Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“Look at me,” Carson said.
The man whimpered and closed his eyes. He wasn’t doing as he was told, and Carson didn’t have time for this shit. Pulling out a blade, he slammed it into his foot, only stopping when the tip of the blade didn’t go further.
Screams erupted throughout the basement. Carson closed his eyes and relished the sound. It was rare for him to take this kind of pleasure. All his life, he’d fought to get where he was. He’d been more than willing to kill, to maim, to terrify. This man wasn’t leaving the basement alive. He knew that. Carson’s men knew that. The cops knew that.
There was no way he would allow him to live. If he did, there was a chance it would come back and hurt Willow. He couldn’t have that. Not on his watch.
Drawing the blade out of the man’s foot, he looked up into his eyes. There was now real terror staring back at him, and Carson smiled. This is what he wanted.
“I told you not to fuck with me,” Carson said. “You found the woman I love. The woman I would do anything for, and you took something away from her, and that has pissed me off. That shop belonged to her grandmother, and there’s no way for me to replace all those memories, so you know you’re going to die today. You cannot live. You cannot be allowed out of this room. Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick.”
Carson didn’t make it quick. He made sure the man screamed and begged.
As he did, all he kept hearing was Grandmother Lauren’s request that he do everything in his power to make sure her granddaughter got a good life, the best kind of life. By the time he was finished, there was nothing left of the man. He was dead.
Willow was his. No one attacked Willow, and he knew with his men present that there wouldn’t be anyone who didn’t know about it. The rumor would spread about what happened if you went after Carson’s woman. Willow would forever be safe.
He contacted the men he used to clean shit up, and handed them his clothes. The shock on their faces was something he wanted. He needed for them to know he meant business. If they came after Willow, they were going to get killed, and not in an easy way. It would take time, he’d be creative.
There were more clothes waiting for him in his office. Peter was there, as he always was.
“Where’s Willow?” Carson asked.
“She’s with my wife at the shop.”
They had found a shop and he knew Miley was encouraging Willow’s vision to make the place exactly like her grandmother’s shop.
“Take me there,” he said. He left his office, with Peter following.
As he walked through the casino, he felt the gazes of men and women. There was a time he’d stop, mingle, and bask in their awkwardness around him, but today, all he wanted to do was to be with his woman.
His pregnant woman.
They hadn’t had time to truly enjoy the fact they were going to have a baby. He was going to be a daddy. The very thought of being a dad terrified him, not that he’d tell Willow the truth. He never had a fatherly role model.
Sitting in the back seat of his car, he knew the rumors would spread like wildfire. For a time people would be afraid to even look in her direction, but he didn’t care. This was the first time Willow was exposed and lost a memory, something she treasured, and his promise was broken. He’d never break it again.
“I promise to you, Lauren, if you can hear me, I will take care of Willow. I will love her with all my heart. I will treasure her. I will make sure not a moment goes by when she doesn’t feel loved or cherished. I walked into your shop that day, intent on being pissed off, and instead, I met an angel, my angel, and I knew I’d do anything in my power to make her happy, and I will make her happy.”
Carson didn’t say the words out loud, there was no need to. They were deep in his soul. A vow. A promise that he would make to Willow, his wife, the love of his life.
Arriving at the store, there was no opening sign, as there was a lot of work to do. The doors were locked and he had no choice but to knock on the window to gain their attention. Willow came running over, flinging open the door and smiling at him.
“Carson, you’re here.” She threw her arms around him and he smiled as he held her close.
Pressing his face against her body, the scent of coconuts surrounded him. He’d become highly addicted to coconuts in the last few years. They made his mouth water.