Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Bash nodded his head, but he kept his eyes on Storm. Did he know who he was? He seemed unsure about letting me go.
“Nice to see your father’s place is still thriving,” Storm said to him.
That answered my question.
“I do my best,” Bash replied. “I was unaware you knew my best performer.” The cautious way he spoke to Storm made me wonder just how he knew him.
“There aren’t many gorgeous females in Georgia I don’t know,” Storm said with a crooked grin that was meant to ease Bash’s concern, but seemed so out of place on him. At least the Storm that I knew. He was always scowling.
Bash let out a nervous chuckle. “Yes, I imagine you do.”
His eyes shifted back to me then, as if he wanted to warn me. It was possible Bash thought I didn’t know who and what Storm was.
Reaching up, I touched Storm’s arm affectionately and smiled at Bash. Storm’s arm flexed under my touch, but he didn’t jerk it away.
“We won’t be long,” I told them, then turned my head up to look at Storm. “Follow me.”
I didn’t wait to see if he was behind me as I made my way to the door that led backstage. I knew he could keep up just fine. The people in our path seemed to part as we walked by. Was it just Storm’s commanding presence, or was he scowling again, looking like he might shoot someone who didn’t move? Probably the latter.
Stepping through the door, I kept going until I made it to the dressing room I used on nights I worked. I left it open for Storm to follow me inside, knowing he’d close it behind himself. Crossing my arms over my chest, I turned to look at him. His broad back was to me, and good Lord, his ass in a pair of jeans was fantastic. Jerking my eyes off his bottom half before I ended up admiring his muscular thighs, I watched as he locked the door before facing me.
“I’ve got ten minutes left on break,” I informed him.
He studied the room for a moment before looking back at me again, as if searching for something. “You need to leave town.”
I was already planning on it, but having him tell me that I needed to annoyed me. “And why do you think I should be taking direction from you?” My tone was snarky, but he seemed to bring out the worst in me.
“Jameson is injured, but he’s not dead. You’ve got maybe a week before he’s moving around again.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at him. I hadn’t thought this was what he’d come to say. Jameson being alive was something I’d stopped worrying about. I had been sure that they killed him.
“But he shot at you,” I said, my voice giving away my fear.
Storm shook his head. “No. He shot at you. That’s not reason enoough for us to kill the heir to one of the biggest whiskey distributers in the South and Sol Mercer’s fiancé.”
Panic was rising in my chest. Dovie wasn’t safe. I had to get her out of this town, this state, now.
“I thought the Mafia wasn’t afraid of anyone,” I blurted.
Sure, I wasn’t their concern, but didn’t they kill people and ask questions later? Why let Jameson live?
“We aren’t. We just know when a battle is worth it. This one isn’t.”
Ouch. Okay, that was fair. No reason to bring on that kind of attention over me. Someone they didn’t like or trust.
“Right,” I muttered as my mind raced as to what I needed to do next.
I couldn’t go back on that stage. Not with Dovie at home, alone.
“Is that all then?” I asked him when he didn’t move to leave or say more.
He nodded. “Yeah. I felt like you should be warned.”
“Why?” I asked before I could stop myself.
When he didn’t respond right away, I started to think he wasn’t going to, but he lifted one of his large, tanned hands and ran his thumb over his lower lip as he studied me. That one move, although my life was in danger and I had to go save Dovie, made my body tingle. Especially the area between my legs.
“I don’t like you, but that doesn’t mean you deserve to die. I debated not coming. Letting your fate lay where it might. But unlike you, I do have a conscience. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror, knowing I did nothing. I’ve warned you, and now, it’s on you what you do next.”
It wasn’t like this was the first time that Storm had said things to me that stung, but it didn’t make it any less painful. I said nothing, but nodded my head. I didn’t trust my voice. I needed a moment alone to regroup and make a plan. The blond Greek god could leave now.