Series: The Moretti Crime Family Series by J.L. Beck
Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 111428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
That’s what made it the perfect location to come to, well that, and it’s secluded and away from wandering eyes and ears.
I’m still not sure what I’m going to do with her. Complete control is something I shouldn’t be given access to. The thought makes me insane. I want her to be submissive, begging, and pleading for me.
Before I can sink down that rabbit hole, I tug my phone from my pocket and call Felix. I only sent him an email last night, so I’m not sure if he’ll have even looked into her yet. Or if he is going to do this for me at all. We didn’t separate on good terms, and it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t answer the phone either.
He picks up on the second ring. “Markus, my long-lost brother. I’ll be damned.”
“Felix, how have you been?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation casual, though we both know this is anything but a casual call.
“Sipping on Pina Coladas in Tahiti. How have you been?” Surprisingly, his question seems genuine, as if he really wants to know if I’ve been doing well.
“Same, pretty much.”
“I’m sure.” He chuckles.
“Look, I’m sorry I haven’t called in a month, and now I’m asking for a favor out of the blue, but I really need to know.”
“I saw her picture,” is all he says, and I know he understands.
“Everything checked out. She is who she says she is. Fallon Brice, nineteen, born and raised in Sun Valley to small-time politician Paul Brice and his wife Marlene Brice, maiden name Brown. Two daughters. No other relatives. There is no connection, Markus. At least not on the surface. I can dig deeper—”
“No, it’s fine.” I feel both relief and anger. She has no connection to Victoria. It’s simply a fluke of nature. Or maybe it’s the universe taunting me. Probably the latter, I deserve this; after all I’ve done, I’m sure this is her memory haunting me.
“So, Fallon has a sister?”
“Yes, Amelie Brice, twenty-one, is currently studying abroad.”
“Okay. One last thing. What do you mean, small-time politician?” I don’t need someone with connections coming after me.
“Used to be Mayor of his town back in the day when his daughters were younger, but some drug scandal made him resign. He owns a little convenience store now. Fallon worked at the store until recently, then she left for college. Her roommate reported her missing two days ago.”
At least her roommate cares enough to notice she is missing. It doesn’t matter, though. They won’t find her, not hiding here.
“Good, thank you. I mean it.”
“I guess I’ll wait for you to call next time you need something.” He sounds a little snide, which I deserve. I’ve been ignoring his phone calls, and now I’m the one that reached out needing a favor.
“Why don’t we meet up soon? I wouldn’t mind seeing your ugly face.” As soon as the words are out, I regret saying them, and not because I don’t mean them.
If I meet up with my brother, I will have to either take Fallon with me or leave her somewhere alone. Neither would be a good idea.
“Yeah, let’s meet up. I’ll call you when I’m back in the US.”
“Sounds good. Thanks again, talk soon,” I tell him and hang up the phone.
Knowing everything checks out as she says means she didn’t lie to me. It also means she has no connection to Victoria. Still, every time I look at her, that’s exactly who I see.
Her smiling face. Her sparkling blue eyes. I can almost hear her soft laugh like a breeze blowing through the trees. She was mine for an instant, and then the very life I live now took her away from me.
Damnit! I slam my fist angrily onto the counter. Pain lances up my arm, but it’s nothing compared to the pain I feel in my chest at the reminder of her memory.
The feelings I am experiencing are out of control. I’ve never done something this insane. I always think things through and never show my emotions because if you do that, you might as well be giving your entire game away. Emotions mean you have something worthy of caring for, something that someone can take from you, and that’s what I’ve gone and done.
I’ve bought something, someone technically, and now I’m like a goddamn lion guarding his prey so no one else can have her.
Indecision weighs heavy on my mind as I drink my black coffee and prepare some breakfast for Fallon. I still don’t have the first fucking clue what I am going to do with her. I just know I can’t let her go. I want her too much. Want to possess her, touch her, own her. I’ve never wanted a woman like I want her, and not understanding the reason behind it is driving me insane.