Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Pain bit through me.
I closed my eyes and groaned.
A soft voice sounded over me. “Santino. Santino.”
God, my head hurts.
Keeping my eyes closed, I rubbed my head.
“Santino!” a woman screamed. “Santino!”
I opened my eyes, and to my shock. It was morning. Sunlight sat in the sky.
And over thirty Killer Crows headed my way with Dane, Rue, and Merik right in front of them.
“Santino!” Kashmere hurried ahead of the group and rushed over to me, still wearing her red pajamas.
I blinked. “It’s morning?”
“What the fuck were you doing out here?” She ran into my arms and fiercely held me. “How the hell did you get out here?”
Blinking my eyes, I was still so confused. I gazed around me.
Everyone else got to us.
Merik shook his head. “You are one lucky white boy. I’ll tell you that.”
Kashmere cried into my shoulder and held me tighter. “I told you not to go outside at night. Why did you do that?”
I felt the wooden dagger in my hand and looked down. “It’s still here.”
Kashmere leaned away from me and stared at me wildly. “What the hell? What happened? Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry.” I gazed around at all of the Killer Crows watching me. “The ghosts were nice.”
Merik laughed.
Rue nudged him with her elbow.
I raised the wooden dagger in the air and showed Kashmere. “This is the key.”
“Oh shit.” Merik laughed louder. “He lost his mind.”
Kashmere tried to get it. “Put that down. Whatever the ghosts said to you, ignore it.”
I moved the dagger out of her reach. “This is the key, and I’m supposed to give it to Lei.”
Merik stopped laughing.
Other Killer Crows whispered among themselves.
“What?” Kashmere shook her head. “Who told you that?”
“This ghost. She was a small woman in a cowboy hat. She had guns strapped to her thighs. Do you know who that is?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? Maybe we can check the book in the library—”
“Santino, don’t fucking come out here again!” Kashmere stepped back and rang her fists in the air. “And never listen to the ghosts!”
“They were nice to me. I think the ghosts and I are friends.”
“Holy fuck.” Merik shook his head. “We done made his ass go crazy.”
Kashmere pointed at me. “Don’t listen to them and put that key back in the dirt. You don’t know what sort of bad energy or whatever is on there—”
“They were nice. I’m listening to her.” I tucked the dagger in my pajama pants and headed back to the mansion. “I’m also giving this key to Lei.”
“A key?” Merik chuckled. “That shit looks like one of those ugly ass knifes that Chanel used to carry around when she was little.”
Kashmere followed after me. “Do not give Lei anything, put it back or—”
“It is the key to their vengeance—”
“Who’s vengeance?” She got to my side.
“The ghosts.”
“Have you lost your mind, Santino?”
A maddening laugh left me. “Me? I didn’t bring the ghost here. I am only working with the environment that I have been put in.”
Kashmere got in front of me. “Do not come back out here like this.”
“I will if they ask me to—”
“You will not!” Kashmere’s voice cracked. “I woke up and didn’t see you in bed and my heart. . .”
I stopped walked and looked at her.
Her bottom lip quivered. “I can’t lose you too.”
I pulled her into my arms. “You will never lose me, Kash. I just had a little mission from the ghosts.”
She groaned in annoyance.
“I am sorry for giving you cause to worry for me.” I hugged her tighter.
“Santino, please—”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. I need you to not—”
“Today is our wedding.” I leaned away from her and gazed into those beautiful brown eyes. “Today, you will be my wife.”
Chapter 16
The Morning of the Wedding
Kashmere
Fucking crazy ass fiancé.
I was still pissed with him, but thankful that he was okay.
I glanced his way. “Are you going to get rid of that wooden dagger?”
“When I see Lei, I will.”
I rolled my eyes. “What if it has bad spirits or something on it?”
“You mean like a haunted lake and tons of ghosts swarming the property at night?”
I frowned.
“Don’t worry. I trust her.”
“Her?”
“I’m going to call her Cowboy Ghost.”
“Oh my God.”
Merik snickered behind us. “Santino is going to keep things interesting around here.”
I let out a long breath.
We all headed back to the front of the mansion and bumped into thirty men, dressed in yellow suits and holding tons of garment bags.
Now what?
Santino eyed them. “What is this?”
Rue stepped forward. “Whatever it is, it has something to do with Dima.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Yes?”
One of them walked up to me and held out a red envelope. “Mr. Ivanov ordered us to bring these bags and his message to you. I am not to leave until you read it.”
“I see this day is already starting off as a hot mess.” I took the card and opened it. “What is Dima doing?”