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)
Liam completely ignores him. “What I don’t understand is why you’re not simply taking her as your own,” he says, continuing our conversation about Ash.
“It wouldn’t be the same if I did that.”
Liam frowns like he doesn’t understand. “But then you’d have her.”
“Yes, but she has to want it.”
He only shakes his head like that makes no sense.
Liam and I have a lot in common. He’s the strangest of my brothers, but we still share certain qualities, like our deeply obsessive nature and our disregard for convention.
Except Liam goes further than I do. He doesn’t see people the same way, like they’re all made of cardboard, and he’s the only living and breathing one walking around. To him, people are a means to an end, and nothing more. Sometimes I think he looks at his own family that way. Though what he really wants, I have no clue—Liam seems to revel in violence more than anyone else, but he doesn’t actively seek it out.
It must seem strange to him that I’d choose to deprive myself of something I want.
“I’m going to do this the right way.” I don’t look at him as I speak. “For the last decade, I’ve been doing what I wanted without worrying about what she thought about it. But I’m finished with all that. I’m not sure it matters at this point, but what she wants is going to be as important to me as what I want. It’s the only way I can make this work.”
Liam grunts, making a skeptical face, but shrugs. “I respect it. I don’t agree, but I respect it.”
“Good enough.” I lean back, closing my eyes. “Either way, we have more men to kill. How interested are you?”
“Very interested.”
“Far as I’m concerned, Jan Minda crossed a line last night. I was trying to avoid an all-out war, but now it’s time to kill him and everyone he loves for daring to get anywhere near my wife.”
Liam grunts his approval. “Now we finally agree on something.”
Chapter 41
Ash
Bernie and I stay in her suite the next day. I call Keely and let her know that Smoke won’t be opening, which only makes her ask a billion questions. “Just let the others know, okay, Keels? And don’t worry, you’re still getting paid for the day. I’ll add a bonus to cover lost tips, too.”
“How rich are you now exactly?” she asks with a laugh. “You know what, don’t tell me, I’ll just be jealous. No worries, I’ll spread the word. You’re okay though?”
I consider telling her about the attempted murder but decide that’s not going to do anyone any good. “I’m fine. I’m with Bernie.”
“Tell her hello from me. Have a good day then!” She hangs up, probably already thinking of how she’ll spend a rare day off.
“We have room service,” Bernie says pushing a hotel-style cart into the room, her eyes glittering with excitement. “And it’s not bagels.”
She takes off the dome lid to reveal a luxurious breakfast. Waffles, pancakes, coffee, bacon and eggs, everything I could want. I pick out a croissant and take little bites as Bernie stuffs herself, mumbling something about stress eating between helpings.
We try to talk like nothing insane has happened, but it’s impossible to ignore the events of the night before. The near-killing, the corpse, the blood splattered across the wall in the shape of a human skull, the escape, and the strange facsimile of my apartment next door. It’s almost too much, but the whole time I hold my ring in my hand, squeezing it tightly.
“Bern?” I ask after downing enough coffee to make an elephant jittery. “I’ve been thinking.”
“Uh-oh.” She collapses onto a couch, one hand on her belly, the other behind her head. “What now?”
“He gave me the ring again.” I hold it up so she can see. “And I’ve been thinking I might put it back on.”
Her eyes widen. “Really?”
“He said something last night. He said… it’s my choice now. And it sounded like he meant it.”
“That’s… good. Right? That’s good? I’m honestly not sure with you anymore.”
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. “I’ve been so angry because he took away my agency. Like, I understand that he did all that stuff over the last ten years to help me, and my life’s been so much better because he was looking out the whole time, but I feel like I never had a say in anything, and he never seemed to care about that. Now though, it’s like… he understands.”
“He still built a creepy apartment shrine thing next door,” she points out.
“What, are you against me and him all of a sudden?”
She laughs, shaking her head. “No, honestly, I’m happy you’re saying all this. I think you should’ve forgiven him a while ago.”
“That’s the thing. I’m afraid it’s too late.”
“Ashlyn, if you want to be with your husband, then be with your husband.”