Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Alexei takes hold of my shoulder and pulls me to a stop. “We’re bad people, Alek, but when it comes to our families, we’re fucking angels. Give your woman the world, and she’ll worship you.”
I nod to show I understand. “That’s what I plan on doing.”
“And if you need to let off some steam, come to me. We’ll shoot a couple of targets in the armory.”
Locking eyes with the man that’s quickly becoming like a father to me, I say, “Thank you, Alexei. I don’t think you know how much this means to me.”
“I know,” he murmurs. “My father was a bastard too. The first chance I got, I killed him.”
I never knew that.
The new information makes the bond between Alexei and me grow.
We start to walk again before he asks, “Where are you taking them to dinner?”
“I don’t know. I’ll look around.” Glancing at the man beside me, I ask, “Do you have any suggestions?”
“Galileo. You have to make reservations. I’ll text you their number.”
“Thanks.”
When we near Viktor’s house, he steps out onto the veranda. I smile at Alexei. “I better get to work.”
He nods, and with a wave at Viktor, he heads to his house.
When I near my boss, he gives me a questioning look. “Is there anything I should be worried about?”
I shake my head.
“Is that Alek?” Rosalie calls from inside the house.
“Yes,” Viktor answers.
She comes out and asks, “Is Everleigh okay?”
“She’s fine. When I left the house, she and Vincent were fast asleep.” I turn my attention to Viktor. “You have an appointment at one. Is it okay if I disappear until then?”
“Disappear?” He frowns at me. “Elaborate.”
“I want to install a security system at Everleigh’s place.”
Relief washes over his features. “Sure. Take a couple of men with to help you.”
“Thanks.”
Before I can walk away, Viktor mentions, “You might want to leave one of the guards with Everleigh. If word gets out you have a woman and child, they’ll be easy targets.”
Fuck. Everleigh is going to lose her shit.
“Wait for me, Alek,” Rosalie says. “I’m coming with you.”
She rushes back into the house, and I lock eyes with Viktor. “Which guard do you recommend?”
“Peter. He’s one of the best we have.”
I nod, but before I can make a second attempt at leaving, Viktor adds, “Invite Everleigh over for a BBQ on Saturday. If she sees us in a normal setting, it will help your case.”
“Thanks, Viktor.” I pause before I continue, “I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me.”
He gives me a grin. “You saved my ass the other day. It’s the least I can do.”
I finally walk toward the guard house, and finding Peter, I say, “Get two men and meet me by the car.”
“Yes, sir.”
I only wait a minute for Peter and the men, but Rosalie takes her sweet fucking time. My patience is non-existent when she finally joins us, but I force myself to remain calm.
There’s no way I’m losing my shit with Viktor’s wife.
I have a reason to love life again.
Chapter 36
Everleigh
I’m woken by Vincent, who’s bouncing on my bed. “Come on, Mommy. I want to see Daddy.”
“Then go to him,” I mumble.
“He’s not here,” Vincent complains. “Get up so we can go to him.”
My eyes pop open. “What do you mean he’s not here?”
My boy gives me a worried look. “He’s gone.”
Climbing out of bed, I walk to the living room, but there’s no sign of Alek. I peek through the curtains, and seeing the car is gone as well, I let out a sigh.
“Daddy had to go to work,” I tell Vincent. “And we have to get ready for the day so we can go to the bookstore.”
Vincent’s face crumbles, and he starts to ugly-cry. “But I want my daddy!”
I rush forward, and picking him up, I coo, “Aww, you’ll see your daddy again. Mommy will call him.”
Crap, I don’t have his number.
I’ll ask Rosalie for Alek’s number.
“There-there. Let’s get ready for the day. You can have something from the coffee shop for breakfast. Okay?”
He sniffles as I carry him to his room, and while I’m dressing him, he says, “What if the angels take Daddy back again?”
“That’s not going to happen, baby.” I wipe the tears from his face. “There’s no backsies.”
Vincent nods and seems to be calming down. “I want a chocolate muffin from the coffee shop.”
Dear God. This child and his sweet tooth will be the end of me.
When Vincent is dressed, I take him to my bathroom so he can brush his teeth while I try to flatten the patch of hair that refuses to go down.
While I’m busy, he mumbles around the toothbrush, “When will I have hair like my daddy?”
“At the rate your hair grows, probably by the end of the month.”
His face lights up. “Yay!”
“You’re spitting toothpaste everywhere,” I chastise him. “Finish up while Mommy gets ready.” I hurry into the bedroom and grab a summer dress that has a green leaf pattern on it. Matching it with sandals, I head back to the bathroom.