all I’ve got before you leave, but I’m damn interested in what Tabitha has to say. But if she doesn’t give you answers, I’ll get them. I’m close.”
A few minutes later, with wires discreetly placed on both of us, one of the Walker crew gives us a ride to our apartment. Once bundled up and tucked in the back of the SUV, I ask for a moment alone with Carrie. With the heater on and the doors shut, I turn Carrie to me, my hands framing her face. “She was nothing but a one-night mistake. Do not let her fuck with your head or us.”
She covers my hands with hers. “Have faith in us, Reid. I do.”
My forehead lowers to hers, a knife of emotion in my chest. “It’s going to take me some time, baby. I’m living the past in spades. I’m living all the reasons I didn’t think I could do this.”
She jerks back. “You aren’t—”
“Don’t even finish that question. You know I’m all in. I just need you to understand, that this threat is a walk on the dark side for me.”
“I know. I’m right here, and Elijah doesn’t get to take me from you or you from me. We’re good. Let’s go deal with this bitch and get it over with.”
I laugh. “This bitch?”
“She fucked you, but now it’s turned into fucking us and I’m not into ménages. I’m done with this. I want it over. That’s why I wanted to meet her in the first place. I wanted to get you ammunition to do what you need to do. Or at least that validation that he’s not crazy. If we know he’s not crazy and about to shoot everyone up, you can leverage him.”
“That I can,” I assure her, stroking her hair. “Let’s go do this.” I knock on the window and our driver joins us, who just happens to be Savage.
“I couldn’t miss the party,” he says, glancing over his shoulder. “I love a cheating bitch as long as she’s not mine.”
We laugh, though it’s strained. There’s no way around the awkwardness of a woman I fucked whose husband is trying to fuck me, and her with me, in our path. The drive is about three minutes and Savage valets. “I’m staying close,” he says joining us for the walk to the building. “And so are a number of our men, just in case it’s a setup.”
“Well that suddenly made me more nervous,” Carrie says, as I give Savage a hellish look for saying what I’d been thinking, but didn’t want to voice. I knew Walker had us covered. Carrie didn’t need to think about guns and crazy men on top of ménages.
I pull Carrie closer and slide my hand in her opposite pocket. Once we’re at the building, Savage grabs the door. “I’ll stay inside at the door, but let me go in first. Give me sixty seconds. If I don’t come back out, you’re a go.”
I turn to Carrie. “You can stay out here. I can do this alone.”
“You and her, no. Not happening.” She grabs the door and opens it and here we go.
I follow her inside and quickly grab her hand, scanning to find Tabitha sitting on a bench to our right. “I didn’t know you liked gorgeous redheads,” Carrie murmurs.
“Obviously, I don’t,” I say. “I’m marrying a brunette ten times prettier with better brains, morals, and personality.”
“Well played,” she approves. “Well played.”
I’d laugh but Tabitha stands up, stuffing her hands in her expensive trench coat, waiting on us, which works for me since her spot is private. Carrie and I cross to meet her and Tabitha homes in on Carrie. “And you are?”
“His future wife. And you are?”
“Fucked,” she says. “And so are you if you’re with him.”
Chapter one hundred three
Reid
Tabitha’s “you’re fucked” comment aimed at Carrie sets me off. I read it like a threat and I react like it’s a threat. I grab her arm and pull her closer. “Are you threatening my woman? Because I promise you, that’s not a place you want to go.”
Tabitha’s eyes go wide and she grips my hand. “Reid. God. Stop.”
“Reid,” Carrie demands urgently, grabbing my arm. “Reid, let her go. Give her a chance to explain.”
“I came to warn you, not threaten you,” Tabitha insists urgently. “I swear to you, I’m not the enemy.”