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)
I was showing her who I was without words, because my words had been hurtful, mean, I could at the very least show her in my actions.
She pulled away enough to look up at me. “What about the no touching or my dad kills you rule?”
I kissed her again. “I’m already dying.”
“Aren’t we all?” she joked.
I burst out laughing and pressed her against the tile wall when the sound of the door to the bathroom opening reached my ears and a throat cleared. “I swear if that’s Tank, I’m going to slit his throat.”
“Ivan?” Tank’s voice sounded. “King has some news about the face tattoo, he’ll be here in a few minutes, thought you might need some time to… you know dry.”
“Mother fuc—”
“Shhhh.” Bella clapped a hand over my mouth. “Remember the rules, I’ll just finish up in here while you go get…” She gulped and jerked away from me and looked down. “Presentable.”
“Presentable, my ass,” I growled, then kissed her again, only to turn around, then back and kiss her again, and throw the shampoo against the wall. It made an echoing thud before falling to the ground.
“Ivan.” Tank looked away when I walked out. I glared at him and kept walking, then slipped and nearly fell against the wall. “It’s slippery.”
“I know!” I yelled, only to slip again and nearly break my thumb. “Whatever.”
I smiled when I heard Bella’s laughter.
Before, I would have been annoyed that she was mocking me.
But that night, I smiled, because she was free.
CHAPTER THIRTY
“We’re all blind to ourselves, to others, the only solution is admitting it.” —King Campisi
King
“I’m a bad father. I’m my father. I can’t win in this scenario.” Nixon paced in the dorm waiting for Ivan, only to turn on me and shove his finger into the air like he was getting ready to use it as a weapon. “He touched her!”
“You’re yelling.”
“I’m FULLY AWARE! of what I’m doing.” His black suit looked ruffled, which was never the case with Nixon, he was always put together. He’d pulled off his jacket, tugged at his tie, and now he was in nothing but a white shirt, sleeves shoved up to his elbows, his pants and shoes that kept slamming against the wood floor like they hoped to turn it into kindling.
I jerked my head toward the black leather chair in the corner. “Maybe take a seat while we wait for him?”
He kicked at the same chair twice, then sat. “I don’t want to sit!”
“And the alternative is hitting someone or something?” I asked. “I mean, he saved her life, she would have died without—”
“I know.”
“He killed Junior, who was like a son to you, I understand your anger, and she’s your youngest daughter.”
“Stop being the voice of reason, King. It really pisses me off more, it reminds me of myself being the voice of reason with others when they lose their shit.” He fell back into his chair and pinched his nose. “I think he loves her.”
My eyebrows rose. “I’m sorry, what?”
“He’s playing me. He’s wanted her from the beginning, he’s playing a role, he knows things, Junior knew things. I’m not stupid, but it’s my—” He took another deep breath. “She’s my everything, my Family is everything, he’s going to get her hurt.”
“That,” came Ivan’s voice, “isn’t your choice now, is it?”
Nixon jumped to his feet. “I said no touching!”
Ivan slapped his hands away. “Yeah okay, Dad, I’ll be sure not to touch her after a near death experience with some monster and his cheek tattoo, good advice.”
“Don’t call me Dad.”
“Don’t make yourself look stupid.” Ivan spat.
I whistled and looked away just as Ash came in and started to back out, only to have Phoenix shove him in the rest of the way. Maksim was chatting with everyone else in a separate room about our intel. I wanted everyone in here discussing the safest way to protect Bella and Ivan.
Nixon… was not helping.
“So…” Phoenix looked around the room. “This looks like a party.”
Everyone turned to him.
He held up his hands. “Sorry?”
“She was scared, so I hugged her, I was petrified so I kissed her.” Ivan spat. “Deal with it, Dad!”
“Stop calling me Dad!” Nixon roared.
“Dad, Dad, Dad, hey Dad, what’s going on, Dad? What’s your damage, Dad? You’re doing too much, Dad, relax…” Ivan grinned. “Dad.”
Nixon charged toward him, Phoenix blocked him and nearly got clocked in the face.
Maksim poked his head through the door, saw the drama, and backed away and closed it.
I sighed and glanced over at Ash. “You wanna start?”
Ash tossed a black folder onto the table. “I think Phoenix should.”
The room fell silent.
Phoenix walked over to the folder and stared it down. “Do I want to open this?”
“Do you want to avenge your dead son?” I snapped just as Chase walked in, expression pale. “Open the damn folder.”