Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“I’ll keep my calendar clear. Alright for me to lay him down for the night? If he keeps wiggling, we know what will happen. You’ll have a ball of energy running around all night.” I stand up, figuring I’ll be laying him down in his crib, which he won’t be in much longer, the little climber that he is. It’s only a matter of time until Tyra wakes up with him raiding the pantry.
“Yeah, but in my room tonight.” I look thoughtfully at Tyra. It’s like Mace is ripping her heart wide open again, this time using their son in order to do it.
“Alright, I can stay here. You know I don’t mind,” I offer, worried that she’s going to break down and have no one there to comfort her.
“I love you for offering, but I think I’m going to snuggle my boy and pass out. There’s less to think about when you’re sleeping.” She’s not wrong about that. Tyra follows me down the hall, having already dressed for bed after her shower, and don’t think I didn’t notice she’s wearing one of Mace’s old shirts, Army emblazoned across her chest, threadbare with a few holes around the collar. I’m going to give her peace right now, though. Waiting until she’s had a few drinks, a less heavy day, and things aren’t weighing on her shoulders is the key to really get her to open up.
“Get in bed. I’ll hand you him, then I’ll lock the door on the way out.” We each have keys to each other’s places, a buddy system to text when we get in for the night, and we both carry an alarm on our keychain just in case.
“Thanks, Celeste.” She moves the pink, yellow, and white decorative pillows off the bed, to a bench beneath the window, pulls the quilt and sheet back, then slides in. Once Tyra is settled, I hand her Von, kissing his cheek as well as hers.
“Welcome, honey. Love you guys. Call if you need anything, okay?” I walk towards her bedroom door, looking at the two of them together, my heart aching for what is going on, for Von not having a dad who is actively involved in his life, and Tyra, God, she deserves the world. Too bad her ex-husband doesn’t see what he’s doing to these two amazing people.
“Love you, too. Promise we’ll talk about Wylde another day, alright?” I nod, blow a kiss, and walk through the house, picking up the few toys that were left out and straightening blankets on the couch, turning lights off before I grab my keys and lock myself out for the night. I take a deep breath. Between this stuff with Wylde and now Tyra, sleep will be a long distant relative tonight.
FOURTEEN
Wylde
“This is rather impressive,” Nico’s dad tells me as the three of us, Emilio, Nico, and myself, stand off to the side, watching as the first truck is loaded with none the wiser of laundered cash. How Emilio makes this all come together, I’ll never fully understand, a mastermind in every sense of the word is what I’d say. The hiring of the armored cars, the security from the company, and the way things are kept so quiet, it astounds me. It looks like your everyday armored cash transport car.
“It’s been busy.” Five days since the opening, and reservations are booked, tourists are in and out of the casino, and the nightclub is packed at night, along with the pool, restaurants, and Celeste’s spa. Wylder’s has every amenity you can think of on one property. That’s another thing I have yet to figure out. Every time I have a spare minute, she’s either with a client or off casino property for the night. It doesn’t matter if I’m here early or late, our days seem to veer off in different directions. That’s going to end tonight.
“Yeah, it has,” Nico states as we watch the last truck roll out for the night. My hand goes to my pocket, feeling for my phone. The vibration is going off, knowing it’s a call that needs to be answered. Respect is more important, though. When it comes to Emilio Donotello, you don’t fuck around and find out.
“I’m out of here. Going to meet the transfer at the warehouse. Nico, come,” Emilio states, snapping his fingers like he always does to make sure people know he means business.
“Later. You might want to go check the security feeds. Saw a glimpse of a certain woman in black scrubs walking through the lobby.” He claps me on my back, a gesture that tells me he feels bad for the shit storm that is sure to follow as soon as I get back to my office.
“Fuck me running,” I respond to Nico. He chuckles then follows his father along with two of his other men, flanking their sides. It’d be a fuck of a lot funnier if he were the one in my shoes.