Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
We go upstairs. The master bedroom is in the east wing tucked in the back corner. Big double doors open into a wide space, and for the first time since we entered the house, I feel a little bit safe and comfortable.
“I’ll get you clothes,” he says and lets me change in a big, modern bathroom. The tiles are cold under my feet. I put on sweats and a big hoodie, and he is waiting for me when I come back out.
“I have to call my parents,” I tell him, hugging myself. The wedding dress is hanging on the back of the bathroom door, but I’ve still got on the ring. I’ll probably be wearing it for a very long time. Maybe the rest of my life.
“In the morning. They’ll be okay for one night.”
“What about my things?”
“I’ll have them sent over in the morning.” He begins to undress. I stare at him, unable to take my eyes away. “Certain wings of the house are off-limits,” he murmurs softly as he takes off his shirt. I can’t even pretend to be surprised. The vibe of this place is turn-of-the-century horror novel and I’m trapped between loving it and feeling pretty sure I’m about to get possessed by a demon.
“Why?” I ask because he’s basically dangling meth in front of an addict right about now. I lick my lips at the sight of his built torso.
“Renovations. The building is old and some sections are still unsafe.” He gives me a hard look as he yanks on a clean shirt. “This is for your safety.”
“Right. Understood. Keep out.”
And now I have a mission in life: find all unsafe, off-limits areas of the house and thoroughly violate them.
I give him a big smile and a cheesy thumbs-up. He doesn’t look reassured one bit.
Chapter 14
Arsen
Iexpected a big fight. I figured she’d resist as hard as she could but eventually break down. Instead, the second we were alone together, she crawled into my bed, curled into a ball, and went to sleep.
No convincing necessary.
It was strange, having her body beside mine in the darkness. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a woman in my bed for longer than an hour. Her breathing was the only sound I could hear even though the old house creaked around us like there were footsteps in the walls.
And now, in the morning, she’s still there, sprawled on her side and snoring lightly. Her bushy red hair’s a big mess and she’s got a puddle of drool rolling down her mouth.
But fuck, she looks beautiful.
I sit there and watch her for a while, drinking her in. It’s how vulnerable she is in sleep, how young she looks, how small. My baby’s growing in her, and I might’ve just gotten everyone I care about killed to have this girl in this bed right now.
And it was worth it.
Fuck, all the coming blood, it’ll all be worth it if I get to wake up to this snoring, undignified mess every single fucking day.
I dress and leave quietly. Maud is awake and cooking breakfast. I leave instructions with her to keep an eye on Lena and make sure she’s comfortable. “Most of all, don’t let her go anywhere. I’ll be back later.”
Maud salutes me with her spatula and forces a little scrambled eggs on a muffin into my hands. “You look tired. Eat something.”
Only my housekeeper gets to talk to me that way. Mostly because the mansion would be a wreck without her, and partially because she’s such a good damn cook.
Tigran’s already at the warehouse when I show up an hour later. The morning shipment’s getting unloaded on the docks and the place is crawling with people. Most of them nod, smile, and say good morning, and I’m polite as hell back to them. We all love to play pretend like this is a real business.
“I sent Mikah’s cousin Ricky over to Garen with the message.” Tigran takes a box cutter and wrenches it through some tape. The pallet cracks and opens up. “He should be there by now.”
“Garen’s not a stupid man. He knows what his pride is worth.”
“Better be fucking cheap because I don’t think you offered enough concessions.”
I snort at him and lean back against a metal shelving unit as he opens up the box. “I offered him half my fucking territory to run all by himself. The other bosses are going to be absolutely livid.”
“Maybe they’ll start another war.”
“None of them are smart enough.”
“I hope you’re right.” Tigran flicks the cutter closed. A big, simple blue-and-white logo’s splashed across smaller boxes inside: COMPUTER ENTERPRISES.
About as generic as it gets. Just the way I wanted.
Tigran lifts out what looks like a square computer graphics chip. There are cables, a little circuit board, even a plastic fan built onto the side. He carefully cracks open one end and tips the card onto its side.