Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
It was so easy to fall back into patterns when he wasn’t being an asshole to her.
He reached down and touched her hair. “Go to sleep. I’ll be right on the other side of our son.”
“I’ll apparently be outside with the computer guy waiting to be used as a human shield.” Ezra was standing at the door like he was still going to try to sleep on that chair.
“Jax is good with a gun, too. He’ll protect you and shit. Go to the couch.” He pushed his brother out and closed the door in his face.
“That was rude,” Kim said, but she was settling in, her hair spread out behind her.
He’d missed all that hair. “He should get used to it.” He turned off the lamp on the nightstand and eased his body down on the bed, tucking the blanket around his son. “I promise I’m going to take care of you. I know I didn’t back then, but I’m a different man now.”
In the moonlight he could see her eyes close. “You’re still bossy as hell. Tell Big Tag to send moisturizer. My skin’s not as young as it used to be.”
He couldn’t tell. She looked luminous in the silky moonlight.
In seconds she was breathing deeply, slowly, as she fell asleep.
Beck laid there in bed watching them sleep, perfectly content for the first time in decades.
He would win her back. He wouldn’t stop until she said yes to him again.
Chapter Eleven
“Uncle Ezra used to play football? That’s weird.”
Beck scooped the eggs onto his son’s plate, a sense of satisfaction running through him. He didn’t feel this way when he cooked for himself. He usually felt annoyed because it meant he didn’t have time to stop and pick something up. He was a serviceable cook.
“It wasn’t weird.” Ezra pulled up a chair, ruffling Roman’s hair as he sat down. “Except that we called it soccer because football means something different in the States. And you’re lucky because you’re getting your dad’s special eggs. He used to cook them for me when our mom was too busy.”
“There’s not a lot special about them. A little butter and milk. That’s pretty standard.” He didn’t want to think about the fact that he’d taken care of his brother for years while their parents had worked. It was him cooking breakfast or they ate cereal every day and then his brother whined until lunch.
“They were special to me because my brother cooked them,” Ezra replied. “They were a blessing.”
“I only have enough for Kim.” He wasn’t letting his brother con him into making him breakfast. If he’d wanted breakfast, he would have been alive all these years.
Ezra nodded. “It’s fine. I’m used to fasting. It’s a good way to contemplate the blessings of food.”
Roman’s eyes went from Ezra and then back to him, as though he was watching a fascinating tennis match. It was a good reminder that they weren’t alone, and his sarcasm wasn’t going to help anything at this point.
Which was sad because he had several very sarcastic responses to his brother right now.
“Sorry. Owen’s already been up, and after his unfortunate seasickness incident, his appetite came back with a vengeance,” Beck explained. “He was the one who went to the store down the street. There are some croissants if you want them, and a couple of pieces of fruit. Unless you’re serious about fasting.”
If his brother got left behind because they had to run and he was contemplating his blessings, then that was just what had to happen.
Ezra reached across and grabbed a banana. “I probably should keep my energy up.”
Roman set down his small glass of milk. “Who is the man who wants to hurt my mom?”
“Don’t worry about that,” Ezra began.
“His name is Levi Green.” Being told not to worry would likely make Roman worry more. “I’ll show you a picture of him. I want you to memorize his face because if you ever see it, I want you to run and hide, and if he comes close you scream as loud as you can and get someone to help you.”
“Beck, I’m trying not to scare the kid,” Ezra said with a frown.
“Fear is a gift sometimes. Fear can keep you alive.” He wasn’t going to sugarcoat it and leave his kid in the dark. “Levi Green is a man who hates your mother. He’ll tell you he cares about her, but he’s lying.”
“Like the devil lies?” Roman asked.
The devil’s best lies were always grounded in the truth. He and Levi did have that in common. “I’ve thought of him that way often. But I do promise you that I’m going to take care of the situation this time.”
He wasn’t sure how. Levi was more untouchable than he’d ever been. He’d lain awake the night before and thought about all the ways he could assassinate the fucker. Or pay someone to since he was out of practice.