Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I quickly changed into dark jeans, a light blue shirt, and black leather jacket, eager to find out what Sadie’d been up to.
It was late, and no one would notice me slipping inside the hotel as long as I blended in with the other tourists. Not that it mattered if anyone did see me, but until I found out what Sadie had done, discretion was the name of the fucking game.
Inside Sadie’s well-appointed bedroom, I stared at the racks of clothes in her closet, deciding what to pick for her. She preferred those damn suits that made her look like a legislator, but then I remembered her words. Whatever you want. It was a curious statement for her to make. Sadie was a woman who always knew what she wanted.
Which meant she wanted me to choose.
I picked a sleeveless wrap dress that almost exactly matched her eyes, and black lingerie to go underneath. After gathering a few more accessories and toiletries, I went to Emerald Isle.
The hotel and casino were among the most profitable of the legal Ashby businesses, and when I entered the large, marble lobby, the whole damn place was packed.
Sadie’s arrest hadn’t scared away customers. If anything, it made them all the more eager to try and get a glimpse of the female Queenpin who constantly outsmarted law enforcement.
Either way, the crowded casino made it easy to slip inside and get lost in the crowd while I made my way to the penthouse elevator. It required a key, which I had, and a few minutes later, I stood in the hall, waiting for Sadie to open the door.
Greeting me, Sadie flashed a broad smile that did nothing to hide the annoyance in her voice. “Did you take the scenic route, Thomas?”
I was struck mute at the sight of her in nothing but a lush towel emblazoned with the Emerald Isle logo, droplets of water sliding from her throat behind the fucking towel, down her legs, all over her body. She was fresh from the shower, and my mouth watered with the need to have her again. To taste her.
“It took me twelve goddamn minutes to gather your things and get here. That’s pretty damn good time, Sadie.”
Surprise, or maybe it was heat that flashed in her eyes. “Yes, well, it felt like a lot longer than that.” Sadie stepped back and nodded for me to enter. “Did you bring what I asked?”
I arched a brow at her question. “Have I ever let you down, Sadie?”
“Not yet, but there’s a first time for everything.” Her words lacked their normal scorn, so I paid them no mind.
And I held on to her bag. “What have you been up to?”
She smiled and raised a brow at my question. “Jealous?”
“Should I be?” Sadie might be a cold bitch to the world, but she never mentioned or forced me to acknowledge the rare times she took another lover.
“You should be.” She pushed the door closed, locking it and engaging the safety latch for good measure. “You missed out.”
She sauntered past me, her lavender and cream scent teasing my nose, tempting my senses.
“On what, exactly?” A coy Sadie usually meant trouble, so I tread carefully.
“Revenge. It was fucking glorious, Thomas. I satisfied my inner pyromaniac tonight, setting whorehouses, flophouses, and stash houses ablaze all over town. Crusaders were inside every building, screaming like little bitches to get out. I can’t believe that Rhymer—O’Connor, whatever the fuck her name is—bitch let them rebuild. Did I mention that I blocked the exits too?” She let out a girlish laugh that surprised me. “Fucking beautiful is what it was, Thomas.”
No, you’re beautiful. As Sadie reveled in her actions, she was more beautiful than I’d seen her since she first became an Ashby. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were clear and bright.
“Impressive. Why did you go alone? It’s dangerous out there.”
She waved a dismissive hand my way. “This was for me. I mean it was also to protect the family, but The Crusaders have been a thorn in my ass for a long time, Thomas. You know that.” She shook her head and poured a tumbler of whiskey.
Was she drinking again? She handed it to me, and a wave of relief washed over me.
“They’ve been going after my business and my family since Colm and Cillian died. That’s all over now.”
She wasn’t wrong. It was a big part of why Cillian asked me to keep her safe once he and Colm were gone. He knew his son wouldn’t last long in this world, not with the way he mishandled his personal and business affairs, and he also knew Ronan Rhymer would pounce the moment they were both gone. They had, and it was a nonstop shit show from that moment forward.
“Congratulations.”
Her cheeks turned a darker shade of pink, and I shoved my hand in a pocket to avoid reaching out to her.