Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Ooooh, you totally do.”
“Disgusting. I’d never.”
“You want to kiss your husband. Sleep in the same bed as him. Let him do some extremely nasty and potentially illegal acts—”
“You have an immoral mind and I will not deign to acknowledge it.” I tilt my chin up. “What we do in private is completely legal. In most states anyway.”
She laughs and leans her head on my shoulder. “I’m just worried about you, is all. I want you to make sure you’re taken care of, not taken advantage of. I don’t want you to end up as this guy’s glorified live-in nanny taking care of the babies while he’s out, like, running clubs with his hot lesbian best friend and cheating on you all over town.”
“He doesn’t seem like the cheating type,” I say quietly, thinking about how he called his fiancée before proposing to me. He didn’t need to do that—their relationship was never real—but he did it anyway because he’s a decent person.
Decent enough, anyway, for a mobster.
She waves that off. “Either way. You like him, I’m sure he likes you. I think that if you really want to see where this can go, then you let it happen. You know what I mean? Be up front about what you need, don’t let him push you around, but don’t fight it, either.”
“I’ll try to be more demanding, it’s just hard.”
“I know, but try anyway. You’re not used to big, strong, bossy gangsters, but it’s time to push back.”
“Fine, I’m spineless, okay? I’ll do better. How did this conversation turn into you calling me a coward again?”
She laughs. “All right, enough of this.” Kathryn pats my knee again and stands. “You have the rich guy’s credit card right? Let’s go use it.”
“I don’t know.” I squirm a little. “I’m not sure I feel right buying stuff.”
“Didn’t he tell you to get an all new wardrobe? Not a few pairs of shoes, not a couple blouses, but an entirely new wardrobe.” She taps my shoulder. “Spine, remember?”
“Yes, but—”
“Let’s take the man at his word and get shopping.” She holds out a hand. “Come on. You want to do this, right?”
I hesitate, smiling to myself.
Do I want to do this? Do I want to take Finn’s money and dig myself deeper into his world? I feel like I’m the one taking advantage of him somehow, even though he offered without me ever asking.
That’s the poor girl still locked in the back of my head. I remember the days where my family had to scrimp and save for everything, clip coupons, buy dented cans, dig for change in pants pockets, all that stuff. I remember the stress, the anger that spending extra money brought out in my parents. And I remember the resentment they felt toward each other as every day brought new stresses and new problems.
I don’t want that relationship. Even if what I have with Finn ends up all business, I want things to be cordial between us at the very least. Maybe we don’t end up deeply in love, but at least we can be friends.
Money makes things harder.
Although usually it’s when people don’t have money, and it seems like Finn has plenty.
“Well, when you put it that way,” I say, taking Kathryn’s hand. “You know how I feel about needless spending.”
“You let me worry about the cost, okay? Just sit back, relax, point at the most expensive things you can find, and I’ll do all the swiping.”
“You’re such a wonderful help,” I say with a dramatic sweep of my arm. “What ever would I do without you?”
“Be homeless,” she says, grinning.
We walk arm in arm up the escalator and into Fendi.
Chapter 26
Finn
I order a car that night to take us out to the Crowley family mansion.
Dara’s quiet beside me, wearing a new cream blouse and a pair of dark slacks. She looks gorgeous with her hair down, her lips pink and her eyes bright, staring out at the night as we wind our way from the city toward the affluent suburbs.
Without thinking, I put my hand on her thigh, which makes her flinch.
But she doesn’t knock it away.
“I need you to know something,” I say, looking at her, holding her gaze. I hit the button to raise the privacy screen, blocking out the driver. “No matter what happens, I’m on your side. Do you understand?”
“How bad is this going to be?” She tilts toward me, eyes wide.
A fair question. I tighten my grip, digging my fingers into her slightly, before shaking my head. “I don’t know,” I admit. “But it won’t be good.”
“Your father—your family—you’re all, uh, you know, criminals, right?” She hesitates, picking her words carefully. “Does that mean violence is a possibility?”
I smile tightly. “If I were anyone else in the organization, then yes, my father wouldn’t hesitate to kill me. Disobedience and betrayal are the two greatest crimes we can commit.”