Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
When she mentioned Owen announcing soon, it reminded me that the pace of our lives doesn’t leave much time for each other. In addition to my business interests, I’ll be on the campaign trail for O. With Nix running the campaign, I don’t foresee us slowing down to enjoy each other anytime soon.
I blow out a long breath and step into the hall.
“Everything good?” I ask the plain-suit security guy positioned near the door.
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she go out today?” I ask, frowning.
“No, sir. Mrs. Nighthorse ended up visiting most of the day.” He nods toward the apartment. “Ms. Hunter didn’t leave her apartment.”
“Good. The entire team knows if she leaves—”
“To trail her, yes, sir.”
Lennix’s response to just the thought of a security detail let me know she won’t be thrilled about the geotracker in her bracelet. She knows Grim found her and probably assumes he used his resources to track them down. We haven’t gotten into details, but I thought we’d discuss that tonight. Laughter and the sound of glasses clinking tell me there may not be much time to bring it up. I have to admit putting that argument off is no hardship.
When I use the key Lennix gave me to enter the apartment, everyone turns to look at me. Bottles of wine seem to be on every flat surface along with plates loaded with something that smells delicious. Kimba and Vivienne stretch out on the couch. Wallace and Lennix sit on the floor with their backs against the love seat.
My blood boils a little at the sight of Wallace Murrow. It’s not jealousy. I’m secure in Lennix’s feelings for me. No, that idiot promised he’d keep Lennix safe on that service trip, and she ended up almost dead. Though it technically wasn’t his fault, on some level, right or wrong, I blame him for entangling Lennix in the drama with his experimental vaccine.
“Maxim!” Kimba says and crosses the room to hug me. “The man of the hour.”
“I am?” I return her squeeze and grin. She has quickly become one of my favorite people. “How so?”
“You went and got our girl,” she says, her smile wobbling a little, tears coming to her eyes. “And, of course, our guy.”
“Not getting her wasn’t an option,” I reply, looking at Murrow long enough to let him feel my displeasure, even if he doesn’t fully understand it yet. His eyes drop after a few seconds, and it takes everything in me not to demand how he could be so careless.
“It’s been years, Maxim,” Vivienne says, getting up from her spot on the couch and coming for a hug, too. “I always knew you’d weasel your way back into Lenn’s life, and thank goodness you did.”
I haven’t seen her since Amsterdam more than a decade ago. With fresh eyes, I note the resemblance to her brother.
“Good to see you again, too, Vivienne. How’s Manhattan treating you?”
“Great. I don’t get off that island much, but I had to come make sure Wall and Lenn were okay.” She squeezes my hand and looks directly into my eyes. “Truly, thank you for going to get them.”
I don’t respond but am moved by her sincere gratitude. I just nod and squeeze her hand in return.
Lennix stands and walks over to me wearing a wide smile, leggings, and a sweatshirt with DEFEAT THE PATRIARCHY emblazoned across the front.
“Hey,” she greets me warmly, stretching up for a kiss. I don’t really give a damn that her friends are watching. I take her by the chin and kiss her thoroughly, groaning when she kisses me back with the same enthusiasm and disregard for anyone else. It’s only a few seconds and nowhere near satisfying, but it soothes my agitation at having to be away from her all day. I haven’t wanted her out of my sight since we got back from Costa Rica. It’s an overreaction, and she’s safe, but I can’t ignore the niggling worry that something will happen again, especially with no confirmation on Abe’s body.
“I missed you,” I whisper in her ear when we break the kiss. “I’m trying really hard to be nice to your friends, but I want you to myself.”
She pulls back, and I expect that she’ll at least teasingly scold me, but the desperate heat I saw in her eyes last night is still there. “Missed you, too,” she whispers.
That only makes me want to kick everyone out even more, but instead I turn to her friends and pull her into my side. “What are we eating? I’m starving.”
“Mena left some bison and kale,” Kimba says, nodding toward a loaded serving dish on the table.
“Is that okay?” Lennix asks with a slight frown. “The bison, I mean?”
“You’re a vegetarian?” Wallace asks, a forkful of the meat halfway to his mouth.
“No,” I serve some of the meat onto my plate. “But I limit my cattle intake because of how deforestation contributes to global warming.”