Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
“I agree.” I thought about the one love of my life that I had lost—Adrian.
Even now, I wore the blue pendant cross dangling around my neck—a gift from him on my twenty-first birthday.
The next day, he’d died.
Besides his framed picture, the pendant was the only thing I had of him. Not a day went by that I didn’t wear the blue cross. Those two objects helped me remember daily that someone on this huge Earth actually loved me. I would forever be grateful for our time together.
When Adrian died, and I felt so alone. My heart had been broken in two.
His death had made me fear loving again. I didn’t like the pain, the suffering, the constant emptiness.
David’s words pulled me out of my anxious thoughts. “I want to love again.”
Me too. I just don’t want to lose the person again in the process.
“But I want to do it right the next time. That’s what else was in Baba’s reading this morning.”
“Love?”
“Almost. She said that I had to open up my heart to the idea of a new love, and somehow find the time.” He chuckled. “Time.”
I grinned.
“There’s been no free time since becoming the Lion’s Number One.”
“That I understand.”
With Max gone, I stayed by Emily’s side, trying to prove my worth. After that meeting with Fela, I believe I showed the Lion and the Mouse what I could do.
But I still wasn’t sure where my position was with her.
Additionally, I didn’t know if I should want to be next to her. David was constantly exhausted. He had even admitted to not having much time for love and sleep.
Being next to the Mouse would be a lifelong position.
Was that what I wanted for my life, to only serve Emily? Would I be content with that? Or did I yearn to build an empire on my own?
These possibilities had never been present in my life before. The new bank account and experiences had opened up my eyes, and I was now reassessing my dreams and wants.
Silence ran between us. Comfortable and contemplative.
Minutes passed.
Perhaps, David was considering his life choices too. We were both young with our futures ahead of us.
Another curious thought occurred to me.
Umm. . .did King David really just hint at wanting to date me?
That made me feel giddy. My limbs felt weightless, and my head swam with joy. My cheeks even ached from grinning.
However, I made sure to remain still and quiet.
We were on guard and here to protect the Lion and Mouse. Enemies would soon begin swarming and surrounding us.
Now was not the time to ponder the possibility of romance between us, no matter how much I wondered what David had in mind for pursuing me.
Is he really going to stop getting his ritual blow jobs?
That news shocked me. I would know he was serious if he really did.
We shall see.
The elevator doors opened down the hall.
David and I both looked that way.
To my shock, Maxwell stepped off with Boris and Jean-Pierre at his side.
He’s back! Thank God.
Maxwell possessed so much valuable knowledge. Every time we worked together he used it as a teachable moment. Granted, he also picked on me like I was his little sister.
I secretly loved it. That made me feel like we were family, which was something I desperately yearned for in this life.
Maxwell spotted us and increased his pace before the others.
That was when I noticed Giorgio and some of the other French’s men in the back.
Wow, Giorgio. You could have told us that the Butcher was back.
Maxwell approached us. To my surprise, his voice held an edge. “Why is Em in here and not in the penthouse?”
Oh. Yeah. I don’t know if he’ll be happy about what they’re doing.
Maxwell never liked too much bloodshed. People thought that the Mouse was kind-hearted and forgiving. However, I was slowly learning that she was like that due to Maxwell being in her ear. He helped her navigate way more than many gave him credit for.
Do we tell Maxwell?
David spoke, “Welcome back.”
I nervously shifted.
With no humor on his face, Maxwell pointed at the door. “What’s going on in there?”
David sighed. “I’m not sure exactly, however, the Lion has requested that no one disturb them.”
Maxwell tilted his head to the side. “Why not?”
“I’m not sure.” David gestured down the hall. “However, I suggest you go to your room, clean up, and order something nice. Your suite has been freshened up each day waiting for your return and there are—”
“Motherfucker, open the door. I want to talk to Em right now.”
Oh, God. Maxwell is not in the best of moods. What happened while he was gone?
I cleared my throat. “Maxwell, they told us not to let anyone in.”
“Again.” He looked at me. “Why not?”
I shrugged.
Maxwell screwed his face in annoyance. “You all are supposed to be watching over Kazimir and Emily, but you let them up in a room without knowing what’s up?”