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)
“It's the first sentence to ease into a difficult conversation.”
“Baba, you've known me long enough. You and I don't ease. We get straight to the point.”
She put her view on the elevator doors. “Still, I would love to know how your walk went.”
Sarcasm laced my next words. “It was so fucking awesome.”
“Physical movement eases stress.”
“And what gets rid of another personality? Running? Yoga? Pilates?”
“Those are possible solutions.”
“I doubt that.”
“Emily, we hold our issues in our tissues.”
I frowned. “Did you mean to rhyme that?”
“Rhyming helps me remember things.” Baba looked back at me. “We are told that psychological issues reside in our head. That it is all a cognitive process. But I disagree.”
“It's in our body?”
“It is.” She bobbed her head. “All your trauma is stuck in different parts of your body.”
“Fine.” I gazed down at my legs. “Then, how do I get it all out?”
“There's no quick fix. Healing is possible but it takes time.”
“I don't have time. I have a baby on the way.”
“Emily, you have too much pain to put a band aid on. You will need to take time to get to the root of your trauma and heal it once and for all.”
“I already know the root.”
She quirked her brows. “Do you?”
“A sick man touched me when I was a kid, and I guess. . .I used this. . .personality to protect me.”
Baba pursed her lips and stared back at the door.
“No way.” I glared at her. “We are not going to do any secret bullshit this time.”
She avoided looking my way. “What do you mean?”
“Say what is on your mind?”
“You must get to the root yourself.”
“Baba, for these past days you’ve kept secrets that could have helped us—”
“So, everyone wouldn't die—”
“Still, it would have been nice—”
“Everyone is alive.” She turned my way. “We are now in the best timeline. I would like it to remain that way.”
“And did you see Lunita in this timeline?”
“I did.”
Tension gathered in my shoulders. “You did?”
“Yes.”
I opened my mouth, then shut it, and faced the doors. “And?”
“Now you and I must spend more time together without your men.”
“More time together?”
“I am going to help you as much as I can.”
“Why without my men?”
“They are already extremely afraid of you. We do not need them to be more terrified.”
“You're not afraid of me?”
“Why would I be?” She gave me another sad smile. “Also, you must be careful of the Butcher.”
“How?”
“Some of your men are now his.”
“He has spies among our people?”
“He does.”
Anger hit me.
“However, his actions are not to ruin relations between you two. The spies are just monitoring your behavior.”
If Kazimir finds out, then the Butcher and these men are dead.
Baba continued, “Jean-Pierre is simply trying to protect his unborn daughter.”
“My goddaughter.”
“He is wondering if your being her godmother is still a possibility.”
“He doesn't have a choice. He promised.”
“That's not the way the world works, Emily.”
We'll see about that.
“However, we will work together to make sure that the Butcher and no one else will have anything to fear where you are concerned.”
I let out a long breath. “So. . .you're going to get rid of the personality for me?”
“I can help you heal a few layers, but my assistance won't solve your trauma on a root level.”
All hope left me. “What will?”
“Fully getting your body and nervous system into the process.”
I held out my hands. “I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“That makes sense. Why would you? Still, this is what you will need to do. It will be a journey, Emily.”
The elevator doors opened.
Several men stood on the floor, waiting for us. My people must have called them.
Baba and I stepped off the elevator.
She headed in the opposite direction of the presidential suite.
The men followed.
I eyed her. “Why are you going this way? Did you move Paolo?”
“That little one was up all night screaming your name.”
My heart broke.
“He didn't go to sleep until three in the morning.” Baba checked her watch. “He will be asleep for a few more hours.”
I slowed my pace. “Then, why are we—”
“I needed to get you away from Kazimir and your men.” She continued forward.
“Why?”
She stopped at her suite's door. “It's time for your reading.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I don't like your readings.”
“In the elevator, you complained that I did not tell you everything. Now you do not want to hear anything.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
She opened the door for me.
I entered.
My men remained in the hallway.
I shut the door behind us and gazed at the small room.
When we arrived at this hotel, Kazimir made sure Baba's suite was near King David. Also, she was the only person to get an extra bedroom to use as an office.
A black desk sat in the office. A deck of playing cards lay in the center.
Tons of lit candles filled the space. Some were on the bookshelf. Others were on the edges of her desk. Most looked like they’d been burning for several hours. In the jars, melted wax pooled around the flames.