Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22864 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Oh yes I almost forgot, we have that charity event tomorrow night.” Shit. I totally forgot. My family founded a charity foundation a long time ago and we still run it. Once a year we have an event for the donors and the board members and also the community to come, donate money, enjoy expensive food and wine and a presentation about what we do. This year we decided to have some of the children in attendance that have benefited from our charity for those in foster care.
“Is this fancy?” Red asks, biting her lip. Something she does when she feels anxious.
“It is dear.” My mother answers before I can.
“Oh. I have nothing to wear to something like that.” Walking over to her, I pull her into my arms and kiss her beautiful face.
“Then why don’t you call some of the girls and ask them to go shopping with you. While you’re at it, go to the spa and have a day of it. Pamper yourself. Relax and enjoy some time with your friends.” I can see her contemplating it before she nods her head.
“Okay. it would be fun to hang out with the girls again.” Good. I want her to do regular things without fear or hesitation. Once all of that is settled, I go into my office when I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket.
“Blake.”
“He has gone underground.” I hear the frustration in the Colonel’s voice and I am feeling it myself.
“Where had you tracked him to?”
“Too damn close.”
“So what now?”
“He is off the grid but because we know his last known location, we have a few traps set up. We will find him and take care of the problem once and for all.” I don’t doubt him for a second. My father chooses that moment to make himself known.
“That sounded ominous. What's going on son?” Unsure if I should say something or not since it is not my story to tell, I realize I have been holding this in as well, everything on my shoulders to try to help her heal and maybe I need someone to talk to as well. So, I release a long breath and tell my father everything.
I watch his face go from concern to bull fucking angry. “Piece of shit. Who in the hell would hurt that sweet girl. She barely weighs a buck ten. What kind of coward hits a tiny woman like that?”
“You said it. A coward.” He nods his head and gives me the death glare.
“Take care of your woman son. She is now my daughter and I expect you to treat her like the gift she is.”
“No worries dad. She is my everything.”
I do mean everything.
Chapter Nine
Florence
“I’ll have a venti iced chai tea,” I say to the purple-haired barista behind the counter. I came into Charleston with the girls. I have a charity function to attend with Fletcher tonight and at the very last minute I realized that I had absolutely nothing to wear. One phone call to Miriam and I was being picked up in a huge Escalade and whisked away to the mall. After grabbing a coffee, we head into a well-known department store and head straight for formal wear.
The obligatory fashion show was so much fun as my new friends helped me pick out a forest green dress with a slit all the way up to my hip. The thin straps barely hold my boobs up. I’ll have to be careful all night. It’s the most risque thing I’ve ever worn and I love it.
After shopping, we head to Lavish Luxury, a spa downtown. When we leave there, I’ve never felt so polished and sleek. With my hair and nails done, I swear I feel like a new woman.
At the event, I stick close to Fletcher or his mother. She’s been so freaking nice to me, I can’t help loving her. She reminds me of my own mom. I’m at the bar with Amelia when I see him on the other side of the room. He’s holding a little girl in a fluffy pink dress in arms and holding the hand of a little boy, maybe five or six years old, while entertaining other children with a story of some kind. A pang of longing hits my chest and lower as my freaking ovaries explode. Amelia hands me a glass of champagne, effectively garnering my attention.
“He’s so good with kids,” she says. “Always has been. Are you going to give him children?”
“As soon as he asks me too,” I tell her honestly, forgetting for a moment that she’s his mother. “I mean…”
“I know what you mean, Florence,” she says, chuckling. I watch as some woman leads the children away from Fletcher. “Go on, go get him.” She takes my champagne flute from my hand and all but pushes me toward her son. I go to him because what else can I do? Each step I take reminds me just how wet I am.