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)
“You think I’ll be the last?” Gabriel snaps. “There’s more of me, Damien. This city won’t be yours forever.”
“It will,” I tell him flatly. “Because I have a family now. I’ll never let anything happen to them.”
I’m speaking of Liliana and our future children, speaking in the present tense because that’s how it feels. Like it’s happening now, like our future has collapsed into the present.
“Who?” Gabriel says, a sick smile on his face, vanishing when he meets my eye and sees the murderous intent there. “You don’t mean the Lopez girl, do you?”
I step forward, my finger on the trigger of the pathetically small gun, having to wedge my finger into the trigger guard.
“Say something about it. Make a comment. Go on. You’re always so fucking quick-witted when it comes to hurting people who don’t deserve it. Go ahead.”
He whimpers, his lips trembling, shaking his head from side to side.
Behind me, somebody starts to laugh. It echoes all around us. Bratva men and Cartel men join in.
Then I see why.
A long streak of piss flows down Gabriel’s leg, discoloring his caramel-colored chinos.
I turn away, disgusted.
“Sort this mess out,” I growl, nodding at Max.
He steps forward, nodding as he takes the gun. “I will. There’s nothing to do except make sure this rat gets out of our city.”
“And all of you…,” I turn, looking at the Cartel men. “I know you’ll want to come back here. I know you’ll want to take another shot at this city. But just know, I’m going to be right here, always right here. And if you try anything in the aftermath, get any clever ideas about taking Gabriel’s position, just know this. The Cartel doesn’t give a fuck about any of you. The Bratva can do what we want with you now.”
The men take a step back, exchanging glances.
Gabriel’s second, Lucas, steps forward, eyes averted. It’s like the whole world thinks I’m a bomb, and maybe I am.
That’s what Liliana makes me.
That’s what happens when you insult my woman.
“There will be no problems,” the man says. “Don’t worry. This is what we wanted.”
I make for the door, shoulders wide, pushing out into the sunlight.
It’s time to see my woman.
CHAPTER
TWENTY
Liliana
“Did he say where he was going?” I demand, my voice clashing like my feelings.
Henrik stands on the other end of the kitchen island, his hands behind his back. He just told me he got news from the city.
Damien is okay. My man is safe.
But apparently, Uncle Nick left as soon as he got the news.
“No,” Henrik says.
“Did he say anything?”
Henrik sighs. “He told me to tell you, Liliana…he needs to think about what you told him. I’m not sure what he’s referring to. He said, with the Cartel business sorted, he’s safe.”
“To do what?”
“To think, I suppose.”
I wave a hand, letting out a breath even if it’s not Henrik’s fault. “But he can think here just as easily as somewhere else. And he’s injured. He’s such a proud, silly man sometimes. He’s injured, and he’s disappeared. He’s just wandered off into the countryside.”
“He took a car, miss,” Henrik says lightly.
My shoulders sag as I slump against the kitchen island, the vegetables forgotten. I was losing myself in the chopping, the cutting motions as if that meant I didn’t have to think about Damien.
Henrik doesn’t know why Uncle Nick left, but I do. He left because of the fluttering in my heart, the way my whole body, whole being lights up when I think about Damien racing back to see me.
He’s safe. Gabriel is leaving the city.
Everything is okay, should be okay….
Except my injured uncle decided to ditch me without telling me.
“I’m sorry for yelling,” I murmur, meaning that apology. “I just can’t believe it. This should be a happy moment.”
Turning away, I pace over to the window. Otherwise, it may be too clear what exactly I mean by a happy moment.
For Damien and me, our future, the sparkling life which feels so close now…and yet too far.
What if Uncle Nick makes me choose?
I can’t choose.
My core tingles, as though calling me a liar, as though telling me I could only ever choose Damien.
But I can’t abandon Uncle Nick either.
I leap up from the porch chair when I see the car approaching, my body pumping in time with my heartbeat.
I knew seeing him again would be like this. Pieces of me are clicking into place, but it’s so much more intense than I imagined.
He’s driving himself, I realize, the car speeding across the grounds as dust kicks up into the mid-afternoon air. He’s driving, my man, racing across the world to reach me.
He’d never let anything come between us, never let this end, this beautiful future we’re building.
Except he doesn’t know that’s how deep my feelings go.
The car skids to a halt a few feet from me.