Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“She has a protective streak in her a mile wide,” he informed the others. “She actually tried to protect me from Billows. No doubt, she will again.”
Lana and Alena flashed him a smile. Savage scowled. The others exchanged worried looks.
“Spit it out,” he invited.
“You can’t have your woman standing in front of you, Maestro,” Savage counseled. “I’m serious. You’re going to have to stop being the good guy and make it very clear she’s to do what you say. She’s in a very dangerous position and she needs to understand you’re the man to trust. What you say goes.”
Maestro didn’t need to be reminded. “Not a pussy, Savage. And I’m not whipped. I’m still feeling my way with her. I trust her, but she isn’t there with me yet. Her instincts are to run.”
“Girl’s got good instincts,” Alena murmured. “You can be overbearing, Maestro, sweet and gentle, but you’re always going to want your way. That can be trying to independent women.”
“She’s a pleaser,” Maestro said. “She thinks for herself, but she likes to do things for others. If I can find a way to win her trust completely, I’ll have it all.”
This time he did touch the screen, his touch as gentle as Alena had claimed he was. There was a lump in his throat and a fist of heat in his gut just looking at her.
TEN
“I thought we were past this,” Maestro said, leaning down to cup Azelie’s face between his palms.
“I told you not to come here, Andrii.”
She not only sounded terrified, but she looked it as well. It was all Maestro could do not to pull her tight against him.
“He has people watching me.” That came out a whisper.
Maestro straightened to his full height. “Are you talking about the idiot who parks across from the complex, pulls out his phone and plays games on it? Babe, I clocked him the first time I was following you like the worst of stalkers. He’s never seen me, and he won’t. I’ve had my friend looking out for you when I couldn’t be here, and that idiot never saw him either.”
“You have someone looking out for me?”
She had beautiful eyes. When she looked up at him under that thick veil of lashes with a mixture of trepidation, desire and interest, his heart melted. Damn, but she was adorable.
He slid the pad of his thumb along the full curve of her bottom lip. It felt like silk. “Yeah, baby, I’ll always have someone looking out for you when I can’t do it myself. I’m not taking chances with your safety.”
Her long lashes fluttered. “You’re taking chances with your safety, Andrii. Billows is very dangerous. I’ve always known I would need to find a way to get out from under him, but I’m beginning to suspect he’s far worse than I originally thought.”
“Get ready while you’re talking to me. Jeans, comfortable shoes, the blue top. We’re in a time crunch.”
“I can’t be seen with you in public. He might find out.”
The fear was real. He could see it on her face. In her eyes. Her lips trembled. He wrapped his palm around the nape of her neck. “I want you to trust me to take care of us. He isn’t going to see us together. I want to take you out, Solnyshkuh. It’s important to me. I planned for this, and I think you’re going to love it. We can talk while you get ready.” Deliberately, he ran his thumb along her high cheekbone, tracing it gently, feeling her shiver in response. “Can you do that for me?”
Her little studio apartment was small enough that if she dressed in her bathroom, they would have no trouble hearing each other.
She reacted to his voice, the one he used that was velvet soft yet compelling. He’d become a master at using that tone. The fact that Azelie responded to it every time was not lost on him. And she didn’t want to disappoint him.
Maestro could see the conflict in her eyes—the need to protect him warring with her need to please him. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip and then she capitulated, going to the small closet to pull out the clothes he’d brought for her a couple of days earlier. She disappeared into the bathroom but didn’t close the door all the way.
“I need to tell you something about Billows, Andrii. It’s important.”
“I’m listening, Zelie.”
He was. He was also moving around her apartment looking for the necklace that held the key to the underground rooms.
“Months ago, when I was in the office, I heard a woman scream.”
His head went up sharply and he froze, turning toward the bathroom. “A woman screamed?” he echoed, willing her to keep talking.
“I’m not ever supposed to leave my office when I’m working, and I never have. The offices are located directly beneath the Adventure Club.”