Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 105089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 525(@200wpm)___ 420(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 525(@200wpm)___ 420(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
But he also knew that she had trouble being separated from him. Part of it was because of her mom’s disappearance when she was sixteen. It had left her with some abandonment issues.
And he didn’t want to leave her again so soon.
“Fuck. I have better things to do than to come out to North Dakota.”
“I know, Boss. But these guys are getting twitchy and they’re going to need some reassurance, or they’ll take Ruiz’s offer. He didn’t come in person, so I think you coming will show them you’re serious.”
He tapped his fingers on the desk and sighed. “All right. I’ll figure it out and let you know.”
“You really have to go?”
Fuck it.
She was killing him. He’d known telling her this would be hard, and he’d expected her to push back. To demand that he stay or that she go with him.
What he hadn’t expected was for her to look so damn sad.
She was sitting on the bed, staring up at him as he packed. Her eyes were huge and pleading. And he just knew that he couldn’t leave her behind.
“I really shouldn’t take you with me,” he said.
“It’s all right. I understand. I’ll be okay here.”
“If you come to North Dakota, you’ll need to wait for me at the hotel, because you’re not coming to see Leo with me. He isn’t someone I ever want you around.”
“I can . . . I can come?”
Fuck it. “This is probably a mistake. You’ll be safer here.”
“It’s risky for me to go?”
He thought it through. Was it a risk? She’d stay at the hotel. He’d leave two men with her. He wouldn’t even tell anyone that she was coming.
It was likely riskier to leave here where she could get into all sorts of trouble without his supervision.
“You can come. It’s one night. There and back. You will stay with your guards and do everything they say,” he added sternly.
“I will! I promise! Thank you!” Jumping up, she wrapped her arms around him. Joder.
He sat on the bed, pulling her onto his lap. “I’m not being a very good husband to you.”
“What? Of course you are, Papi. You’re the best.”
“I leave you alone. I’m constantly being pulled away by other things. Being with me puts your life in danger.”
“You listen to me, Alejandro De Leon.” She moved so she straddled his legs. “My life might be different from what I thought it would be. But it’s so much better. And that is because of you. Because of how you love me. And if you try to make it sound like I am unlucky and unhappy, I’m going to punch you in the nose.”
“We’ve talked about you hitting me, Preciosa. That’s only going to end with you getting your bottom heated.”
“It would be worth it to make you see how much I love you. Don’t make me do it.” She waved her fist around.
He grabbed her hand, cradling it. “All right, my fierce Kitten. I understand. I wouldn’t dream of going against anything you say.”
“Because I’m always right.”
“You are not always right. And you won’t always get your way.”
She sighed. “But that’s such a sad thought, Papi.”
He just shook his head at her. She wrapped her arms around him. “Relax, Papi. What is the worst that can happen? I get a sore back from carrying around too many shopping bags?”
“Somehow, trouble seems to find you everywhere you go.”
“Papi, it’s North Dakota. Nothing interesting happens there.”
7
Cat stared hazily at the back of the car seat.
Dumb. So dumb.
She just had to go and jinx things, didn’t she? Why couldn’t she keep her big mouth shut?
Nothing interesting ever happens in North Dakota?
Right, if you don’t call getting kidnapped interesting!
What she called it was inconvenient and annoying. Alejandro was going to lose his mind.
She struggled to sit up, looking around at the dirty, old car she was in.
“Where am I? What’s going on?”
Her head was spinning, making her feel ill. She tried to reach up to rub her head, only to notice that her hands were tied in front of her.
The man in the driver’s seat turned to look at her.
“Fuck, you’re awake.”
“Who are you? What do you want?” She attempted to open the car door, but it was locked.
Fuck it.
She stared out the window, her attention caught by the shop ahead of them.
A pawnshop? Why were they in front of a pawnshop?
It took her a moment before she realized that her rings were missing.
Fuck.
She tried to feel for her necklace, but it was gone too!
Alejandro couldn’t track her without her necklace.
Don’t panic. You can still get out of this.
Her head was thumping. “Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?”
She tried to think back to what had happened.
They’d arrived in Bismarck in the late afternoon. Nico had met them at the airport. Alejandro, The Scot, and Cairn had gone to see the Radical Raiders.