Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 20948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20948 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Fuck me, my little girl isn’t a girl anymore; she’s a woman. It’s hard to see her growing up, especially when you miss as many years as I have. Still, keep that shit to yourself. I’m not ready to have a grandkid. I’m too damn young, and you’re too damn old.” Diego pauses for a minute, looking lost in thought. I arch an eyebrow. He shakes his head. Whether it’s to clear his old-ass cobwebs out of his head, I’ve got no idea. This fuck is older than me and has no room to talk.
“You want to rewind that and reword your statement?” I use my shoulder to lean against the wall. Pretty sure I’ve overdone it between yesterday and today, but I’ll be damned if I’ll take off my prosthetic and use my crutch at this very moment.
“Nope, I said what I fucking said.” At least he’s not willing to punch me in the jaw again. He’s got a fist of steel, hard as hell. Shit hurts, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gave me a loose tooth or two.
“Hmm,” is all I’ve got to say. Diego is either going to hold a grudge or he’s going to get over this little snit he’s in. Regardless, he needs to figure his shit out soon.
“You the reason Ky’s no longer traveling for work?” he asks.
“I’d like to think it’s solely for me, but I’m not that much of a dick to come out and say it. I’m pretty sure there are more factors. I know she’s tired of traveling, misses her old man, along with her grandparents, and now that Lo is having some kind of problem, she’s really dug in her heels. This morning, she already had her laptop out looking for places to work around here.” Kyra hasn’t made me aware of her reasoning. All I know is I’ll stand behind whatever decision she makes.
“You’re the reason. The girl has dreamed about traveling all over the world, had my ulcer ready to bleed me dry with worry. Now I’ve gotta worry about you procreating with my daughter. Jesus, man.” Yep, I’m about tired of going 'round and 'round only to get nowhere.
“She’s it for me, Diego. My beginning, middle, and end. I got nothing but respect for you, but that woman inside? She has my love.” I push off the wall when I hear the sliding door open.
“Does she know that?” Diego states, tilting his head to where Kyra is walking out of the house.
“She does now,” I stated. She walks up beside me, dipping her head to move under my arm and into my body. I hold her close, hand going to her waist to keep her there.
“Alright. Ky, call Lauren. She’s staying at the house. Permanently. That pissant fucked her over good. I figure she’ll need you.” My woman may not see it, but it’s written all over Diego’s face. There’s a storm brewing, and it’s happening in Diego’s house.
“I’m going to cauterize his balls, maybe even use a rubber band. Hmm. There’s always a scalpel. I’m going inside. Love you, Dad. Thank you for taking care of Lo.” She moves in front of me, stands on the tips of her toes, and kisses the underside of my jaw. “I love you, too, Rhodes, but if you don’t get inside and take a break, I’m going to call your doctor.”
“Love you, Ky. I’m outta here. Rhodes, good luck,” Diego says with a chuckle.
“I’m blaming her love of bloodthirst on you and those books of hers,” we finish out our goodbyes. Kyra is already heading inside, and this time when I look at her, she’s pacing around with her phone glued to her hand at her ear. Yeah, the yardwork is going to have to wait. I’ve got a woman to settle down.
Epilogue
Rhodes
One Month Later
While I was shutting the house down for the night, Kyra decided to take a bath. She came off a three-day stint working twelve-hour days, which actually turned to a lot longer by the time coverage came to relieve her. The hospital she’s working at now is short-staffed and hot fucking garbage. Her back hurts, her feet hurt, and after tonight, she’ll be dead to the world. It’ll take her all of tomorrow to rest and sleep. Even still, she’ll only be coming up for food. The day after that, she will venture out, and still, she’ll have circles beneath her eyes. Tonight, I about stepped in to say something when she spoke up and told me she put in her resignation.
Damn woman assured me she’d find another job and would still pull her part in paying the bills, had money set aside. The only way to shut her up was to kiss her. I did exactly that until she was breathless and damn near climbing my body. It didn’t take long for me to lay it on the line—she’d been helping with groceries, doing odds and ends types of shit. Never once did I ask or expect her to do more. The house is paid off, my truck too. She needs a new set of wheels, and I told her if she does anything, it’ll be buying a new vehicle. She tried to interject but didn’t get far. I picked her ass up, tossed her on the couch, and convinced her in a different sort of way.