Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 47626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 191(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“Screw you,” I tell him, walking past him and into the house. I walk into the meeting room, and I see Aurora is seated already.
“Good to see you, Cain. I take you enjoyed your makeshift honeymoon?” She asks, teasing me. I smile slightly and nod my head without saying anything. Quan walks in the room and she gives me the look telling me to keep it cool. “You are all here because we have an issue as you all know, and his name is Popov.” We all grumble in agreement and nod our heads.
“Giulia has a new assignment, and this one is close to home. Seems Blaine Maggiano has been raping his girlfriend’s two daughters.” What a piece of shit.
“How do we know this?” I ask, opening up the file.
“The mom is one of the dancers at Santi.” My head whips up.
“One of the girls at our club? Is he fucking suicidal or something?” Rocco says beside her.
“He is definitely some type of dumb. Seems he is reckless and believes himself untouchable on account of all the other charges that have been dropped.”
“He has someone on the inside,” I say, my mind ticking off the number of people I am going to end to get to the target. I can’t help but smile when I think about it. This is what I know how to do. This is what I am good at.
“Oh shit, Cain. I see that face. Should we just send a cleanup crew with you?” I don’t answer because I don’t need to. She knows who I am. I am a retriever. “Well, today is a gathering day. I need everyone with their ear to the ground and pulling all their information. We will give updates tomorrow. Time to get busy everyone.” We all pack up and then she stops us. “On a side note, there has been chattering of an attack that seems imminent.” My ear begins to pulse on the inside because the panic is building thinking about Satine.
“What kind of attack and from who?” I ask, both my knuckles on the table.
“It’s the Popov’s. The information about where it will be is still unknown, but we are pretty sure we know who it will be against.” She gives a look of pity for a moment before it is replaced with a silent roar.
“We will take them out.” She nods and rubs her belly.
We finish up and then all of us head out. I stop short at my car and throw my head back. “Fuck!” I shout slamming my fist against the hood of the car.
“You really love her, don’t you?” Turning, I ignore the pain in my hand because it is nothing compared to losing her. Quan is standing in front of me, looking at me like he hasn’t been seeing me for years.
“I do. She is the beating part of my heart.” I just give him the truth.
“I see. Look, I’m sorry for being an asshole. I just… I guess I didn’t believe you.”
“What changed your mind?”
“Seeing you out here ready to ignore the life and family you have pledged your allegiance to for her.”
“I would give up everything for her. Including my own life.” Nodding, he pats me on the shoulder.
“Let's not have it come to that, cuz. She is going to need you.” Not as much as I need her.
Sixteen
Satine
This is the first time I have been alone in this house. This is the first moment I have had to myself to reflect, to think and to think just… be. From the moment we got here my husband has not allowed more than a few feet between us and I am not complaining. I have turned into a stage ten clinger and not because he rescued me like people will be thinking, but because he is something just for me.
When his hands touched me in that place, before I even saw his face, I felt him and heard his voice. The fear in me began to recede before I knew I was safe with him. It was like something in my soul recognized him. And I know a psychologist would call it hero worship and tell me it's not real and in the beginning the first few days, that could have been the truth. The difference is, I have always believed in love at first sight and although this wasn’t that, it is pretty damn close, and I am not going to let anyone tell me different.
However, being alone is something I have never had before. I am not oblivious to the parallels of my father’s house and this one. My father wouldn’t let me go past the garden. Larabee won’t let me pass the compound. My father wouldn’t let me have friends. All my friends will be ones my husband knows and trusts. My father surrounded me with guards who carried out his orders like drones. Larabee has a compound full of watchful eyes who would carry out his orders just the same. So, what’s the difference, you ask? My father did it because he is a control freak who had a plan for my life that had nothing to do with what I wanted. Larabee, he does it to keep me safe and because he loves me. That makes the restrictions worth it.