Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
“I know,” Uncle Nick says, patting my hand. “But it’s the truth, Liliana. I will never allow my life to be dictated by somebody else. I’ll die before I let that happen. That's why I left the Cartel.”
That’s another half-truth. Our lives are still dictated by the Cartel, which is the reason we’re freaking here to begin with.
“So, what are you going to do then?” I whisper.
“Leave here quietly, and see what happens.”
“But you said you couldn’t go against the Cartel,” I say fiercely. “You said we have to pay homage. We have to play the game.”
Uncle Nick sighs. “I said that because it was the only way we could survive, Liliana. Alone, there are far fewer ways they can touch me.”
“So wait,” I snap. “You think Damien is dangerous? That he’s going to hurt you…but you’re asking me to go with him?”
The thought of Damien hurting Uncle Nick or me seems ridiculous to me. Which in itself should make me feel stupid.
I don’t know Damien. I’ve rarely seen him, only glimpses at other parties, and I know he’s never seen me, not really, not before tonight. He was at Dad’s funeral, and that’s my most lingering memory of his stony eyes and his calm expression.
But even then, I saw a deeper sadness in him, hidden depths.
Or maybe that was the tickling of a completely out-of-place teenage crush, one I never should’ve let myself feel. There was something wrong right away when I looked at that man, the leader of the life my father was trying to escape, and I could still tell he needed healing, needed me.
He didn’t look twice at me then.
But now…the way he looked at me.
And when he touched me, my skin burned.
I can’t think, my thoughts spiral, caught between Damien’s heat and Gabriel’s cruelty and Uncle Nick’s desire to run.
“You’ll be safer with Damien than with me,” Uncle Nick says.
“How can you say that?” I whisper. “He’s Bratva. You don’t even know him.”
“Word gets around in this life, Liliana. Everybody knows the sick shit the Cartel does as much as they know Damien just wants to keep the peace and make money.”
I lower my voice even more. “Or Damien’s better at hiding it.”
My core tightens, pulsing as though punishing me for daring to think it.
“He took a risk, standing up for you like that. He had no reason to do that if he wanted to hurt you.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I just… I want you to come with us.”
He’s all I’ve had since I was thirteen when they took my dad from me. He’s the only family I’ve ever known, and now I’m in the most confusing position.
I don’t want Nick to leave, but I desperately want to go with Damien.
Shouldn’t I just want to go with Nick?
“You know I was in the military, Liliana. I can do certain things that I can’t do with you around. And I won’t be under the whims of another person. I’ll choose when and how I make my stand.”
I cough back a sob, trying my best to act normal just in case anybody is passing by us. The emotions gripping me are too complicated to handle, a jumble of feelings, all of them making me feel more and more confused.
“What should I do?” I whisper.
Uncle Nick clasps my hands. “Damien is a good man. I know people, Liliana, and there’s never been a bad thing said about him. He treats everyone well. He’s tough, but he’ll keep you safe, especially if he’s already made a stand to Gabriel about it.”
“What are you thinking?” I ask when Nick gets a calculating look.
He chews the inside of his cheek the same way he does before placing a bet. “There might be something else going on here. Damien is smart. Maybe he wants to make a play on the Cartel, and he’s using our family as a bargaining chip. That’s another reason I have to get out of here. I can learn what’s going on.”
I’m not even sure what Uncle Nick means. “What sort of bargaining chip could we be?”
Uncle Nick sighs. “I don’t know. Maybe… PR? He can justify another war by using your story…”
I shake my head. “That’s not how this life works. If they wanted a war, there would be a war. I think you’re just saying anything you can so I’ll tell you I don’t care if you leave.”
He swallows. “I can’t stay. If there’s a chance the Cartel is coming for me, I need us both as safe as possible. This is the best way.”
I swallow a lump of emotion, trying to hide the effect his words have on me.
“I love you, Liliana,” Uncle Nicks says.
And I realize this is it. For the first time ever, I’m going to be on my own. Really on my own.