Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15173 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
I know he’s right. “It kills me to admit that you’re right,” I admit. “But you’re right. Nothing else seems important except her.” My nephew’s eyebrows shoot up at my declaration, and I force myself to ask, “You think I’m nuts, don’t you?”
“Not at all.” Dmitri shakes his head. “I’ve been watching all the assholes in town drop like flies for months. It doesn’t really shock me that the love bug struck you, too.”
“Don’t worry, the water in this goddamn town will get you soon enough,” I warn him. It’s the town’s claim to fame. An insane number of the residents in town are happily shackled to their soulmates who they fell in love with at first sight. Up until I laid eyes on Belle, I thought it was a crazy urban legend. Well, that fairytale just bit me in the ass. “Then you’ll understand what I’m going through,” I threaten him with reality.
“Oh, fuck no.” My nephew’s eyes widen as he shakes his head vigorously. “I’m only drinking bottled water from now on,” he growls and adds under his breath but still loud enough for me to hear, “I don’t want to turn into a moron like you and all the other pussy-whipped assholes in town.”
Not long ago, Dmitri’s sister, Devin, decided to hide out in Silver Spoon Falls. I almost had a heart attack when my niece disappeared, but my contacts found her in the small Texas town almost immediately. The Carmona Kings were increasing their attacks on us, so I decided to leave Devin here and keep a close eye on her. To my surprise, she caught the eye of a powerful, well-connected lawyer, Jude Despora, and the rest was history.
Sitting back and watching their relationship develop without interfering was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was necessary. My niece has a good head on her shoulders, and I was forced to let her use it. In the end, we added a powerful MC to our list of allies and a powerful lawyer who loves my niece infinitely to the family.
Once I add my curvy little doctor to the family and get rid of the cartel threat, I will be able to breathe easy and maybe retire to make babies with my little beauty.
Chapter
Four
DANTE
At six o’clock, I give up trying to get anything else done. My chest aches while my limbs feel unusually heavy. A foggy sensation wraps around me as I admit to myself that I fucking feel like shit on a cracker. Rubbing the back of my neck, I pull out my phone to shoot Dmitri a quick text.
I’m going to head out for a while.
Dmitri
Couldn’t take it anymore?
Something like that.
Dmitri
I’ll be here. Working. You might try it sometime.
Asshole. If I was feeling better, I’d kick his ass for that remark. I barely make it to the car when things turn to shit big fucking time.
Ever since our afternoon meeting, I’ve had pain radiating through my chest and up the back of my neck. I wasn’t too worried about it, figuring the pain is stress combined with missing my little beauty. But the black dots swimming in front of my eyes and overwhelming nausea have me thinking something else is going on.
“Take me to the hospital,” I order Bruno seconds before everything around me goes black.
I wake up to find bright lights shining in my eyes and a pimply-faced fucker smiling down at me. “Mr. Arakas, I’m Dr. Altman. Don’t worry, we’re going to take care of you.” What the fuck? He’s even younger than my angel. Either I’m way the fuck too old or doctors seem to be getting younger.
A male tech rushes into the room pushing a white machine. “We’re going to do a quick EKG to check your heart.” This fucker cuts my shirt off like it’s nothing and shakes his head sadly as he stares at my chest. “There’s no way the stickers will work on your chest. I don’t want to take the time to shave you, so we’ll just make it work.”
“Wait.” This has gone too far. I’m feeling much fucking better. At least, I thought I was until I attempt to sit up and the room starts to spin. Fucking hell. I drop back onto the hard-as-hell bed and take several deep breaths, trying to keep my lunch down. I’m not sure what hurts worse, the nervous nurse poking the hell out of me with needles or this asshole and his stickers from hell. I wish for the darkness to overtake me again as the pain multiplies from every direction. Is every motherfucker who works at this hospital in my room right now? When the efficient EKG tech places a white sticker on my chest and rips it off, taking all the hair around it too, I’ve had enough.