Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Focusing back on the many faces around my table, I continue with my expectations. “I have granted her full access to my estate, including the outdoor facilities. However, it is imperative that I be made aware of her daily movements. Until I know she can be trusted, she is to be watched like a hawk. I need to know her whereabouts at all times of the day, and it is to be noted that she is not permitted to step even a foot outside my estate without my approval. Is that understood?”
Everybody nods their head, and I turn my attention back to my personal chef. “Krista, I trust you will find some time in your day to meet with our new guest and discuss her dietary requirements.”
“Of course, Sir,” she responds with a subtle drop of her chin. “Anything else she requires for her stay? Clothes? Prescriptions? Electronics? Toiletries?”
“No electronics,” I state firmly. “As for clothes and toiletries, yes. Please see to it that her closet is fully stocked. She will be staying indefinitely, so be sure to provide clothing for all seasons and occasions. Stock her bathroom with basic necessities to get her started, and when she wakes and is feeling up to it, you can ask her about her preferred brands.”
“Yes, Sir,” Krista says with another nod.
Digging my hand into my pocket, I pull out my wallet and fish for my credit card when Rohan’s tone sails through the dining room. “Her name, Sir? What shall we refer to her as?”
I blindly hand my credit card to Krista, and she takes it without question, being one of the only members of my staff I trust with it. “Her name is not important,” I say, choosing to keep them in the dark. After all, the less they know, the better. However, considering the strict level of professionalism and how it directly stands against my requirements to show respect to my guests, I relent and offer an alternative. “You may refer to her as ma’am, and nothing more until further notice.”
Rohan nods in acknowledgment, and to be honest, out of all of my staff, Krista and Rohan are probably the only ones my new prize will have to deal with. The rest are to be seen and not heard. However, if she wishes to make friends with them down the line, then I suppose that will be okay.
“Are there any questions?”
“Sir,” one of my security team pipes. “What are your expectations security-wise? Does she require a shadow, someone stationed outside her door? Or will the security footage surveillance be satisfactory?”
I consider his question, trying to figure out exactly what I want. On one hand, I want her comfortable here, and having some ex-con stationed outside her bedroom door isn’t going to help with that. On the other hand, I don’t know anything about this girl. I don’t know her capabilities or her intentions, and until I can look her in the eye and read exactly what she’s thinking, I have to play it safe.
Unsure how to answer it just yet, I meet his waiting stare. “Let me get back to you on that. I need to look further into her history before making an informed decision on how to move forward. Expect a response before lunch.”
He nods. “I’ll let my head of security know to expect your instructions.”
“Good,” I say before looking back at everyone else. “Unless there are any further questions, this meeting is adjourned. Please get back to your posts in a timely manner.”
With that, the dining room quickly empties until I’m left with just Krista’s heavy stare on me. I arch a brow, waiting to hear what she needs. She lets out a heavy breath, and her lips flinch in the corners as if she’s trying to be brave. “Trafficking?” she asks in a small tone.
I hold her stare a moment longer. She’s usually not so bold when it comes to the details of my house guests. She tends to turn a blind eye, knowing exactly what kind of company I keep, but she can tell that this one is different. It hits harder and because of the respect I hold for her and the challenges she’s had to overcome, I won’t disrespect her by lying about it now. “Yes.”
Krista nods, and as she slips my credit card into the back pocket of her jeans, she forces a smile across her face. “You’re a good man, Killian. You did the right thing,” she tells me, reaching out and squeezing my arm. “I’ll do everything I can to help her feel at home.”
I nod, and without another word, Krista is gone.
Letting out a heavy breath, I brace my fists against the table and lean into them. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. That’s what my grandfather always told me, and I never truly understood it until he was murdered in cold blood. Before his body was even cold, I took over as head of the DeLorenzo Mafia family. Now, I understand it as clearly as if the words had been engraved on my skin. It’s a lonely life here at the top, and with the lives of so many in the palm of my hands, I can’t afford to put even one foot out of line. One wrong move, and this whole family could burn to ashes. That much was proven last night during the raid at my warehouse. While it wasn’t my family members who were slain, they were my workers. They were my responsibility, and last night, I failed them. The blood of those twenty-three workers is on my hands, and I will make this right.