Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Yesterday,” Czar said. “Got myself a private shower, some decent food, sleep not interrupted by talking or yelling or fucking buzzers, then came to find you.”
At that, I turned.
“Why?”
“Don’t worry, baby g—,” he started, then caught himself. “Nyx,” he said. “I’m not here to try to start anything up. I can see that I have missed my chance,” he said, his gaze going down to where my left hand was absentmindedly sitting on my belly. “I know you never really saw it in yourself, but you’re going to be a great mom,” he told me, reminding me that while it had been many years, and that time had changed me quite a bit, he had known me quite well at one time.
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a soft smile. “I know you’ve always wanted kids. I hope you find someone to give you some.”
“It’s on my list,” he agreed, nodding. “Is this your place?” he asked.
“It is. I’ve been working on it for a long time.”
His gaze went to the sign and some of the warmth in his eyes fell away, replaced by something almost a little sad.
He let out a sigh.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Nyx.”
“Hey, no,” I said, shaking my head. “I mean, it sucked. Like… whatever you are thinking, times it by about a hundred. But the attack had created a lot of fear and uncertainty in me that forced me to go to a self-defense class that I fell in love with. And finally figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life,” I told him.
“Still,” he said, shaking his head. “I fucking hate that you had to find your passion through something like that.”
“Hey, Czar, it’s not your fault. You were away. None of what happened had anything to do with you. Chet had gone rogue. Let the guilt go. You couldn’t do anything about it while you were locked up. I know that if you were out, you’d have handled it.”
“Yeah,” he said, nodding. “Gotta say, I’m a little surprised you’d still give me that much credit.”
“Things might not have worked out with us, but you were good to me, Czar. I know you are a, relatively, good man,” I said, making him smile. “So, what’s the plan now?” I asked. “Back to the… organization?”
“Nah,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m afraid I didn’t make any friends when I had some choice words with certain people about the whole situation with you. Didn’t make myself any friends.”
“I hope you didn’t make any enemies.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll land on my feet.”
“Do you need anything to help you get back on them?” I asked.
“Shit,” he said, reaching up to rub the back of his neck.
“What?”
“It’s just a role reversal, I guess. I used to take care of you. Now you’re offering to help take care of me. No, babe. I still have some stashes hidden around. What?” he asked when I felt my face fall.
“Oh, right. Well. Yeah. So, when you got locked up, I was left with nothing.”
“Still really fucking sorry about that,” he said. “I meant to set you up in case of that kinda shit. It just never happened.”
“Yeah, well, I was a bit angry. And desperate. So I found one of your stashes and took it to set myself up.”
“Good for you. That’s what I would have wanted.”
“Yeah, but, you know, that money is gone now.”
“Baby, that wasn’t my only stash. Don’t worry. I’ll be just fine while I figure out my next step.”
“Are you leaving?” I asked.
“You know… I don’t think I am,” he said, and behind him, I could see Slash making his way in our direction, carrying a bag of to-go food with him. His stride was calm, unhurried.
“Czar,” Slash said as he got close.
“Slash,” Czar said, turning to shake Slash’s hand. “Congratulations seem to be in order. You locked down a good one.”
“Yeah, I did,” Slash said, but he didn’t rub it in, didn’t want to make Czar suffer. He was comfortable enough with our relationship that he knew he didn’t have shit to prove to anyone. Not even my ex. “When’d you get out?”
“Yesterday,” Czar said. “I never got a chance to apologize to Nyx. I wanted to do it face-to-face,” he said, getting a nod from Slash.
“You heading out or hanging in?” Slash asked.
“For the time being, hanging in,” Czar told him.
“That mean anything I gotta worry about? With your… connections,” Slash clarified.
“No. We’ve… cut ties,” Czar told them.
“Yeah. I kind of figured,” Slash said.
“Alright. I am gonna let you get to your food,” Czar said, giving Slash a nod, then reaching out to touch my wrist. “Wish you nothing but the best, Nyx,” he said.
“You too,” I called before he turned and walked away.
“You good?” Slash asked, following me into the empty studio.