Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109178 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
And then, without even asking, she helped him drag the bastard’s body out the back of the restaurant, put him in the trunk of his car, and drive him deep into the woods. Nadia splashed water on the fucker to make him wake up from his dark slumber, more than likely to ensure he was still alive. They left him there with his wallet full, and his ego bruised and beaten, just like his face and body. Lennox drove them back to the restaurant just in time to clean up the mess, put on a fresh pot of coffee, and turn the sign on the door to ‘Open’.
Another secret. Another bond. Another ugly moment in time: formed from terror, solved by love. They’d never spoken of it since it happened. It was a quiet understanding. An oath of silence. He was her friend, and he was in love with her… but, she didn’t know it, and he refused to cross that line. Now, the line was so far crossed, they were running a marathon, side by side.
He gathered her in his arms. The fabric of her jacket rubbed against his palms as he pressed his lips to hers.
“My grandfather knows about you.”
She pulled back, cocked her head to the side, and a darkness came over her eyes. “How?”
“I just know. There’s been strange cars drivin’ past my house… strange men poppin’ up at the club. The gym. They’re only there for a second—I make eye contact with ’em, and then they’re gone. I’m sure they’ve seen us together.”
“So… what are we going to do?”
“My grandfather has these rules, I guess you could say. He never breaks them. One of ’em is that he doesn’t bother our wives or girlfriends unless they interfere with his business. He may threaten to, but he’s never actually hurt anyone’s wife to my knowledge. No physical violence against women. Take my mother, for instance. He never liked her, but he stayed out of her way until she told my father to stop workin’ for him. So, one thing I know for certain is that he’s not gonna try and get you killed or anything like that, but he may try to make your life miserable to the point that you won’t want to be bothered with me anymore.”
“That’s crazy.”
“Crazy and sly as a fox. Or, he may think he can dangle some cash in front of ya and you’ll vanish.” He shrugged. “It’ll be a punishment to me, basically. A way to prove that he can take anything and anyone I love away from me, and he’ll keep doing it if I don’t fall in line. I want to tell you, right here, right now, that I love you enough to understand that you may walk away because of this.”
“Lennox, no! I—”
“And that would be your right, okay? Nobody in their right fucking mind would want to be dealin’ with something like this.” His heart quickened as he looked into her beautiful, worried eyes. “You owe me nothin’ but your love and honesty, Nadia. Your loyalty is to this relationship, not to you being in the crossfire no matter what. I would never jeopardize your safety, all because I want you so badly.”
Her lips curled in a pretty, sassy way. “…And who the fuck said I was in my right mind?” He dropped his head and smiled at that. “You know a little toxicity turns me on. I’m unbalanced. Disturbed. Hurt. But healing.” He slowly lifted his gaze to hers. Reached out and stroked her soft cheek. Her makeup was all done, and her hair hot-combed and sleek. “So, tonight is your last night dancin’?”
“Mmm hmm. Quit Only Fans last week. I was going to turn my stuff in, but I want to do this right. Have some integrity about the situation and give a proper sendoff. I want to say goodbye to a couple ladies who were good to me, give my favorite security guard, Shack, a hug, and give one last dance for a few good customers who come there just to see me, too.” He nodded in understanding. “Lydia is there, too…you know, the girl I told you I was helping. I have to say farewell to her. Once that is all behind me, everything starts new. My first class is in two days.” He loved the excitement in her eyes. How giddy she sounded. “And the student advisor said that most of my credits will still transfer over, so I’m not starting from scratch.”
“I’ve told you a million times, and I’m gonna keep telling you. I’m so proud of you, baby.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be hard because I’m tryna do the accelerated program, and I haven’t been to school in so long, I’m rusty, and I—”
“You can do this. Stop thinking about how hard it’s going to be. If anybody can handle this, it’s you, Nadia.” He pointed at her.