Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
What I meant was, “Don’t leave me.”
He had to know I wouldn’t live through it. Not a second time.
What he said did not appease me. It wasn’t a promise. It was hardly a vow. “I swear to you I will never leave you.” He pressed his lips to my temple. “Not willingly.”
And I knew why he couldn’t give me more than that.
It was because he was Antonio “Twitch” Falco, a man who was once a king in this city. And now that word was spreading about his return, there would be some who would go so far to make sure he never stepped up to challenge the throne ever again.
It was because bullets spoke louder than words.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
Lexi
A.J. was readying himself for school when Twitch walked into the house like he owned the place. From his room, A.J. called out, “Daddy?”
His tired eyes smiled as he walked over to the coffee pot, pouring two mugs. “I’m here, bud.”
This was part of our routine lately. Twitch would drop A.J. off at school and pick him up, and he did this most days, without Molly. Molly, of course, had quite a bit to say about that to the man himself. She accused him of vying for her job, and I couldn’t help but laugh at her scathing accusation. She really was adorable. As if I’d ever turn her loose. She was more than just an employee. Molly was family.
It was so hard to give Twitch even a pinch of my trust, but I knew if we were going to make this work, eventually Twitch would have to be trusted with his son alone. And if I were being honest, after seeing how he interacted with our little monster, I didn’t think he would ever do anything to hurt him. When it came to our son, Twitch always seemed to put him first, which was a relief.
As the man in question passed me in the kitchen, he pressed his long, hard body into the back of mine and lowered his head to kiss my cheek. “Mornin’, angel.” He placed the second mug of coffee onto the counter in front of me like an offering to the shrine of a goddess.
My heart was aflutter.
Jerk.
I was also not in the mood. My lips thinned as I turned on him, and when I saw how the move had positioned us, I immediately regretted it. We were close. A little too close. Twitch held onto the counter, blocking me in, and when my eyes darted around in panic, his eyes crinkled in the corners, knowing I was caged.
My voice was quiet but irritated, and my eyes narrowed on him. “Why are you being so nice to me? You were never this nice to me. I would beg for you to be nice to me and you still wouldn’t.” I peeked out at the side of his large frame to make sure no one was coming. “So what gives?”
Was I spoiling for a fight? Yeah.
Was Twitch going to give that to me? No.
Slipping one arm around my back, he gently tugged on my braid, forcing my head up, and when he spoke, my reserve shattered. “Spent six years without you. Six years thinking about everything I should have done when I had the chance. Six years of guilt. Six years of regret. I left one way and came back another. I’m a changed man.”
When my brow furrowed, I whispered, “But you still like what you like.”
Clearly, his bedroom tastes hadn’t changed.
I stated this meaningfully and his eyes laughed. “I said I’ve changed, baby, not that I’m a fuckin’ saint.”
When my lips parted and I glanced up at his beautifully full mouth, he took a miniscule step closer, putting our bodies impossibly close, and spoke quietly, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you avoiding my mouth.”
Ah, crap. I thought I was being so discreet. I faltered on my response. “The other night, you—” I swallowed hard. “—you could have demanded a kiss, and I....” I would have. I would have given him anything.
But Twitch shook his head slowly, meaningfully. “Was never into forcing women. It doesn’t get me off. And forcing you?” His jaw tightened. “I’d rather off myself.” He lifted both hands to frame my face adoringly. “I only ever want you willing. I want you to want me so much it fucking hurts.” It already does. “I want you to think about me all the time.” I rarely think of anything but you. “I want to star in your dreams.” Every night, baby. He ran his thumb over my soft lips. “I want you to give me that mouth more than anything, because—fuck me—I haven’t thought about much else other than those smiling angel lips on mine.” He released me, stepping back. “But I want you to want it too.”