Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Why can’t you hide him here? Nobody would ever know, and he can have peaceful final days.”
His face twists, and I can tell the idea of letting my father live is distasteful to him.
“Sooner or later, word will get out, and do you have any idea what Gallo and Frost will do if they learn I have both you and your dad? They’ll start killing people, that’s what. It’ll be very, very bad.”
“I can keep painting. I’ll paint every single day, as many paintings as they want.” I’m desperate and I know this isn’t a real solution, but I’m trying to come up with anything that might work.
“I won’t let you do that.” He stops, his voice softening. “Hellie, listen to me. Your father knew what he was doing when he stole from us. He understood, and he got fucked in the process. I don’t feel sorry for him, and I don’t feel any pity. I hate how it’s hurting you, but I don’t see how there’s a good solution here.”
I throw my hands up in frustration and turn away. I finally got my father back after a year of barely seeing him, after weeks of wondering if he had abandoned me for dead, after days of worrying he’d get caught by the wrong people—he’s finally here, in the flesh, and it doesn’t matter.
He’s still going to die.
“It isn’t fair,” I say, feeling like a stupid little kid. Powerless and tiny.
“I know. You’re right.” Erick’s voice is closer, like he’s standing only a few inches behind me. I shiver but don’t turn around. “I’m sorry, devil girl, I really am. I can give you a couple days with him if you want, but after that, I have to tell the others.”
“Two days.” I take a deep breath and turn around. He’s there, my Erick, my big man, looming, his lips pressed into a deep frown. “We can come up with a solution in two days. A way to save everyone.”
“Hellie—”
“We can at least try. I know it’s unlikely. I know it’s pathetic. But I can’t help myself.”
He sighs and nods slowly. “Alright. Two days. This is against my better judgment. I want him dead as much as Frost and Gallo do, but I care about you more than I care about your worthless father. We’ll try to come up with a solution, but if we can’t think of anything that could actually work, I have to talk to Frost and Gallo.”
“Fine. Okay. I can work with that.”
He doesn’t move. He remains so close, staring down at me with this piercing, probing expression, like he’s trying to see inside of me, trying to see deep into my body. I look back and shiver, feeling like I’m tingling from head to toe. I’ve missed this—missed his body, his stare, his desire.
“I want to give you everything, Hellie.” He’s speaking quietly, and he comes closer. I don’t try to run away. I don’t want to move—I want his hands on me so desperately it hurts. “I don’t want to kill your father, even though he deserves it. Because of you. Do you know how many men I’ve shown mercy to over the years?”
“I’m guessing single digits.”
“Try none. I’ve never shown mercy to a thief, no matter what, regardless of their reasons. Your father is the first I’ve ever considered saving.”
“I should be honored.”
“You should.” His hand comes up. I whimper as his touch tingles against my cheek. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” I stare into his eyes. “You’re not angry anymore? That I tried to run away?”
“You were going to see your father.”
“Yes, I was.”
“Did you mean what you said before? Everything you said?”
I grab the hand on my cheek and lean into it. “Yes,” I say. “I meant it. I still mean it.”
“I meant it too. I feel things for you I never planned. Things I didn’t think I was capable of feeling, and it has me ruined, Hellie. But I like it.”
“I like it too.”
“Where do we go from here?”
I kiss his fingers. I pull him closer, kiss his wrist, his forearm, and he moves down, bringing his lips to mine, wrapping his arms around me.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care. Right now, I just want this.”
Our mouths touch. Softly at first, then harder, then so deeply his tongue invades my mouth and I’m all his, he’s all mine, and everything rights itself. His taste, his smell, the feeling of his warmth, all of him.
I tumble into that kiss. I groan as he moves me back to the bed, pushes me down, kisses my neck. His words are honey, sticky and lovely, as he takes off my top, his hands on my chest, on my hips, tugging off my sweats. I arch my back, let him undress me. He does it slowly, worshipping as he goes along.