Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
I turned to Boris. He had just checked out his briefcase. He smiled back at me. I knew where his money would go. He was a mommy’s boy at heart. He would send it off to his mother so that she could feed more of the poor families in their neighborhood.
I turned to Jean-Pierre. “How long will we be at this mansion?”
Jean-Pierre smirked. “You have until the sun hits the sky. Then, I have a special car arriving to take you two straight to the plane. I assumed you didn’t want to come back with me to pick up Timur.”
I frowned. “I don’t ever want to see that house again.”
“Then, enjoy yourself. I’ll see you at the plane in the morning.”
I eyed him. “Once we get on that plane, what’s our destination?”
“Italy.”
“And if Timur isn’t okay?”
Jean-Pierre’s confident expression cracked. “Then, I’ll have to kill him.”
I shrugged. “Since it’s your father-in-law and you’ll feel super guilty, I’ll kill him for you, if you’ll like.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“But that will be another 250k.” I gripped the briefcase handle, opened the door, and left.
Boris climbed out too, holding his briefcase next to him.
The women swarmed around us like bees to honey. They slipped their hands on our jackets, testing the fabric. Others touched our hair, tracing their fingers through the strands. One kissed my cheeks, her lips soft and full. More beckoned us to move forward, their hands outstretched and inviting.
I looked Boris’s way. “Don’t be disciplined tonight, man. You need to be deep in one of them.”
“But—”
“Remember the Great Eagle.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Then, get your dick wet tonight.”
He drank in all the gorgeous women. His eyes widened with hunger and delight. “But—”
“Last time the Lion tried to hook you up. You didn’t take it.” I let another woman kiss my neck and shivered in desire. “This time, Boris, fuck them all if you can.”
“Maxwell, I should—”
“As a person who has been around Em for a very long time,” I shook my head. “If you were going to get her, you would have already had her.”
He frowned.
“Give it up and move on.” I headed off with ten women, moving with me like we were one body. Our steps were in sync and our breathing matched.
Excitement zipped through me. The warm air was still and the moon took over, lighting up the sky.
Chapter 18
A Love Supreme
W
e entered the brothel.
The foyer was opulent with thick red carpet, gilded mirrors, and a chandelier that dripped with heart-shaped crystals.
Jazz music danced on the air, and I recognized the song immediately. It was one of X’s favorites that he played and played on repeat any Sunday morning when we had to clean up the house.
John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme.
A deep feeling of warmth spread through my chest at the thought of X sweeping to jazz.
X, I miss you. Have you been watching me travel and get in trouble?
I grinned.
I bet you have been enjoying it all right along with me.
The jazz song swarmed around me.
The saxophone glowed, taking my journey on a musical ride, swelling ecstatically and then hushing dramatically. The song possessed the conversational cadences of a prayer, and the transcendent quality of a dream.
My body came alive.
The fear from earlier subsided.
We continued forward, and I barely paid attention to the women. Coltrane captured my soul and spoke directly through his saxophone, touching me deep within, lifting me.
We moved on. The women giggled. The saxophone continued to sing to me of a better place, a place where there was only love and peace. I closed my eyes and let the music take me away.
I knew that all I needed to do was have faith throughout the scary journey of my life. Then, maybe it would all make sense. Then, it would all be what I wanted, what I needed, what I dreamed of.
Two elegantly dressed waiters strolled to Boris and me. One poured us glasses of champagne and handed it to us. Another carried silver trays of hors d’oeuvres covered in savory treats. Succulent fragrances of garlic, lemon, and buttery seafood rose from them.
My stomach growled. I hadn’t even realized how hungry I was.
Fast, I stuffed several different things into my mouth not knowing what I was eating. Delicious flavors exploded on my tongue. All I knew was that it was seafood and good and I craved more.
Chuckling, Boris followed my lead, tossing food into his mouth. A few women helped him and he took the food and licked their fingers.
“Alright, bro.” I winked at him. “That’s the spirit. Stick with me. I’ve got a lot to teach you.”
After a few more mouthfuls, I took note of what I was munching on.
Okay, New Orleans. I see you.
The shrimp were plump and juicy, the crab meat was sweet and succulent, and the lobster was tender and buttery. I savored every damn bite, wanting more and more of the delicious food.