Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
I cocked my head to the side, arching an eyebrow. “Our?”
“Did I stutter?”
“Austin…” Briggs coaxed, gently placing her hand on his chest, trying to get him to back down.
He wouldn’t.
And I fucking respected that too.
“This isn’t her apartment. It’s mine. I pay for it. Briggs, how about the next time you ask someone to move in, they are aware of who fucking owns it first.”
“There won’t be a next time. I’ll start paying for it. Just tell me who to make the check out to,” Austin said, not backing down.
He hated me. I guess I would too if the woman I loved was related to a man like me. I’m sure Briggs told him all about her childhood, painting me to be the villain I always wanted her to think I was. The monster that didn’t show her any affection when she was growing up. Showing her the cruelty and reality of the world instead.
I grinned, narrowing my eyes at him. Contemplating if I really wanted to go through with what I had been thinking, ever since Briggs fucked up the meeting with Hector. Austin may have been the one on drugs, but she allowed it to happen. When she was supposed to be in charge and in control of the situation, proving to me she was being blinded by love.
I looked back and forth between them, before my stare settled on Briggs. She eyed me warily, knowing I wasn’t there for fucking chit-chat.
“I’ve decided to make some changes. You want him involved in every aspect of your life, peladita? I can’t stop you… but I’m personally over the fact that you’re spreading your legs for the goddamn help again.”
Austin stepped toward me, and Briggs held him back.
I scoffed, standing. Placing my hands in the pockets of my slacks, I rounded the corner of the island unfazed. Stopping about a foot away from them. Briggs stood right in the middle, waiting to intervene if needed.
Even after all these years, she still feared me. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t fucking hate it.
“Since you’re so fucking involved in my business and what’s mine,” I paused, looking at Briggs, “including this apartment, I’ve decided to promote you.”
“No!” Briggs yelled, stepping toward me. Knowing what I was about to do.
My niece knew me as well as I knew her. I could control Briggs. Now, since I knew Austin wasn’t going anywhere, I needed to control him too. And nothing made a man think he was in control more than power did. I knew Austin would be chomping at the bit.
I was about to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“You can’t fucking do this, Uncle! I won’t let you. He’s not—”
“Baby, I don’t need you to answer for me,” Austin sneered, pulling her aside to stand in front of me instead.
Man to fucking man.
“What you did in Colombia took some fucking balls. I can appreciate a man that protects what he thinks is his. You would have shot Hector in the fucking face had Briggs not stopped you. Without even batting an eye, I know you would have pulled the fucking trigger. I was fourteen when I had my first taste of blood. I murdered a man point blank, protecting what I thought was also mine,” I informed, giving Briggs a piece of my life’s puzzle. A glimpse of who I was.
Even though she would never know the truth about my life. I wouldn’t allow it.
“Uncle, please… don’t do this,” Briggs whispered, her head bowed with an expression I couldn’t see.
“I don’t need both of you. Austin here,” I nodded toward him, “is now in charge.”
“What?” he replied, confused.
“You want to be boss man? Well then, here’s your fucking chance.”
“You want me to take over Briggs’ job? I can’t do that to her,” Austin stated with a sincere tone, shaking his head. “I could never take this away from her. It’s—”
“She will be right there with you. Won’t you, Briggs?”
She glared at me with an expression I had never seen before. She loved Austin too much to ever leave his side, especially when it came to this life. She wouldn’t say no. I had her right where I wanted her.
Bottom line.
It would keep them safe. I would make sure of it.
“He doesn’t know what—”
“And that’s why you’ll teach him. I’ll have someone else take over the traveling for the time being. He will run New York with you. Look at it this way, he will have plenty of time to fuck you in your own bed,” I mocked, repeating what I overheard him saying to her as they opened the door.
It was the first time in over fifteen years, after everything I had put her through, made her see, made her experience, that she wanted to tell me she fucking hated me. I could see it in her eyes.