Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72496 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Too pissed that he pinched me, I was distracted enough to breathe once, then twice while he rocked me in his lap.
I heard my dad’s voice, then others behind him, but I didn’t want to leave Ivan’s arms. He started to stand, but I gripped his arms.
He immediately stayed on the ground with me and spoke without looking over his shoulder. “It wasn’t one of mine.”
“How do you know?” Dad asked, before trying to shove Ivan out of the way. “Are you hurt? Bella? Talk to me. Are you okay?”
I shook my head and clung to Ivan.
“Bella…” Dad tried again. “Look at me, sweetheart.”
My exhale was heavy, shaky. “I’m—”
“She’s in fucking shock, Nixon, give her some breathing space, she nearly got thrown off a mother fucking cliff, all right? Would you be breathing normal? I know she’s your daughter, but she’s my wife, so step back and let me take care of her while you figure out who the hell would dare do this, all right? We all have our jobs, let me do mine.”
Nobody talked to my dad like that.
But Dad sighed. “I know, I know.”
“Then go be useful away from here.” Ivan snapped. “Seriously, she’s still shaking.”
“She’s my—”
“Again, I know who she is, but you gave her to me, she chose me, so let me choose her back right now and hold her, stop wasting words because I’m not leaving this spot until she feels safe, okay? If I need to grab a tent and send for water, I’ll let you know.”
I smiled against Ivan’s chest and clung to him tighter.
Dad got up and walked off as more men ran up and started talking with him.
“I feel that smile, you know,” Ivan whispered into my hair. “Think he’ll punch me later?”
“One can only hope.” I teased.
His laugh was soft. “I told you to tell me if you were tempted to fly, I almost didn’t catch you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Next time, I won’t be late.”
I pulled away from him slightly, my eyes searched his, they were so green, so focused on me I almost got lost. “You could have just let him push me—”
His soft kiss silenced me.
He was kissing me.
Touching me in front of my dad.
Cursing was heard behind him, I half expected him to get pulled away from me, instead he kept peppering painfully soft kisses across my lips only to move to my wet cheeks.
I didn’t even realize I was crying when we touched foreheads and he whispered, “I asked you to trust me. I can’t do this without you.-I don’t want to. Don’t make me fly too, Bella.”
What was happening? I kept getting two sides of him; I liked both, but I needed this one the most. I needed it like air in my lungs.
“Swear.” I held out my pinky finger.
“Swear.” He gripped it. “Stay in front of me.”
I frowned. “To block attacks?”
He smiled. “So, I don’t get led astray. Every man needs a good partner to lead them, I do better when that person is you. I have around three seconds before I have to start being an asshole again, but I did pinky promise, so trust me? Please?”
I nodded.
He helped me up and turned around.
And as expected.
My dad punched him in the face.
And when Ivan crumped to the ground, his bloody smile grinned up at me while he mouthed. “Worth it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Pain reminds you that you’re alive.” —King Campsi
Ivan
It was worth it, it really was getting punched.
We were quiet on our drive back to campus; I reached for her hand, but only in the car.
She held on to it as we walked to our new suite on campus; we had the one bed because you know, married, and campus royalty and I still had to finish school and make things look normal.
Nothing to see here, just a mob boss getting his education by day and killing people during brunch.
It had to look normal.
Perfect.
Balanced.
Not just because of the nice people out to get us, but because any sliver of weakness and others might think they could pounce too.
Once we were in the suite, with its kitchen, living room, and huge king bedroom. I went to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Bella was still covered in dirt.
She didn’t even ask if she could come into the shower—she just stripped, dumping the clothes into the trash, not the hamper; then again, I realized she probably didn’t want to be reminded—and stepped into the steaming shower, putting her head under it until she couldn’t see.
I joined her. “Rules.”
“You hate rules, you tried to burn almost every rule sheet given to us by the parents for like years.”
I tried not to stare at her soft skin and failed.
“You’re beautiful.” I frowned when I noticed a faint bruise on her neck and pressed my palm against it. “Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Next time choke him out first, wrap second.” I admonished. “Then again, he was really big, I’m proud of you for keeping a clear head.”