Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
There was a long silence. He stroked his hand down her hair, needing to comfort her and not knowing how.
“I don’t have friends. I didn’t growing up. My mother was my friend. And then Sasha.”
He winced. He couldn’t help it. Like him, Sasha was a good deal older than she was. And a mobster.
“What about school?”
She pulled in on herself even more, making herself even smaller. Her knees were drawn up tight against her chest. He curved his body around hers, his legs drawing up just as tightly so she was in a little cocoon of safety.
“I went to school until my high school years. Then I was homeschooled with tutors. I had to go to take tests, but there was no interaction anymore between me and other girls or boys. The few I knew in grade school drifted away. It was my mother and Sasha.”
That name again. He was going to have a talk with the bastard, and if for one second he thought Sasha was playing her and would harm her in any way – any way – Sasha Bogomolov was going to die. He’d sent word to the others and they were gathering their armies to back him from the threat against his woman. He didn’t need them for what he had to do.
Joshua pressed kisses along the nape of her neck. “I know you want Molly to always be your friend, and I hope she proves to you that she will be, but I also know you’ll meet other women. Saria, Drake’s wife. She’s as sweet as they come. Emma, Jake’s wife, is an amazing woman. She just gave birth to their third child. Alonzo is married to my cousin, Evangeline. She owns a bakery. They’re all good women. There’s more. Eli Perez’s wife, Caterina. You’ll like her. She was held here, raised with Rafe, and had to escape. He was a DEA agent for several years, now he works security for Drake. Elijah’s wife, Siena, is pregnant with triplets. I’ll take you to meet her.”
He nuzzled the nape of her neck again, and then scattered kisses across her shoulders. “You won’t be lonely, Sonia. I swear you won’t. I’ll make certain you meet women, good women, who will understand the situation you’re in. They’ll accept you.”
“I don’t even know how to make friends. Molly is just so easy.”
She was tearing him up inside. He wanted to blame Sasha for keeping her in that mansion that was really a prison, but what would he do to keep her safe? Hell, he’d lock her up and throw the fucking key away if that’s what it took. The business they were in was hard on wives and family.
“Molly’s wonderful. I hope she doesn’t listen to the rumors, or if she does, she doesn’t care, other than to want you safe.” He pressed his forehead against the back of her head. “Stay with me, Sonia. No matter how difficult it is, stay with me. I’ll make you happy. I swear it. I’ll try to learn to do all those things a man should do for his woman.”
She turned then, still in his arms because he didn’t let go. “I’m not going anywhere, Joshua. I’m scared. I don’t want to lose Molly, but I know I love you. I know you’re that man for me.” Her eyes searched his. “You’re certain there’s no way out?”
He nodded slowly. “I’d be hunted until they found me. You can only run so long, and then you’re dead. I took this job knowing that. I had no idea I’d find you or I wouldn’t have done it. I would have remained as part of Drake’s security force.”
“Why doesn’t Drake fall under suspicion?”
He dipped his head to press a kiss to each eye. She had beautiful eyes. Exotic. He loved her long lashes. He especially loved how her eyes darkened with passion, with so much desire for him when he was making love to her. Playing. He loved that she let him play and understood that the more he did, the more he was showing her what she meant to him. That trust. That connection between them.
“Drake is known internationally as the head of a security company. Everyone in the criminal world knows he’s relentless and dangerous. Most have a standing rule to back off if he’s involved. He doesn’t take bribes and he’s been offered insane amounts of money. His men are every bit as relentless and dangerous as he is.”
“Leopards?” she guessed.
“A mixture, but he employs a good many scattered throughout the world.”
“So how does he explain being friends with mobsters?”
“He doesn’t. People assume he needs contacts to do the things he does. His best friend is Jake Bannaconni.”
“That doesn’t seem possible. He’s a billionaire or something equally as off-limits to the average man.”