Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 54204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“Hello Miss Lorr. Again, please call me Mr. Lassiter and thank you. Also, please clear my schedule for the next two weeks. Other than meetings I have to take for paperwork or to finish out an arbitration or something, I will not be in the office. Got it?”
“Yes Da--um I mean Mr. Lassiter.”
“Thank you.” Reaching for the phone I try to remove the gruff from my voice. My sister is the only light I don’t abhor. Well… until my angel landed in my chest. “Karla. How is my studious little sister doing today?”
“Dario, really. Studious? You do know I am going to be 26, right?” She hates when I talk to her like my little sister.
“I’m sorry. How may I help you little sister?”
“Jerk. Anyway, mom and dad are hosting a dinner party for my birthday even though I protested profusely. I know you hate these things, but please...for me.” Ugh. she is right, I abhor social events like this. Even ones I am expected to be at. My family, however, is everything to me and I will always come for them.
“Of course I will be there.” I say as it hits me that I need to take my girl shopping. I intended to do it this weekend. But now, with this, it seems I need to do it sooner rather than later.
“Great. Why don’t you bring Heather Smith? Mom has always liked her and I…”
“That will never fucking happen and so help me, if she shows up at the party, I am leaving. I won’t have Jewel…”
“Whose Jewel?” she asks. Shit. My mom is going to be calling before I get the phone hung up.
“She is going to be my wife and your new sister.” There. Better to get it all out.
“Oh my God. My big brother has finally been broken. I can’t believe this. Who is she? Is her family prominent or... no don’t tell me. I am going to have so much fun guessing.” This will take all damn day.
“You are going to have to wait until the party. Now, some of us are not still students and have real work to do. I love you, munchkin.”
“Really with the munchkin, big brother. I love you too.” Damn. Seems I need to gather the guards. Pulling out my after work phone, I call Anais.
“Boss.”
“How is she?” I don’t give a shit about anything but her.
“She is well, boss. She has been exploring the grounds and spending some time with Miss Lola. Would you like to speak to her?” speak? Hell no. I would like to fuck her right now. It reminds me that my baby needs a phone now.
“No. I will be leaving here in an hour. Please drive her and Lola to meet me at ‘ABOVE’.”
“Yes, of course. Who would you like me to tag?” she asks, waiting for me to tell her who to bring along for extra security.
“Bring Scar.”
“I will contact him right away.”
“Thank you.” turning to look out the window. I find I am looking forward to spoiling my Queen. Almost as much as I am looking forward to branding her. As my possession, my woman, my Queen, she will wear my name, my crest, my jewels and my heart. I just hope she is ready for it.
“How’s it going, Click?” I ask him, settling into the car on my way to meet the ladies.
“Nothing interesting. We got a bead on how they made Lola.”
“Finally. Who?”
“Blaine.”
“Maggiano?” he is the son of my biggest enemy. Glonis Maggiano was the second biggest Mobster in this state. I took him out first. However, due to the fact that he had a mistress that had three of his little kids, I let him live...with an understanding. He keeps his men and sons out of my way, and they all get to breath. Seems the deal has been snuffed.
“Yes.”
“How the fuck did Blaine know who Lola is?” Something is still not adding up and I don’t like hunches. I like cold hard facts.
“Not sure yet, Boss.”
“Any luck at the hospitals? Did you find anyone who would have been dosed by Lola?”
No. We are still working on it.”
“Work faster. It's making me twitchy with all of this shit out in the open unknown.”
“Shit.” his response to me using the word twitchy. He hates it. He says usually what follows is my version of a tantrum. Except the fallout of mine is more than tears. It’s usually bodies.
“Then fucking fix it.'' My response was final. He gets out of the car, ready to open my door and I beat him to it. When he sticks his jaw at me I simply smirk. He knows I don’t flinch for no fucks. They want to bring the drizzle; I will bring the storm.
“Dario, darling. Welcome back. It has been too long.” Carlotta, the owner of ABOVE, greets me at the door.