Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Okay.” I nod as I take out my purse.
“I don’t need access,” Stace whispers as he takes my hand.
“Yes, you do.” I pause as I try to think of the right wording. “We both know that my days are numbered.”
His face falls. “They are not. Don’t say that.”
I reach up and cup his face. “He will get me. One day he will get me. I already know my fate. So in that instance, I want you to have the diamonds.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
I smile as a sinking feeling of dread fills the pit of my stomach. I have tried my hardest to not let the past week worry me, but the feeling of pre-empted horror awaiting me is overwhelming. “I will be ready for him when he comes.” I pause. “I’m going to give it my best shot.” I shrug. “You never know. Stranger things have happened, right?”
Stace watches me as a frown crosses his face. “How long have you lived like this?”
“Like what?”
“In fear?”
I swallow the lump in my throat as I contemplate his question. “I guess that’s the thing, I’m not scared anymore. The ship changed me. You changed me.” I hesitate as I try to articulate my thoughts. “I just want to live my life like every day is my last because it could be.” I shrug and am suddenly overcome with emotion, the tears welling in my eyes. “I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
Stace’s eyes hold mine and he bends to gently kiss my lips. “I got your back, babe.”
I run my fingers through his stubble and smile into his warm lips. “I know you do and that’s why I feel brave.”
“Ahem,” the woman interrupts.
We both turn back to her guiltily and she slides the papers across the counter. “Sign here.” She points to a line. “And here.” She points to the next page. “I need you to fill out your email details and you will need to empty the locker on the 15th of June in 2019 by 2pm.”
I smile and watch on as Stace signs his documents and hands them back to her. “I will give you both a copy.” She stands and leaves the room to photocopy the documents and Stace’s eyes find mine.
“You remember that date in case you come back alone,” I whisper.
He kisses me. “It’s not happening. Nobody on Earth could tear me away from you.”
I laugh as I spin. Stace is twirling me as we dance alone in our hotel room. It’s 8 pm and we have been drinking cocktails since 2pm. After researching for most of today, we have found out that the man we need to speak to about selling our diamonds owns a bar two suburbs away. He doesn’t buy them, but he knows people who know people. His bar, The Snake Pit, isn’t open tonight, but he will be there tomorrow night so we have delayed our moving on plans for two days until we get to see him. I’m kind of glad to be honest. I feel safe here in our little bubble. We have decided that after we sell the diamonds we are heading to Chile and catching a private plane out of South America.
He dips me and holds me down. “How about this move?”
“You’re going to drop me.” I squeal as I laugh.
“That’s the plan.” He dips me farther. We go back farther and farther as he laughs in his cheeky boy way, and suddenly he trips and we go flying onto the floor.
We land with a thud and burst into laughter. Oh, this is so much fun. I’m spread on my back and he hovers over me holding my hands above my head. His face falls serious as he looks down at me. “You didn’t tell me you loved me today,” he says softly.
I smirk. What? “I didn’t know I had to.”
“You do.”
I raise my eyebrows. “At least I said it once.”
He kisses me playfully. “It’s not in my vocabulary.”
My mouth drops open and I laugh out loud. “You are completely shit at this.”
“Am not.” He ravages my neck with his mouth and I squeal in laughter.
“Stop it.” I laugh as I struggle to get away from him.
“Say it,” he demands.
“No.” I laugh as I try to buck him off me.
“Say it.”
“Take me dancing.” I laugh as he bites my neck hard.
“I’m taking you to bed.” He growls into my skin.
“You’re taking me for granted.” I squeal as I try to get him off me.
His mouth drops open and he pulls back to look at my face. “Is that what you think?”
“Well, I do seem to spend a lot of time underneath you.” I smirk.
He grabs me roughly on the behind and drags me underneath him. “I don’t hear you complaining, and for the record, I’m often underneath you, too.”