Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 47626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“Lar... I thought you said it would be okay? Why can’t I come with you? Please just take me with you,” she begs, fear is written all over her face, it is ripping my chest out. I look at Aurora who is looking at her with compassion and I silently ask her to help me.
“Sweetie, I am sure it is just a formality. In this world, when you don’t follow orders you have to account for them. But, seeing as how he wifed you, I am pretty sure all will be well. Now, why don’t you come with me and let's get some tea. That's all I can have with this little boy in my stomach.”
I want to pull Satine in my arms but if I touch her I won't be able to do what I have to. Instead when he looks back at me, I smile and wink at her before turning and walking to the door. I don't knock because I don’t want them to sense insecurity in me. Instead I walk in and take a stroll to the bar cart. I fix myself a finger and sit in the chair with my back to the wall. It isn’t until I am settled that I see Giulia sitting in the chair next to Quan. Fuck.
“You insult me by sitting with your back to the wall. Do you think so little of me that you believe I would slice your head off behind your back?” Shit.
“I know better than that, Boss. I was simply…”
“You were trying to calculate the best route out if you needed to take me out, no?” I don’t bother responding because she knows the game.
“So, Larabee. I assume you are ready to discuss your proposition?” I nod my head, throwing back the scotch. “I’m listening.” Alright. So no shit.
“I brought her here as a formality so you can see she is fine before I take her home. My home.” That statement is met with silence, but in my peripheral vision, I see Giulia’s hand rubbing the handle of her sword.
“Is that so? And what makes you think this would be okay with me?” Giulia is tapping her nails on the still end of her weapon and in my mind I am feeling for mine. I have a gun at my back and one in the front under my shirt.
“It no longer matters if it is okay with you or not. She is now my wife. Discussion over. I have shocked him, and I see it because he stands and pulls his gun from his back. I don’t hold my hands up or move a muscle. If he kills me right now, Satine will be taken care of and in the end, that is all that matters.
“She’s what?” He cocks the gun back and I stand in my position.
“Hold on boys. Everyone calm down,” Giulia says, standing up. “Let’s all take one deep breath.” Quan lowers his weapon, but he doesn’t put it down. “Are you telling us you married her, LB?”
“I did.” She says nothing before breaking out in laughter and hitting me on the back.
“Well shit, LB. I knew you were the man I thought you were.” Quan and I both have the look of surprise on our faces. Me because I have not seen her laugh before. I am sure she does with her husband and children, but not with us. Quan Looks at her like she has lost her mind.
“Am I missing something?” he asks, clearly pissed.
“No. It's just any man worth his salt who disobeys orders even though that could get him killed, wouldn’t dishonor the woman he loves by not bringing her to her family without making her an honest woman.” On the inside I sag with relief that she understands. “You know what you did was fucked up, right?”
“I do boss. But I could not take the chance that she would be taken from me.”
“I get it. Well, it’s done. They are married. In the eyes of this family, that makes the rest squashed. Are we clear?” She looks to Quan who nods his head still peeved and shooting warnings at me. “It also makes you both family. Now, where is the bride in question?”
My fucking hand shakes when I put it on the knob to walk out of the room Once the door is closed and I am alone, I take a moment, put my hands against the wall and my head down before taking a deep breath. I don’t want to go to her all jacked up and shit. I don’t want her to be alarmed.
“Scary not knowing if the life you just got to hold will be taken from you, huh?’ I turn to look at Rocca.
“Yeah. Tell me about it.”
“You have something to live for now, LB. It fucks with you.” I nod my head because that is just it. I have faced many men with all sorts of weapons pointed at me, but nothing has ever made me rethink my life, but I would be a liar if I didn’t admit that knowing I just got her, had my heart beating like a workout junkie. “Want some advice?”