Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Ares straightens his shoulders, pulling me into his hard chest and pressing a kiss on top of my head. “Love you, but won’t you be back after the weekend?”
“Yes!” I straighten his tie and lose myself in the shadows of his tattoos on his neck. “But I’ll still miss you. Both of you. I haven’t been this far away since—ever.”
He gives me another small kiss before stepping back, nodding at Niko. “Go have fun with your friends and Grandma.”
I plan to, but first I need to figure out what is happening between the two of them.
Nik has become stronger with age, and although he looks the same as he always has, lines indent his forehead now, and he and Ari have competitions who can grow the thickest beard. Now I have a Santa Claus all year round.
Niko smirks down at me. “Go enjoy your weekend, baby. Ma is waiting outside for you.” The way his tone hardens makes my skin crawl, and I pause, looking between the two of them.
“Hang on, why are you both trying to get rid of me?” I glare at them, folding my arms in front of myself and pushing my fake tits up higher. “This is my school, after all.” Why the hell are they being so secretive? My face pales.
“Baby,” Niko whispers into my hair. “Remember, I’ve got this. I love you more than any goddamn thing in this life and would never do anything to hurt our kid.”
“Mama,” Ares urges. “Please.”
I look between the two men in my life since Papa’s passing, and waves of emotion wash over me in currents. Loss, pain, sorrow, mourning—but after all, I feel… trust. I had an itch in the back of my mind years ago that Niko might try to do this, but I didn’t want to believe it. Niko isn’t stupid, and he loves our son more than anything. I should trust him. I do trust him.
I smile up at them both, leaning up and kissing Niko on the lips while pushing my sunglasses down to cover my eyes. “Okay. I’ll see you on Monday. I love you both!”
Niko squeezes my ass, planting a kiss on my lips before pushing me out the doors. “We love you, baby.”
When the doors swing closed and the words IKARIM School of Performing Arts stare back at me, I realize that it doesn’t matter that Ares is the replica of Niko.
It doesn’t matter that he is now the Don of les beaux voyous.
Nor does it matter that he is about to become the new Ghost, as I just happened to figure out right now.
Because I wear death around my neck like a gold chain and I have no problem utilizing it as a weapon to protect them both. I will do it until I take my last breath.
“Hey!” Ma calls out from behind me and I turn around to see her waiting for me in the back of a town car. “Come on! The cocktails are getting warm.”
I was ready for a girls’ trip months ago, but we were waiting for Cece to find her new replacement so she could truly relax, as she said.
“I’m—” A gunshot rings out and pain radiates against my forehead.
“Grief is the final act of love.”— unknown
A beeping sound vibrates through my eardrums. Thud. Thud. Thud. My head pounds but my eyes refuse to open. Shadows dance across from me, two, around the same size.
“Ma…” Ares’s voice broke through my pain like an iron fist.
I reached for him aimlessly, but my arm felt weighed down by lead.
“Open your eyes, Ruckus,” Niko whispers near my ear. “You can’t fucking leave me walking this earth without you.”
“I—” The words struggle to come out, and Ares orders someone to get some water. A plastic straw sits on my bottom lip as I suck in the coolness that rehydrates me.
“A bullet for a bullet.”