Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 728(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
The only name coming to mind right now is my father’s though.
I turn away from her and lean back in my seat, running my hand through my hair. “You know you don’t wanna know the answer to that, sweetheart.” I can’t look at her when I answer. I know just the way her forehead pinches and her beautiful lips turn down when she’s upset. And I can’t fucking stand it.
Killing my father didn’t feel the same as the other fuckers. Those assholes had it coming. It was me or them, and it was all business, nothing personal.
When my father came back and started thinking he had rights to the money I was giving Ma, it was personal.
She needed that money. She deserves a good life, and she still doesn’t know what I do. That fucker thought he could come back and beat on the two of us just like he used to. He only got two swings in until he was on the ground, choking on his own blood as I landed my fist over and over.
Tony had to pry me off of him. I don’t know how long he’d been dead.
“Don’t ask questions you don’t wanna know the answers to,” I finally tell her. I look deep into those beautiful hazel eyes and I see something I’ve never seen before, a hint of fear.
“I never enjoyed it. I don’t go looking for trouble. But for a while, trouble came to me.”
“You didn’t have to-”
“You don’t know, Emma.” My words come out sharp, and she looks as if I’ve slapped her. I’m gutted by the expression on her face and the fear in her eyes.
Fuck, I wish I could pull her into my lap right now and comfort her like I used to do. I’d just hold her, leaning my seat all the way back and letting her lie on top of me. We’d make out, and she’d let me feel her up. My hands would travel along her curves, making her shiver.
I reach down to hit the button and push my seat back, so we can do just that. I’ll make her forget. I’ll make her not care about anything other than wanting my touch, but she speaks up, finally breaking the silence.
“I wanna be with you,” she says softly, catching me off guard. “But it doesn’t feel right, knowing what you do.” There’s so much pain in her voice.
I reach over and rest my hand on her thigh, tilting my head so I can see her.
“You aren’t supposed to know,” I tell her easily. “You think your sister knows what Tony does?” I ask her. I speak before thinking. I shouldn’t say shit about Tony and his job. He’s my enforcer. If Emma thinks it's wrong that I've killed a few men, she’d be horrified by the shit Tony’s done. “He’s in the business.”
“I’m not getting into that. It’s her concern, not mine” Emma says with a hard edge. I didn’t expect that from her. And I don’t like it.
“You knew what I did before you got in this car, Emma.” I look straight ahead. Across the barrier is a parking lot to another shopping strip. It’s mostly empty since it’s so late, and all the stores are closed. “I can promise you, it’ll never come back to you.” I can say that in good faith. She’s safe with me.
Emma starts biting on her thumbnail, looking out of the window and thinking. I can practically see the wheels turning in her head. She’s so different from any other woman I’ve met.
Usually, it’s the lifestyle they want. That’s what attracts them to me. And precisely why I’m not interested.
She’s too good for me. I’ve always known that. I grip the leather steering wheel and clear my throat to get her attention.
“I have other businesses, too.” I have seventeen, to be exact. And the only one that has me crossing over into the grey areas of the law is the dope.
“You do?” Emma asks.
“Yeah, like this restaurant.” I nod to my left.
“You own this place?” she asks as she leans forward and looks out of the window. The warm yellow glow from the large bay windows out front spills onto the pure white snow falling around the building.
“Only fifty-one percent. But yeah, it’s mine. I own a few of 'em.” Her sassy little mouth parts open slightly, and then closes shut. “Now you’re impressed?” I ask her with a cocked brow.
She looks down at her hands in her lap and then back up at me. “Can you really blame me?” She’s smiling a little, which is a good sign. At least the shock is taking away from all that other shit.
I huff a laugh at her disbelief and then shift in my seat to face her. “I’m not a bad guy. And I don’t do stupid shit.”