Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Fuck. He wasn’t sure if he could handle anything else.
“A few times when I’ve gone to Anita’s place, Ice had some friends over. They were members of the Ventura gang.”
“What?” Victor snapped. “You were around them?”
“Yes, but they didn’t pay me any mind.”
“So, the gang that your niece’s boyfriend belongs to, threatened you?” Nico asked incredulously.
“Ice isn’t part of the gang. Not yet anyway. And the two guys who threatened me didn’t seem to know who he was. But, uh, there’s something else.”
He groaned. She was killing him.
“I’m sorry, Victor. I wasn’t trying to keep this from you. Really. I didn’t know about your, uh, connection to Santiago. Or that those guys from the Ventura gang would come threaten me.”
“It’s all right, baby. Just tell us.”
“Ice just got a new job. Working for Carlos Santiago.”
Jesus.
Regent leaned forward. “Could he be persuaded to spy on him?”
“To work for you?” she asked. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t think you could trust him. Ice is shifty. I think he lies to my niece. I don’t think it would be a good idea.”
Regent nodded. “Thank you for telling us all of this. But I’m afraid you’re right, going back to the bakery would be dangerous.”
“When were they supposed to collect the money?” Victor asked her.
“Uh, they said the first of each month. Which is soon.”
Victor shared a look with Regent, who nodded.
“Wait. What was that look about?” Gracen asked. “What are you guys planning on doing?”
“Come on, baby. You need to lie down.”
“But I’ve got chili in the crockpot and I need to make cornbread to go with it.”
“You’re not here to cook for us,” he grumbled at her. He stood with her held against his chest. “And you need to rest.” He carried her out of the kitchen and toward the stairs.
“Victor, you need to set me down. You can’t carry me up the stairs.”
Of course he could.
Except, he was feeling weaker than he liked. What if he dropped her?
Reluctantly, he set her down on her feet and took hold of her hand.
“Victor?” she asked as he led her up the stairs. “Are you planning on doing something about Baldy and Burpy?”
“Who? Fuck, is there someone else threatening you?”
“No, no, that’s what I nicknamed those two Ventura gang members. What are you planning?” she asked as he led her into his bedroom.
He winced at how stark it was. There was a bed, two nightstands, and that was it. His clothes were in the closet. There were no photos, no paintings, nothing that would soften the masculine feel.
“Sorry about my room,” he told her as he led her to the bed.
“It’s nice. It has gorgeous big windows and a huge bed.”
“I’m a big guy.” He closed the curtains and grabbed one of his T-shirts. Then he started stripping her clothes off.
“Victor, tell me.”
“Go use the bathroom.”
She sighed. “Tell me.”
“I’m going to make them pay for putting their hands on you. For hurting and scaring you.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” she asked.
“I figure I’ll wait for them to come to the bakery, and then I’m going to make them hurt.” And he was looking forward to it.
“I should be there. So that they don’t get suspicious.”
“Yeah, there’s no way that’s happening. Bathroom. Go.” Turning her toward the door, he gave her a slap on the ass to get her moving.
She huffed at him but stomped off to the bathroom. He took a few deep, calming breaths. He needed to do something about this rage before it overwhelmed him. He palmed his stiff cock. All it took was having her close and he was hard as hell.
He waited until she came out, then he pulled back the covers. “In.”
She looked tiny in his T-shirt. She was tiny. Delicate.
And his to protect.
Her mouth was turned down and he could see defeat in the slump of her shoulders.
Fuck. He hated that.
As she moved closer, he reached out and grabbed her hips, pulling her to him. “I will protect you no matter what. Even if it makes you angry with me.”
“I just don’t want you to get hurt, Victor. I want to take care of you too. You’re important. To all of us.”
He kissed her forehead. Yeah, he’d gotten that from what she’d instigated downstairs. “I’ve never had a real relationship. Never had someone I love the way I do you. So, you might have to be patient with me.”
She slipped her arms around him. “You’re coming to bed with me, right?”
“Baby, I’ve got to get rid of this rage riding me hard. I don’t want it around you.”
“You’d never hurt me.”
Fuck, no, he wouldn’t. He wrapped his arms around her, careful not to make his hold too tight.
“What do you usually do to get rid of it?”
“I get into the ring and beat some asshole. I always make sure he deserves it,” he added hastily.