Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“What was that for?” I ask breathlessly.
“Next time?” he says and lifts a brow.
“Oh, these two and Bourne and Beck, that’s all you want?”
“We can have as many as you want and can take,” he replies, looking at me lovingly.
I slide closer and snuggle into his side. My stomach growls, reminding me of his initial question. That food does smell good.
“I’m going to make a plate, you want one?” I ask.
“Billy, I told you I would make you one,” he says and frowns at me.
I lift my shoulders to my ears. “Old habits?” I squawk.
He kisses my forehead and stands to head for the table Mack and Carson are setting up while Beck watches on. I sigh in relief as Carson gives Ardan a nod and looks like he offers him a beer.
Happy we’re not going to have to cut the visit short, I stretch out my legs and lean back on the bleacher behind me. Placing a hand on my belly, I smile. We’re having babies.
***
A few more hours have gone by. Eddy and Bourne are still at it with the chessboard. Eddy has been taken aback by my tiny chess player. Beck has become Mack’s shadow, much to his pleasure.
I had to go to the bathroom. I’m making my way back out of the locker room when I find Ardan with his head back and his arms across his chest. Placing a hand over his heart, I sag into him and place my head over it. He lifts his head and wraps his arms around me, palming my ass.
“Are you tired?”
“No, I just need to be near you,” I reply.
“I’ve needed to be near you too. There’s so much we should talk about. Not just what we talked about this morning but our plans.
“I’m not waiting around for that prophecy to come to pass without living my life. I’ve waited so long for you. I won’t be robbed,” he murmurs.
“I’m going to resign. Candido is dead. I’m not going to see him behind bars and I’m slowly beginning to accept that.
“With him gone, I have no motivation for the job. It’s taxing and that can bleed out into civilian life. I don’t want that for our family.”
“I feel you, baby girl. I feel you. I’m here for whatever you need.”
“I know. Thank you.”
He kisses my forehead and hugs me tightly. I’m thrown off balance when he pushes me out of the way and catches a stumbling Carson under the arms before he can face plant on the concrete floor.
“Hey, you all right?” I ask as I turn to see what’s happening.
“I don’t feel right,” Carson mutters.
“Dude, were you sneaking into the hard liquor? I saw you drink like four beers. You’re no lightweight like this,” I tease.
“Does he still smell strange to you?” I mind-link Ardan.
“No, not as strong as before. It’s very faint now.”
“I don’t feel strange either.”
“No, I only had the beer,” Carson groans.
He looks like he’s going to be sick. Concern begins to set in. I look around. There’s no one left in the gym we don’t know.
I don’t think anyone here would slip him something. Ardan holds him up with ease as Carson’s knees give. I rush to Carson’s side to help even though it’s clear Ardan doesn’t need me.
“Is there somewhere we can lay him to rest this off?” Ardan asks.
“Yeah, our old rooms are upstairs. Follow me,” I say.
Ardan takes the brunt of his weight as I lead him upstairs to where the apartment is. Carson is panting and sweating the entire way. Once we get him into his old room, Ardan sets him down on the bed.
“Thanks. I don’t know what’s going on. One minute I was fine the next everything started to spin.”
“Where is Beck? Hudson and Dracon don’t have eyes on him.”
“I think Papi took him to show him around. They took off before I went to the bathroom. Why? What are you thinking?”
Ardan shakes his head at me. “They have him. I think we should leave soon. We’ve been here too long. I shouldn’t allow them to be exposed like this for so long.”
“You think this has something to do with magic?”
“We can never be too cautious.”
“Billy, I want to apologize. I see you’re happy,” Carson says pulling us from our conversation. “I’ve been a jerk, but I want to see you happy, even if it’s not with me.”
“I know. We don’t have to talk about this now.”
“No, it has to be now. You’ve been slipping away, and I didn’t know how to stop it. You have always been the prettiest girl in the world to me.
“I was the one who found you that night. Did you know that?”
“What do you mean?”
“The night Mack found you digging in the trash cans. I saw you first. Even as you rummaged through the trash, covered in dirt, I could still see how pretty you were.