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)
“You’re scared of losing me. And I get why. I have the same fears. But I’m going to do everything I can to always come home safe to you. Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He sighed and pulled her against him. “Know it’s hard, baby. Know you’re scared you’ll lose me. But all I can promise is to be careful.”
“I know.” She hugged him.
“Is it still worth being mine? The worry and fears?” There was a note of vulnerability in his voice that floored her. It was something he rarely showed, and it proved just how much he trusted her.
Leaning back, she cupped his face between her hands. “You are worth that and more. There’s nothing I wouldn’t face or do to be yours, Victor Malone.”
“Thank fuck for that.” He kissed her gently, then pulled back to give her a stern look. “But the next time you sneak out of bed without waking me, I’m going to fry your ass.”
Ah, there was her bossy man.
19
“Regent, I have something for you to try.” Gracen walked into Regent’s office with a cup of coffee and a small slice of coffee cake. He’d asked them all to join him in his office to discuss the plan to deal with Burpy and Baldy tomorrow when they came to collect their dues. There was something she wanted, so she’d decided to sweeten him up first.
“What’s this?” he asked, turning away from his computer.
“Coffee cake.”
Regent looked from the cake to her. “What are you after?”
Her eyes widened. “I’m insulted. Why would you think I’m after something?”
He just waited. And she quickly caved. Damn, he was good.
“I want to be there. When Victor takes care of Baldy and Burpy. The two Ventura gang guys.”
Regent raised his eyebrows. “Isn’t this something that you should bring to Victor?”
She pursed her lips. She had to word this correctly.
“Ah, I see. You asked, he said no, and you think I will override him. I won’t. The answer is no.”
“Why are you telling my girl no?” Victor grumbled as he stepped into the room. He frowned at Regent fiercely. Then drew her against him and kissed the top of her head. “Give her whatever she wants.”
“What does Gracen want?” Maxim asked, walking in to sit on Regent’s desk. The other man gave him a chilling look. With a grin, he slumped into a chair.
“She wants to be there when you take care of . . . what were their names?” he asked Gracen.
“Baldy and Burpy,” she muttered. Drat. She hadn’t thought through what would happen when Victor found out she’d gone to Regent.
Victor turned to her. “You came to ask Regent? I already said no.”
“Everyone knows when Mom says no that you go ask Dad,” Maxim said cheerfully, reaching over to pick up Regent’s slice of cake.
“Hey, that was for Regent.”
“But I’m the one on your side.” Maxim pouted at her.
True.
“All right then.”
He grinned and polished it off.
“You are not going to be there, and you’re in big trouble for trying to go behind my back,” Victor told her sternly.
Her bottom tingled at his words. Shoot.
“But what if they don’t see me and back off? We’ll lose our chance.”
“She’s got a point,” Maxim replied.
It had been three days since she’d moved into the Malone mansion. Nico, Liam, and Lottie had returned home yesterday, and she was missing them. She’d sent them off with a bag of goodies which had Nico waxing poetic. Victor had started growling when she’d blushed at the gorgeous singer’s words.
Silly Victor.
As if she could ever have eyes for anyone but him.
She’d thought it might take a while to get used to living here. The place was so huge for just the four of them. And Maxim didn’t usually live here. But she loved the kitchen and she’d been baking up a storm. Luckily, all the men that worked for them enjoyed eating.
She’d cooked for them each night, even though they all said she didn’t have to. She didn’t know how to cook anything too fancy, but no one seemed worried. Last night, she’d made homemade pizza. They’d all eaten it with a knife and fork.
So strange.
Victor had been spending a lot of time with Regent in his office, and he’d been out every night, not coming back until the early hours of the morning. She knew whatever he was doing had something to do with Santiago and Patrick, but she didn’t ask for details. She just wanted him to be safe.
Victor had spoken to her landlord about releasing her from her lease. She didn’t know how much it had cost him, but she was relieved he’d taken over. Her landlord had never been easy to deal with. They were going to go pack up her personal belongings soon and let the rest go to charity.
Yesterday, she’d finally managed to get hold of Anita to tell her that the bakery was going to remain closed. All Anita had cared about was whether she was still going to pay her. She’d hung up when Gracen said she’d pay her for as long as she could. What her niece didn’t seem to realize was that Gracen didn’t have an endless supply of cash.