Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“She does,” Timur confirmed. “The kid is originally from Panama, from a big family, and I think his sisters and momma spoiled him.”
There was no change in Maya’s outward appearance, but Gorya felt her sudden stillness. He captured her hand, pressing her palm to his thigh.
What is it?
Not here. Wait until we’re alone.
He didn’t like waiting. He had patience when he needed to be patient, but she was really disturbed, and he wasn’t sure why. Jeremiah? He knew the kid.
Jeremiah saved my life. I’m not the only shifter he’s saved over the last couple of years.
Jeremiah had put his life on the line dozens of times for other shifters. He was eager to learn, eager to prove himself—a little too eager, which got him into trouble, but that was just his youth. What kid wasn’t? He wanted action all the time. He’d nearly been killed in Panama when he was protecting a female shifter, and he’d never speak exactly the same again. Gorya didn’t push Maya to tell him what was wrong, knowing it wouldn’t do any good.
Ashe sent Timur a little grin. “Jeremiah is a goof. He saved Gorya’s life and mine.”
“You saved his,” Timur corrected. He went to the grill to help Gedeon plate the food for his men and Ashe.
“See, if Jeremiah were here right now,” Ashe said, “he wouldn’t be able to resist commenting that Timur never has to worry about being poisoned after eating so many of my meals. He’d say he’s built up a cast-iron stomach or something equally as obnoxious as that.”
Timur frowned and lifted one eyebrow. “I can eat anything thanks to you, Ashe. Are you telling me this entire time you didn’t ruin all those meals on purpose?”
Again, laughter erupted around them. Ashe joined in, clearly uncaring that it might be at her expense.
Even with the teasing and laughter and the disclosure that Jeremiah had saved Gorya’s life, Maya didn’t relax, but she softened a little toward Timur, watching him serve his wife her food.
He does seem to love her.
Gorya followed her gaze to see Timur brush a kiss on top of Ashe’s head and murmur something that made her blush as he handed her the plate of food.
Ashe is his world. I have no idea what he’d do without her.
Timur went back to the grill to retrieve two more plates for Arman and Kiriil. Gorya could tell Maya was shocked that Timur waited on the two security guards rather than having them wait on him. He could have told her Timur might appear arrogant, but when it came to the men he worked with, he didn’t expect them to do anything that he wasn’t willing to do himself. He knew if Maya observed the behavior for herself, it would have a greater impact on her. He wanted her to like Timur, although his cousin tended to rub people the wrong way at their first meeting.
Don’t worry so much, Gorya. I like that he came to check on you. You matter a lot to him. I don’t have to matter to him. He sees me the way I show myself to him. He wanted someone like Ashe for you.
Gorya choked on his coffee. I’d strangle the woman.
Immediately, he had Timur’s attention. “Everything all right?”
Gorya nodded. “Absolutely. I’m glad you’re here, Timur. This is one fucked-up lair. Not only is everyone in the lair corrupt, but the locals rely on the money coming in from trafficking. I’m slowly unraveling who I can count on and who I can’t, but it isn’t easy.”
Timur had settled in his seat and started eating, but his head went up alertly and he frowned, pausing in the act of bringing his fork to his mouth. “You’ve always been able to discern lies faster than any of the rest of us. How can these people possibly keep the truth from you?”
“The locals can’t,” Gorya said. “But those in the lair have been mixing truth with lies for so long, I think they believe what they say. Many of these men have their mates, yet the women convinced themselves, for whatever reason, that there was nothing wrong in what was being done.”
Ashe scowled at him. “They knew? You’re certain they knew?”
“They knew,” Kyanite answered for Gorya. “It’s been slow, but we’ve uncovered evidence that in a few cases, they helped lure women here to be sold.”
Timur shook his head. “That’s crazy. Women shifters aren’t like that.”
“They can be,” Gorya said. “You should know. You just never wanted to see.”
Be careful, Gorya. Don’t say anything against his mother. What would be the point? Maya advised gently.
He’s living a fantasy. He needs to grow up and face reality.
Why? Why shouldn’t he be able to keep one nice thing for himself? Why shouldn’t he be able to believe his mother loved him? Maybe she did in her own way. Let him have that.