Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 51832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 259(@200wpm)___ 207(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
That’s when I realize the hypocrisy of my anger toward Kurt. I say I want the truth. Well, his death was a lie, his leaving again, well that’s the truth. Kurt is not here to stay and therefore in his mind, nothing he does has consequences. It’s a state of absolute freedom.
It makes him dangerous.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Luke
The sound of Smith and Dexter arriving cuts my conversation with Ana short, but I don’t plan to let it end with nothing more than “don’t die.” Ana’s tough as nails, but beneath the steel raincoat, is a human being, and humans are inherently flawed. She has abandonment issues because everyone she loves has left her, and while I know she knows this, knowledge isn’t a cure. It’s simply a tool to move forward.
“We should go get that pizza,” she urges, obviously senses my hesitation to leave things as they are right now.
“All right then,” I murmur. “Pizza first. You second.”
Her lips curve. “Was the hotel not enough for you?”
“Never,” I promise her, and it’s the truth. With Ana, nothing is ever enough and even a day away from her is too much.
I settle my arm over her shoulders and guide her around the center table, then into the kitchen again. Smith and Dexter have stacked pizzas up on the table to the left of the island.
“Ana,” Dexter greets. “Good to see someone has Lucifer under fucking control again.”
Ana’s brows lift. “Was he out of control?”
“He’s fucking nuts,” Smith assures. “Always trying to get himself killed and shit, and us with him. Fuck, man, I earned a shit ton of money with that man, but I’m lucky I’m alive to enjoy it.”
Ana glances up at me.
“I have no idea what they’re talking about,” I assure her, only I do. When I thought she hated me, I hated myself, too, but I would never have done anything to get these assholes killed. “They’re all pussified,” I say, walking to the table and eyeing the pizza choices. “Smith hates heights and Dexter just likes to bitch.”
“I’m the pussy about to wire this house and keep your bitch-ass safe,” Dexter replies. “So, fuck you to Texas and back.”
I laugh at how easily he’s riled up and grab a pepperoni pizza while Ana walks to the fridge where she finds two bottles of water and holds them up.
She uses her body to push the door shut and I watch as Kurt catches her arm, then leans in to say something to her. Her lips press together, lashes lower before she nods. Kurt seems to hesitate, but he releases her, and then Ana walks toward me. When she steps in front of me, she doesn’t make eye contact, which tells me she knows if she does, her emotions will spiral.
For that reason and that reason alone, I motion toward the house. “Pick a room, baby. And we’ll make it ours.”
She moves forward and heads for the stairs, which we travel together, side-by-side, in silence. She still won’t look at me. Once we’re on the second level it doesn’t take long until we end up in the main suite, which includes two yellow couches, that look kind of like eighties elegance to me. I set the pizza box on the entry table, shut the door, and as Ana steps further into the room, I catch her hand and turn her to face me.
“What did he say to you?”
She casts me in a tormented stare, one glistening with unshed tears. I flashback to the first time I’d seen Ana cry. It was six months into our relationship. She’d walked into the kitchen where I’d been making my famous spaghetti, which means removing it from takeout containers, and she’d gone right for the glass of wine I’d poured her. She’d downed the entire glass, which never happens with Ana. I’d pulled her to me and the minute her eyes had met mine, the tears had flowed.
“A five-year-old boy,” she’d sobbed, and it’s all I could understand. It’s all I needed to understand.
I pulled her close and held onto her, and I didn’t let go all night. She’d held it together, and dealt with the stepfather who’d abused and killed that boy, but what she’d seen had broken her. She had become my hero that day and I didn’t think anyone but my pilot father, who fought for our country and made the ultimate sacrifice, could ever claim that title. If I hadn’t loved her already, I would have fallen in love with her that night. She has always fought for those who cannot fight. It’s a selfless way to live, but again, that steel raincoat has limits.
Tears stream down her cheeks and anger burns in my belly. What the fuck is up with Kurt? Why must he hurt her? One of my hands settle on her lower back and I meld her to me, cupping her face and tilting her gaze to mine. “Talk to me, baby.”