Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Hey, what’s this? You are not a terrible girlfriend.” He cupped the side of her face, turning her to face him.
“But I can’t even make Thanksgiving dinner for you and your family.”
“They’re your family too now. And who said that you had to? Do you really think I care whether you can cook a turkey or not?”
“I’m guessing the answer is no?” she said.
“The answer is definitely no. And I will not have you saying that you’re terrible at anything, understand me?” he said sternly. “If you hadn’t already hurt yourself, I’d turn you over my knee for that.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
He turned her around so she faced him, placing his hands on either side of her hips. “Here is what is going to happen. You’re going to have a nap while I find some food to serve for dinner.”
“No, Daddy.”
“Excuse me,” he said in a low voice.
“I mean, I don’t need a nap, Daddy. I just want to help you.”
“You do need a nap, and it would help me if you got some rest. You look exhausted, baby girl. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.” He ran a finger along her cheek. “Have I not been paying enough attention? Have I been neglecting you?”
“Of course not!” she said hotly.
“I know at times I’ve been distracted. But I hope you know that you’re the world to me.”
The last bit of tension eased out of her as he told her that.
“You’re the world to me too, Daddy.”
“Good girl. Let’s go find Ricky Rhino and get you into a onesie for your nap.” He lifted her down and led her up the stairs to their bedroom. He helped her onto the bed on her back, handing her Ricky Rhino. She hugged her toy tightly before a pacifier was held to her lips. As she sucked, he quickly stripped her and then put a red, white, and green striped onesie on her.
“There you are, baby girl,” he said as he tucked her into bed.
“Don’t need a nap, Daddy,” she mumbled around the pacifier.
“Sure you don’t.” He ran his fingers through her hair as she drifted off to sleep.
Markovich sat on the bed and stared down at Dahlia for several minutes. What would he do without her? Over these past few months, she’d been his rock in the storm.
It felt like his world had been turned on its axis. Galina’s betrayal had hit him hard. How had he never seen what she was like? Pavel, well, he understood him more. He’d always been selfish. Although what he’d done to the Fox . . .
Markovich sighed. He understood why the Fox wanted nothing to do with him. He’d been tarred by association. But he’d never known about him. If he had, he would have fought with everything he had to get his father to take him in.
Instead, the Fox had been beaten by Pavel’s men and left for dead, only to be found by D’yavol.
He shuddered. That man’s reputation was one of a ruthless killer. Without remorse. Some might argue the Fox was the same, but Markovich had gotten to know the other man while he’d ‘worked’ for him. And while the Fox might have some issues with empathy and morality, he wasn’t evil.
He wasn’t an emotionless robot, like it was rumored that D’yavol was.
He’d tried several times to reach out to his half-brother. Shit, it was weird to think of the Fox as his brother, but nothing. Perhaps he should leave it alone now.
It was never a good idea to annoy an assassin.
9
Markovich and Dahlia
“I’m so sorry there’s no turkey,” Dahlia apologised, staring at the food on the table in dismay.
“Baby, stop apologizing,” he commanded.
He’d had enough of her saying sorry. None of this was her fault. He should have had dinner catered. The truth was, he hadn’t even thought about what they were going to eat, and that was on him.
While he’d lived in the USA for a long time, this wasn’t a holiday that had any real meaning to him. But it did to Dahlia, so he had to make an effort.
“Don’t stress, Dahlia. When I lived with Senior, we didn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving. If I was lucky, the cook would sneak me some pumpkin pie from the meal she’d make for the staff left watching over me.”
“Fuck,” Reyes muttered at Emme’s words. Reaching over, he grasped her around the back of the neck and drew her close to kiss her. “Damn, little girl, sometimes you kill me.”
“I do? I don’t want to do that, though,” Emme replied.
“I hate what that bastard did to you,” Reyes said with a scowl.
Markovich knew how he felt. He wished Senior was still alive, so he could be the one to kill him. Nice and slow.
“Oh no!” Dahlia cried. “I didn’t even think about pumpkin pie! You never got to celebrate Thanksgiving, and now you have to eat lasagna and chicken casserole.”