Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
“You didn’t have a choice about shooting me, and your perfect aim saved my life. My recovery sucked, but this is worse. You can’t compare what you did to me to me to what happened to you. My brother wanted you dead, and he damn near got his wish.”
“I wish you’d gotten a chance to torture the fucker.”
Carter shook his head. “That wouldn’t have helped me. I let him suffer for as long as I could after you shot him, but when I ended things, it felt right. I was ready for everything to be over. He didn’t matter at all. You were the only thing that did.”
“Has anyone asked questions about him disappearing?”
“No, and in the end, we didn’t need to deal with my father. He was found dead at his desk the morning after you were shot. He put a bullet through his head after signing over his business empire to me.”
“I kept meaning to ask you, but I’m just now on a low enough dose of pain meds to think straight. Did you expect him take himself out?”
“I knew it was a possibility. He doesn’t know how to exist in a world where he’s not a winner.”
“So it’s over.”
“For now. The cartel will be dealt with eventually, but not before you recover.”
“I’m still willing to go back to Colombia.”
“Damn it, Matteo. Haven’t you finally suffered enough? Can’t you accept that you don’t owe me anymore?”
“I….”
“Sweetheart, I love you. I forgive you for everything, what happened in the jungle, you drugging me—twice—you going after Landon on your own, all of it, and I am never letting you go.”
Some of the heaviness seemed to lift off my chest. Maybe it was the drugs I was still on, but it felt so real. I felt truly human again. I loved this man. I’d saved him, and he’d saved me, and he didn’t care what I’d done in the past. “I love you too. Thank you for being here.”
“Thank you for fucking surviving this.”
“I didn’t think I was going to.”
“Neither did I for a while, and I wanted to kill my brother and my father all over again. I wanted to make them suffer for days, weeks, years.”
“And now?”
“Now I want to forget it all and start fresh.”
“What about the money?”
“From my grandmother?”
“Yes, as well as all the money from the family business.”
“I’m going to use it for good. I’m going to make something decent, something that helps people.”
I was relieved. I didn’t want his inheritance to be another burden. If it had been, I would have told him to give away every cent. We’d be fine without it.
“I’m using some of the money right now to ensure you get the best care.”
“Carter, you don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do.”
A knock at the door had us both turning our heads. It was Worth.
“How are you feeling?” he asked as we motioned for him to come in.
“Better. Sore as fuck, but I’m more convinced I will eventually get back to normal than I was when I first woke up.”
“That’s good.”
“What are you doing up this early?” Carter asked.
Worth shrugged. “I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Not enough men to wear you out?”
Worth frowned. “No, it’s….”
“What?” Carter asked, the teasing tone gone from his voice.
“It’s work. My mother keeps pushing for me to settle into a role, and it’s not what I want. My sister is so much better at comprehending financial markets, but of course mom wants her to run the arts charity with her—the role I’d rather have. She doesn’t seem to care what my brother does, and he’s the most driven of us all. He’s excited about law school and mom doesn’t even seem to care.”
“I know we tease you a lot,” Carter said. “But you’re awesome at the art fundraisers. Every time you work one, the foundation brings in record amounts. If your mother can’t see the value of that, tell her to fuck off. You don’t need to work with your family. You have enough money to just enjoy yourself or to start your own charity.”
“She’d never stop pestering me.” He sighed, then looked at me. “I’m sorry, the last thing you need to deal with is me whining. I just wanted to check on you and stopping by the hospital seemed better than a morning at the office.”
“Your work must really suck.”
Worth gave a bitter laugh. “It does, but not like being stuck here would. How much longer before you’re released? Do you know?”
“They’re saying I’ll be here at least until the end of the week. I’m so ready to go home.”
“And where exactly will that be?” Worth asked.
“Well….” We both looked at Carter.
“It will be with me in our new house.”
“What?”
“I bought a house near Ford’s. Right now, movers are taking things there from my apartment. I know you’d probably like to be at the cabin, but you need more than I can provide there right now, like a gym and a pool and—”