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)
“Who else knew?” I manage to ask once my tears slow.
“Ren. That’s it. Nobody else. Just me, Ren, and your father.”
“I’ll have to thank Ren then.”
“Don’t worry about it, I already gave him a nice bonus for all his hard work.”
I laugh and kiss him. It’s an ugly, sloppy, tear-filled kiss, but he doesn’t shy away.
“I love you,” I say.
“I love you too. More than anything.”
“Good. Because I think my father didn’t tell you everything.”
His eyebrows raise. “What did he do?”
“The partner you’ve been looking for doesn’t exist. My dad had the money hidden in a secret Swiss account all this time, and he gave it all to me.”
Erick says nothing. It’s hard to read his face. Half amusement, half frustration, but eventually he only grins and shakes his head. “That motherfucker.”
“I know.”
“It’s all there?”
“All but a million he kept for himself.”
“I’m sure he blew through that already.”
“I hope so.” I touch Erick’s face. “You’re not mad?”
“Not at all. Keep it. That money’s yours. It’s the last great haul of an old-school con man, a dead and dying breed. Your dad was a piece of shit, but I’ve got to admit some admiration.”
“Thank you.” I kiss him and press my forehead against his. “I guess that means I’m rich now.”
“You’ve been rich since the day I stole you.”
“Fair point.”
“What do we do now?”
I kiss him again. And again. “I was thinking I’d paint for a while. Get some emotions out. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. Do you mind if I watch?”
“I’d like that.”
“Good.” He kisses me softly.
I get to my feet and shuffle over to my canvas. It’s blank this time, prepared with white Gesso. He pulls his chair back and gets himself comfortable.
I pause only to look as he rolls up his sleeves.
My gorgeous man. My incredible husband.
Saving my father’s life—if only for a few months—is the greatest gift anyone could give to me. Erick went against his own interests to make it happen, and he did it because he loves me.
Now, I’ll make him a thousand paintings, each painting for him, and maybe they’ll live up to how I feel for him too.
Chapter 46
Hellie
One Year Later
Marina shoves a bowl of cereal at me. “Eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
She stands, hands on hips, and glares. “You turned down eggs. You turned down bacon. You ignored fruit. You will eat the cereal and thank me for stooping so low as to offer it to you. Now do not insult me further. Eat.”
I pick up the spoon. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good.” She stalks off, muttering to herself.
I manage a few bites. I’m nauseous and exhausted, my ankles swollen, my belly beginning to grow, but all things considered, I’m okay. Marina’s been on my ass to keep shoveling food down my face, which isn’t exactly the most pleasant thing in the world, but she’s right. I need to keep my strength up now that I’ve got a baby growing in me.
Marina fusses around, brings me juice, crackers, tea, anything she can think of as I try to read the paper. It’s early, but Erick left for work nearly an hour ago now. I’m antsy, already thinking about what I’ll spend the afternoon painting. I’ve been doing this series focusing on moments from my father’s life—the truck at the bottom of the canyon, the armored truck, money in a pocket, fake documents, his face always obscured. When I’m finally ready to get up and get working, Erick appears in the kitchen doorway, wearing his customary fitted suit and looking like a straight-up slice of heaven.
“Hello, my devil girl,” he says and comes over to kiss me.
“Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you were on the Strip today.”
“Something came up last minute and I decided to stay home.”
“Sounds good to me.” I get up and kiss him. He puts a hand on my belly, and even though I’m only two months along, he swears he can feel the baby moving around. “I’m headed up to the studio if you want to come.”
“Actually, I was hoping you’d take a little detour with me first.”
“Well, sure, what do you have in mind?”
“Come this way.” He takes my hand and tugs me along.
I follow him, not sure where we’re going. We move to the back door, out onto the patio, and that’s where I stop in my tracks.
There are plants everywhere. Colorful plants, flowers, the sort of stuff that can’t survive in this climate. It’s like he transplanted an entire jungle into the back yard, so dense and thick it almost feels like the foliage is taking over the world. I breathe hard, head spinning, staring around, completely overwhelmed.
“What did you do?” I ask, my hands covering my mouth.
“You said the one thing you dislike about the desert is the lack of color. I know it won’t last, but at least for today, I brought the color to you.”