Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
He nods, looking abashed.
“You’re in the wrong line of work,” Carson murmurs from his position near the door. “You should’ve joined my organization with courage like that.”
Which prompts everyone to realize he’s there.
“Well, hello, big man,” Keely says, her mouth falling open. I swear she’s salivating and steam’s bursting from her ears. I watch as every woman in the room instantly gapes, fawning like they’re in the presence of a movie star or something. It’s like their ovaries take over as their minds turn to mush.
It’s more than a little frustrating.
And I know exactly how they feel. Even now, Carson brings that out in me.
I stand between the horde of horny, traumatized ladies, and my gangster protector-slash-killer, hands on my hips. “Everyone, this is Carson Crowley. Carson, this is everyone.”
“Hi, Carson. I’ll be whoever you want me to be if you’ll take me home and make me forget this shitty day,” Keely says, beaming.
Carson coughs. “No. But thank you. Very kind.”
I glare at her. “Get it together.”
Jamila takes my arm, pulling me aside. “I know that name,” she hisses softly, glancing back at Carson. There’s panic in her expression.
Keely and Bernie join the huddle. Fulco remains where he is, drinking beer and glaring down at the bar like he wants to beat it up.
“I’d like to get to know that name,” Keely murmurs, still staring at Carson. I’m pretty sure she’s drooling now.
I elbow her ribs. “Stop looking at him like you’re going to dry hump his leg.”
“More than dry hump, hon.”
“Seriously,” Jamila presses. “The Crowley family. They’re, like, big shots. Is that guy really one of them?”
“Yes,” I admit. “Unfortunately.”
“From the look of that suit and that watch, I’d say he’s most certainly connected to something,” Bernie says, her eyebrows raised.
I snap my fingers to distract them. “Hey, everyone, focus up. Carson’s a friend, okay? He’s going to… he’s going to help this situation. Jams, can you tell me what the guys that came in here said?”
“They kept asking for you,” she mutters, looking frightened. “They threatened us. Didn’t steal anything, just… waved guns around and broke stuff. Ash, what’s going on? Are you in trouble?”
“Yes and no.” I chew on my lip. “Can you tell all that to Carson?”
“I will,” Keely offers helpfully.
I whack her arm. “No, Keely, I don’t trust you to play nice. Jams? Please?”
“Sure,” she says, smiling uncomfortably. “I’ll gladly go tell that stupidly hot, wildly rich Crowley guy over there what happened. It’ll be easy. I’ll form words. Make sentences. Speak good. Tell him story.”
“Jams, you’re going caveman,” Bernie says, sounding worried.
“Sorry. Hot man make dumb.” Jams rubs her face. “I fine. I mean, I’ll be fine. Fuck. Okay.” She takes a deep breath and marches over to Carson. I glance over as Jamila waves her arms all over the place like she’s a demented octopus. Carson stares at her, a bemused expression on his face.
Bernie squeezes my arm. “What are you gonna do, Ash?”
I look at Keely. Despite her salivating over Carson, I can see the fear in her eyes. I turn to Bernie, frowning at how pale she is, at the way her hand trembles. I glance at Fulco, the bandage on his forehead, his blood still splattered on the bar.
All of it my fault.
Or my brother’s fault. My family’s fault.
But still, the responsibility comes back to me, whether I like it or not.
These are my people now. I turned my back on my father, my brother, my uncles and aunts and cousins, all because I didn’t want to get mixed up in violence and depravity, but no matter how far I ran from all that, I’m still getting dragged back, kicking and screaming.
There’s only one choice. Only one person that I can be sure will protect everyone I care about and even make their lives better.
One man can do all that.
I only have to marry him.
I look back over my shoulder. Jamila’s making gun shapes with her hands like she’s devolved into shadow puppets. Carson’s listening carefully, patiently, but his eyes stray to mine.
When this first happened, I wondered where my guardian angel was.
I wondered if I really had one at all.
Except now I think my angel’s been pushing me toward this man.
If it weren’t for Carson, I’d have no good options at all. The police might come out, take some statements, but they wouldn’t be here to protect us the next time my tormentors come back for more blood.
Carson will.
“There’s only one thing I can do,” I say softly, still looking at Carson. “Bernie, close up for the day. Everyone goes home.”
“But the place is still a wreck.”
“We’ll clean it up tomorrow. Everyone’s getting paid for today. Plus bonuses for lost tips.”
Keely sucks in a breath. “Ash, you can’t actually afford that.”
“I can now. Excuse me.” I walk away over to Jamila and Carson.