Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
I blinked at him. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Reaper barked out a laugh. “No. Not at all, baby. Now. Pack everything you need. We’ll be gone about two weeks. It takes close to a full day to get there and a full day back. We’ll fly into Lukla, then take a helicopter to Base Camp. El Diablo already has the permits and permissions and all that shit, so it’s no problem. The only thing is the altitude. We’re not used to it. If we walked up, no problem. Flying up there with only a day or so in Katmandu? We’d probably be fine since we ain’t stayin’ long, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. We’ll likely be the only dumbasses there wearing oxygen, but Fury tells me it might be necessary if we stay any length of time given the speed with which we’re going.”
“We don’t have to do this, you know.” I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. “I only put that on the list because, I mean, who doesn’t want to see the tallest mountain in the world? I’m not in any shape for climbing -- or a lot of walking, for that matter.”
“And you won’t be walking much. Another reason for me to have oxygen is so I can piggyback you when necessary. But we’re choppering in. We’ll stay as long as you want, then leave. Another overnight stay in Katmandu, then home. It can be that quick. If you want to see some of the sights in the city, we can do that, too. Only thing we have to worry about is keeping you off your leg as much as possible.”
“Reaper…” I didn’t want to hurt his feelings or anything, but this was seriously too much. “I can’t do this.”
He stopped, his attention suddenly focused on me wholly. “You hurtin’?”
“No. It’s not that.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Then what is it?”
I sighed. “You know why. Reaper. No. It’s too much.”
Instead of arguing like I figured he would, Reaper just nodded a couple of times. “I see.” Then he pulled out his cell, stabbed in a number, then put it to his ear. “Yeah. Need you out here ASAP.” A pause while he listened. “Yep. I got everything else packed. Just waiting on her and she’s balking.” Another pause. “Don’t think so. It’s the money.” Pause. “Yeah. Thanks.”
Reaper scowled at me. “You’re gonna learn not to tell me not to spend money on you. I told you you’d never win those types of arguments.”
“I’m not trying to tell you how to spend your money, Reaper,” I said softly. “I just don’t want you to put so much of an investment into me when I’m not gonna be here. In fact, as much as it pains me to say this, I really wish you’d find a woman who’s gonna be here with you to spend your time and money on.”
“Stop!” he growled at me, taking a step forward before stopping himself. He was about to say something when the door opened, and El Diablo and Jezebel stepped inside. No invitation required. I raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“What’s this I hear about you not wanting to accept El Segador’s trip to Nepal? Wasn’t climbing Mount Everest on your bucket list?”
“Well, yeah, but it was a token addition at best. No way I was ever gonna be able to climb a mountain of any kind, let alone Everest.”
“She’s starting to talk about herself like she’s already gone, Liam,” Reaper said. His face was tight, his expression closed off, but I could see I’d hurt him in some way.
“I just said you should put all this effort you’re giving to me into a woman who’ll actually stay with you. I don’t have tomorrow to give you. It’s all got to be about today.”
“That may be,” El Diablo said, looking carefully at Reaper before continuing. “But you’re with him now. Let him spoil you as he sees fit.”
“This whole thing is so surreal… Can’t you see how wrong this all is? He should be out there doing all this with a woman he plans on keeping. Not me. No one can keep me. I’m dying!”
“One thing at a time, sweet,” El Diablo soothed. Jezebel moved to me and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. I returned it automatically.
“Honey, we just want you happy. El Segador does too. And, if you’ll take time to really think about it, I think you’ll find he feels something special for you. This isn’t something he’s doing out of pity, if that’s what you’re afraid of. He’s doing it because he…” She trailed off and looked up at Reaper. “He’s doing it because you’re special to him. We’re all helping in every way we can. I got El Segador’s list ready with instructions for everything on that list to be loaded on the plane. Me and the girls picked out all the stuff for you. Fury made sure you had the oxygen and equipment for a trip at that elevation, and that El Segador knew how to use it. When you get back, we’ve got other things planned.” She smiled at me, brushing away the tears tracking down her cheeks. Then she brushed mine away. I hadn’t even realized I’d been crying. “You’ve made more than a few friends here, Swan. You’re a very special woman indeed to get this bunch on your side so readily. They’re usually suspicious of everyone, but you even won Samson over. I can’t even begin to tell you how rare that is.”