Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 153571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
When the shadow moves across the floor again, elongating as if they're closer to the overhead light in the kitchen than the dark living room, I quickly slip from the bottom step to the wall across from me. I keep my back pressed up against it, moving quietly until I'm right outside the kitchen door, ready to grab the motherfucker standing in my kitchen as soon as he moves again.
I hear another thump inside, followed by a soft curse.
"Where the fuck is my phone?"
My heart stalls and then starts beating again at the sound of that voice.
What the fuck?
I step into the doorway.
Tahani's dark head is bent over the island as she rifles through the purse set on top. She's dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, with heels on her feet. The toe of one heel thumps at random, impatient intervals against the side of the hardwood.
Relief hits me so hard at the sight of her, my knees threaten to buckle.
"Tahani," I bark.
She screams, scattering shit everywhere as her hands fly up, flinging the contents of her bag all over the kitchen. She spins around to face me and then screams again, slapping her hands over her face.
"What the fuck?" she yells. "You're naked. Why are you naked? Oh my God! I need brain bleach."
"Fuck," I snap as soon as the words are out of her mouth. "Stay right there."
I practically run into the laundry room and grab a pair of sweats. My heart beats hard, adrenaline still pumping through me. I'm too fucking amped up to be embarrassed that my daughter just saw my dick.
What is she doing here?
"What are you doing here?" I ask her as soon as I have myself covered. "And why the fuck didn't you call? I could have fucking killed you, Hani. Jesus." She has no idea how bad this shit could have gone. Had she not spoken…had I not realized who she was…I would have snapped her neck.
The thought alone makes my stomach turn.
"I wanted to surprise you. I was worried about you and Mila," she says, her back still to me when I step out of the laundry room. "And I was trying to find my phone to call you so you didn't think someone was breaking in and come flying down here, but it's not in my bag. I guess I left it in the car. Are you decent? Please tell me you're decent."
"I'm decent," I mutter, raking a hand through my hair, trying to calm the fuck down.
She peeks over her shoulder, one eye still closed like she thinks I'm lying to her and my dick is still out. "Thank God," she mumbles when she sees that I'm covered and then spins around to face me, hitting me with a bright smile. "Hi, Daddy," she says then. "Sorry I scared you."
"Jesus," I mumble, pulling her in for a quick hug before setting her away from me again.
Before I can say anything else, sirens wail in the distance, screeching closer.
Fuck me.
Mila is still upstairs in my bed, scared out of her mind. And Tahani's standing in my kitchen.
"I'll be right back. Stay here," I order Tahani and then turn and make a run for the stairs, for Mila. My mind runs so fast, I can't keep up. All I know is that I need to get to Mila and let her know everything is okay. We can sort out the rest after I get her calmed down.
"Mila," I call when I make it to the top of the stairs. "It's me. Don't fucking shoot me, baby." I pause outside the bedroom door, waiting for her to acknowledge me.
"Roman?"
She sounds so fucking scared, it breaks my heart.
"Yeah, sweetheart. It's me."
The door flies open.
"Roman." She flings herself at me, hitting me so hard she knocks me back a step. She sobs, her entire body shaking with the force of her cries. She's still got my gun in her hands.
"Fuck." I pull her into me and pry her fingers off the weapon. Once I've got it secured, I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly. I breathe her in for a moment, relief rushing through me again.
"I thought you were going to die," she whispers, clinging to me.
Her little body shakes and tears pour down her face. Warmth runs through me at her words, hitting me right in the heart. She's crying because she thought she was going to lose me.
Christ, she's so fucking sweet it kills me a little.
"Hey. I'm right here," I tell her. "I'm okay, baby. We're both okay."
Thank God, she's okay.
"Oh my God," Tahani gasps from behind me, making me tense. I didn't even hear her following me. "Mila? Why are you–?" Confusion runs through her voice, and then she gasps again.
I don't even have to look at her to know that she's put two and two together. Mila's naked in my arms, my marks all over her gorgeous little body. And my daughter—her best friend—just saw me downstairs, naked. Mila's claw marks are probably still all over my back, too. It doesn't take a genius to put the pieces together, and Tahani's far from stupid.