Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“And you just managed to catch an international flight with nothing on your person?”
She laughs and the sound is bitter as hell. “Not with nothing.”
“When I woke up in Colombia, my purse was right beside me with everything else. Emiliano didn’t take it.”
“Dipshit,” Dix snarls and shakes his head.
“He’s an angry, immature child, not a criminal mastermind,” she replies simply.
“Why should we trust you?” Ace’s question didn’t come out of left field, but I’m still angry at his tone. I don’t like anyone talking to my woman with so much disrespect. But I want her to stick around, so she has to hold her own.
“You probably shouldn’t,” she admits. “I know who I am, a cartel princess. To you all that means is that I can’t be trusted, that I’m part of my father’s business. But the truth is, I’m just his daughter. Useless and not trusted to handle details of the family business. Even Alejandro never trusted me with LTC secrets.”
She sighs and reaches for my hand, which I give freely.
“I’d sooner hurt myself than cause Dix any harm. Other than that, I don’t know what to tell you.”
I smile down at her and kiss her forehead. Everyone is smiling but Ace.
“Tonight, Valentina stays here,” he says. “But we can’t risk fucking up the questionable peace we have with Rojas. I need to think about what we’ll do next.”
“Okay,” I say, unhappy but understanding.
Ace nods, a ghost of a smile playing along his mouth. “Enjoy tonight and meet me back here at ten to talk about our next move.” His gaze bounces between us. “I’m happy for you brother. But worried.”
“Ain’t we all,” I reply and pull Valentina closer. I take her lips in a hot kiss that gets my dick hard. My tongue slips between her full lips, and I devour her mouth. I kiss her as if that can possibly make up for lost time.
Nothing ever will, but I savor the taste of her, the feel of her curves under my hands, pressed against my body. I whisper, “I’m never letting you go again, Valentine. Not fucking ever.”
She presses her forehead to mine and smiles. “That’s good to hear because I’m not going anywhere.”
We hold each other close, eyes closed as we just breathe each other in moment by moment. This separation’s been too long and more than that, it solidifies for me how I feel about this woman. I love her, and as soon as I have a moment alone, I’m going to let her know just how much she fucking matters to me.
“Never,” I whisper.
But leave it to Banger to kill the vibe. “Never thought I’d see the fucking day,” he jokes. Banger laughs, and he’s soon joined by the rest of my brothers.
The noise they bring pulls Valentina and me apart, and I look at them, flashing shit-eating grins like they know something I don’t.
But I mean what I said to her. I will always protect her and support her. I won’t ever leave her again.
Not for any fucking thing.
Valentina stares at the sparse room, probably wondering what in the hell she’s gotten herself into. I hide my smile when she asks the question burning her tongue. “Is this where you live?”
I turn to her and wrap her in my arms, brushing a soft kiss on her lips, even though my body is craving more. “Would that be a deal-breaker for you, Princess?” Her hands slide up from my waistband and cup my face. “Not as long as you have no objection to me making the place homier. I also have a small trust fund, so we could get a place.”
I’m surprised by her offer. “You’d do that?”
“I would.”
“Well, you don’t have to, Valentina. This is where I lay my head when I’m too drunk or tired to drive home. It’s best for us to stay here for the night because we don’t know who’s watching. Easier to keep you safe.”
She says nothing for a long time, and I wonder if she’s thinking about getting the hell out of here and going back to her cushy cartel life. But all she says is, “You know, I could really use a shower.”
“Let me show you the way.” I grab her hand and tug her across the room to the small bathroom that’s just big enough for two. “It’ll be a tight fit, but I’m sure we can make it work.”
Valentina smiles up at me and steps into my personal space. “I don’t mind a tight fit, Dix. Do you?”
“Not at all,” I answer, and she pushes my shirt up and over my head, swiping a tongue across my nipple. “Val,” I groan and crank the shower spray to hot. Steam fills the room all around us, adding to the dreamlike state we’re in.
“I never thought I would get to be with you again, Dix.”