Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“Maybe I like this prison.” She shrugs one shoulder, and I watch my T-shirt slip down to expose smooth, soft skin. She sees my reaction then blushes.
I know she’s thinking about last night and this morning. I woke her up with my face between her legs, and we both came at the same time. Too bad I had to go off in my underwear instead of her hot little pussy.
“I like you being with me.” When I walk over to the stool she’s sitting on, I make her spread her knees so I can move between them. “But I want you and Marco to be able to live the life you dream of. Not one where you’re always looking over your shoulder.”
“And what about you?” Her fingers move up my dress shirt, and she plays with the buttons.
“I’m sorry, sweetness, but you’re not getting rid of me so easily.” I snag her hand and then bring her fingers to my mouth, biting the tip and then licking over the same spot. Her lips part, and I bend to quickly give her a kiss.
“Do you mean that?” There’s so much hope in her eyes, and I’m reminded for the thousandth time that she’s never had someone protecting her.
“I do.” I kiss her once more and then force myself to take a step back. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Will you at least tell me what you’re doing?”
Grabbing the keys to my car, I turn around one last time. “The less you know the better. But I’ve got people on standby in case anything goes wrong. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Until then, you and Marco can hang out.”
She hops off her stool and hurries over to give me a hug. “Come back safe, okay?”
“I’ll always come back to you,” I tell her and kiss the top of her head.
She lets me go, and I have a moment of hesitation where I want to throw her over my shoulder and go back to bed, but I can’t. After talking with Maxim yesterday, I knew that I didn’t have much time before they figured out the transfer was fake. It gave us enough time that Kelly and Marco could be anywhere in the world even though they’re not too far away. It’s risky for me to leave and meet with her father, but it’s important to put him away.
Maxim works underground and has contacts with the feds. Sometimes they contract him out for intel or to help them crack a case, but mostly he stays underground. He’s agreed to meet with me and pay a visit to Vince Sledge. Theoretically we’ve got enough evidence on him to get a warrant to search his place. But Sledge is a slippery fucker, and he’s got enough cops that could mishandle evidence. We need something concrete, and I think getting a confession on tape is our best bet.
Once I leave the house, I take the long way out of town and then come back in on another route. I’m cautious because I’m not willing to risk the safety of Kelly and Marco.
Maxim is waiting for me on the corner when I pull up. He gets in, and we go over the plan while he puts a hidden microphone in my jacket. Then we drive across the city and call Vince. He answers on the first ring but doesn’t speak right away.
“Meet me at the Daily Diner on Lennox,” I say and I hear someone mumble on the other end like he’s covered his phone.
“If you don’t have my kids with you then you know what that means for you, right?” Vince’s cool voice leaves no room for misinterpretation.
“I’ll go ahead and save you the suspense. They’re not with me and they won’t be joining us.” Maxim gives me a look from the passenger seat, but I ignore him. “I’ll see you in ten.” Without waiting for a response, I hang up.
“There’s no need to piss the lion off before you get in the cage with him,” Maxim says.
“If he’s pissed off, he’s not paying attention to what’s going on around him. Pissed off is good.”
“In my line of work, pissed off gets you shot.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take,” I admit.
“She must be something special.” Maxim is looking at me with new eyes, and I grin at him and nod. “Damn, I never thought I’d see the day.”
“What? I had to settle down at some point.” Maxim is already shaking his head.
“Not me, brother. This life isn’t built for two.”
“Hmm,” I say as I turn on Lennox. I think about the difference between Maxim and me, and we’re not that far apart. Only the security work I do is all above board and out in the open. What he does is in secret and with the worst of the worst. I can see why he wouldn’t want to bring someone into that. But at the same time, I think about all the ways it makes taking care of Kelly and Marco so much better. I can keep them safer than anyone else, and they’ll be able to live their best lives. I open my mouth to tell Maxim all of that, but he stops me as he points to the diner.