Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106600 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Billy
I’m drowning in pain and so much torment. I latch onto Ardan’s voice and allow it to guide me away from all the chaos. Slowly, I open my eyes and look around.
I’m safe, I’m in our bedroom. Ardan has his strong arms around me as he rocks me from side to side. I close my eyes again and breathe him in, allowing his calming scent to fill my lungs.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he murmurs into my hair.
“No, I don’t understand most of it.”
“Then you can sleep in my arms. I will hold you and be here to protect you.”
“Thank you,” I say as I go to sit up.
He releases me reluctantly, probably thinking I intend to run away from him. Instead, I turn to straddle his hips and wrap my arms around him as I squeeze him tight and bury my face in his neck.
Lee giving me that hug the other day resonated deeply with me. I don’t often allow others to embrace me. Eddy has been the exception.
As I melt into Ardan, he tightens his arms, and I get the feeling he understands the depth of this gesture. I’m accepting him as my person. This isn’t the bond leading me, this is my heart.
“Ardan, I …”
“No need for words, my pretty mate,” he says in my ear and pats a hand against my butt.
I’m filled with so many raw emotions. I know I need to decipher those dreams, but the pain and torment I felt while in them has left me bare and aching.
“Sleep, my little one. Sleep.”
His deep, strong voice lulls me into comfort and my lids grow heavy. It’s like I’m wrapped in a cocoon of safety and love. If I ever questioned Ardan’s feelings before, I can’t say I do now.
I believe he’s allowing them to come through stronger than usual, so I push mine back. I may still have a hard time expressing the words, but my feelings are all in.
Backup Plan
Iwalk into the basement of the dive bar where I have my next meeting. Fixing my tie, I look around and snort. This is what I’ve had to resort to.
I’m still seething from the phone call that’s led to this decision. I’m all out of options and everyone’s looking the other way as if I’m the plague.
“Hello, it’s about time you got back to me,” answered the call.
“This will be our last conversation. I have what you asked for,” she said.
“Well?”
“Maybe you should have kept a closer eye on them over the years. Neither girl is an option. They are twenty-nine going on thirty, for God’s sake.
“Do you even want to know who they are now or what they do?” she hissed accusingly.
“You speak to me as if I’m a bad father. I was told to stay away. What does any of that matter to you anyway?”
“It doesn’t but it sure as hell should matter to you. One is a cop and she’s been hell-bent on taking you down. You made an enemy of your own child.”
“Marone. Fanculo. You have to be shitting me. Just add her to the list.”
“Yes, your list is long, but this foot is on your neck. You are closer to a cell than you think and if she has her way, she’s going to make that happen sooner rather later.”
I hung up right there. After I allowed them to take my three girls, I found a witch to look after the two I wouldn’t get to see or know. I figured it couldn’t hurt to have my own supernatural help.
I made her promise to tell me if anything ever happened to them that I should know about and I asked her to monitor if they remained pure. She has done none of that.
It’s like I’m getting fucked in the ass left and right with no lube. Marone. So the other girls aren’t an option and those fucking bikers still won’t answer me.
This indictment is on my head, and they won’t lift a finger to get me out of this situation. I still have my ring. How are they denying my summons?
“Candido, finally. We can’t meet like this again. You’re in some hot water and if I’m seen with you, I’m going down with the ship.”
“Officer Gates, how you doing? Since when do we start off without pleasantries?”
“Cut the bullshit. You’re usually the one entering the room rushing to be rid of me. My ass is on the line, and I have a detective who’s on your ass.
“It hasn’t been as easy to make shit go away for you. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say someone higher up is pulling strings to reveal you. Salvado just got lucky.”
Salvado, that’s the name of my daughter. She’s a cop and a decorated one. I never thought I’d be proud of a pig.