Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
But he shakes his head and sets up the drip machine. “I’m a simple man.”
“I doubt that very much.” I drift to the island and sit on the high chairs. “God, I feel like I slept for hours.”
“You passed out.”
“Can you blame me? I had a long day.”
He smiles slightly. “And a hard night.”
I roll my eyes. “Just because you saved my life does not give you the right to make bad jokes.”
“My jokes are inherently good.”
“If that were true, I’d be laughing.” I give him a deadpan.
“Maybe you have a bad sense of humor.”
“That is just about the most insulting thing you can say to me. I’d rather be dead than not funny.”
Which makes him laugh.
He joins me once his coffee is done. We drink in a companionable silence as he scrolls news on his phone and I browse Instagram. After a few minutes though, I feel like I need to chip away at some of the tension between us.
“I talked to Will about Shane.”
He looks over, eyebrows raised. “Did you?”
“I asked Will to find him.”
“And what did he say?”
“He said he’d help me.”
“Interesting.” His lips push together. “Will didn’t mention this to me.”
“That’s why I’m telling you. I just—I don’t want more secrets between us.”
His face relaxes as he looks down at his coffee. “And what will you do if you find your brother?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “I just want to keep an eye on him. Make sure he’s safe.”
“You should have come to me then.”
“Do you really blame me for going around you?”
He grunts, not looking happy. “In the future, please don’t assume I’m a complete piece of shit.”
I lean toward him with a sly smile. “Then don’t act like one.”
“You really do think you’re funny.”
“Absolutely hilarious.”
He grins, shaking his head despite himself. “I’ll tell Will he has my blessing.”
“Does that mean the full might of the Costa family is behind this search?”
“Not even close.”
“How about a little bit of the might?”
“You can have a very small fraction.”
“That works for me, so long as Shane’s safe.”
Adler grunts, finishes his coffee, and stands. “I’ve never been tasked with saving someone that stole from me before. I’m not even sure who I’m protecting him from.”
“Tony Vetch,” I say like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Adler’s expression darkens. “Yes. Him.”
“Right.” I cock my head. I hadn’t thought about Tony in a little while, but now something’s bothering me. Something about what he said when we ran into each other on the beach.
Something about remembering him.
Like we’d met before.
My only connection to Tony is through Adler—and until last night, I assumed that connection only started when Adler and I got married.
Except I was wrong.
My connection to Adler began much sooner than that.
Years ago, back during my accident and beyond.
What did Adler say? His relationship with Tony was ending right around that time?
And I’m supposedly one of Tony’s loose ends.
What if I’m not a loose end because of this marriage—but because of something else? Something that happened back then.
My head starts to hurt again. I turn to ask Adler if I ever met Tony back during the accident days, but he’s already gone, heading back to the bedroom to get ready for work.
I stew over my espresso but decide to let it go.
We ride down to the floor together. His hand finds mine in the elevator and I shuffle closer, leaning against his shoulder. There are a thousand reasons to put some space between us, but I can’t help myself. The dull ache between my legs, the sound of his voice, knowing that he’s been looking out for me for years now—it makes me want to get closer to him.
To finally drop the walls.
Because he knows. He was there when it happened. Adler understands what happened to me in a way nobody else ever will, and that’s intoxicating.
Roxie’s right. I’ve put up walls. I’ve pushed people away because of my injuries.
I don’t need to do that with Adler.
“Be careful,” he says as we step into the lobby together.
“I won’t stray from the high-roller room.”
“Good girl.” He gives my hand a squeeze then walks away.
I watch him go, feeling a confused mixture of fear and a dull, throbbing need.
There’s more to his story. I know he didn’t tell me everything.
I’m pretty sure I’m ignoring every single red flag and warning sign imaginable.
But right now, this warmth in my belly, I want to hold onto this feeling at least for a little while.
The morning’s slow. I get one guest, but he only sits for a little while, tips the waitress a dollar, and leaves after losing a few hundred dollars. After that, I hang around, ignoring the looks and the whispers. It’s strange how quickly I got used to it.
My day seems pretty dull, at least until Con walks into the room followed by two men. The first looks like a giant Viking, though he has the Costa look about him, those narrow cheekbones and straight nose. The other is without a doubt one of Adler’s brothers considering he looks so much like his mother.