Total pages in book: 206
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 961(@200wpm)___ 769(@250wpm)___ 641(@300wpm)
Tommy and I sat at the table with Dario and Nino.
“Pop’s showing signs of improvement,” Dario said to the group, then added, “After I finish my coffee, I’m takin’ Tess to make arrangements for James. We don’t want the whole family in one public place at one time for a while until we know things are settled down so he’s being cremated, and we’ll do a memorial service later.”
Tommy and Dario exchanged looks and I suspected there was more to it. Fear prickled the back of my neck. What now?
I heard a phone ringing and Tommy reached into his pocket and answered it before he stepped away from the table and outside with the phone.
I drank my coffee and managed to get a piece of toast into me, and then was helping by drying dishes when Tommy got back.
“Wanna grab our stuff and say bye? We need to go.” He grabbed a piece of bacon off the platter in the center of the table and sipped his coffee while I made the rounds, thanking Marie for her hospitality, hugging Marie’s sister, getting a big hug from Bianca and thanking her for her help last night. We said we’d get together soon. Then I said goodbyes to the rest of the ladies as well as the kids, who all gave me hugs. I told Tessa if she needed anything, for me to help with the boys, or anything like that to just call me. She nodded solemnly. When I hugged Luc, I felt her baby kick me through her belly and I told her that it felt like a he, like a soccer player. She hugged me hard. I hugged Tommy’s brother, Eddy, and Nino, thanking them for all their help, too.
I dashed back upstairs and made the bed and then got our things and when I got to the door, Tommy was standing there talking to his brother quietly. They separated as soon as I got there and Dario pulled me in for another quick hug and kissed the top of my head as Tommy reached for the bag from me. As we left, I saw there were six men mulling about outside. We got into Tommy’s car, the convertible; I didn’t know how it got here, where the Jeep was, or where the Harley was, either.
When we pulled out past the gates and were on the road, he reached across and held my hand as he drove.
“They ran me off the road on the Harley just up the road from the farm. Knocked me out and took me and when I came to all I could think of was you and how I’d fucking left you a sitting duck. Nino told me you’d gone on a hike and came back to them coming in. They were gonna grab you and after they’d ransomed me out with Dare they were gonna ransom you out with me. Bunch of fuckin’ chuckleheads. No idea who they were messin’ with.”
“That Bianca is badass,” I said.
He nodded. “That was smart thinkin’ on Dare’s part.”
“He was gonna send me in right up to the last minute. He was trying to coach me, but he’d been in touch with Nino and Bianca got wind and lost it and insisted she go in instead. They insisted it be a girl and we both have straight hair so…”
Tommy raised his brows. “Can’t believe Dario was gonna send you in.” He looked pissed.
“It all worked out,” I said.
He nodded and squeezed my hand but he still kinda looked pissed.
“And like you said, I’m strong enough. I’m your girl.”
He gave me a thin smile and then said, “Not 100% but leaning in the direction of lookin’ like Jimmy might’ve double crossed us. Tessa knows. Devastated. Lost her husband, her kids’ father, and she lost respect for the man she thought loved her. If so, Jim was expendable to the other side, they got rid of him, but if it was him that’d given them valuable intel that led to Pop getting shot, to putting everyone else in danger, to me being taken from you and leaving you vulnerable? Fuck.” He shook his head.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I said.
“Yeah,” he said softly but his eyes were blazing with anger.
“What’s the status with my father?” I asked quietly.
“No news,” Tommy answered and then he pulled up to the gate of his house and hit a button on the remote and someone moved into our view as it opened. After we got on the other side I saw a guy who’d been here a few times before; I didn’t know his name.
“Boss, the house has had a full sweep. We found two bugs but all good now.”
“Where?”
“Your office and the staff room. The office one was broken, though.”
Tommy’s jaw tensed. “Right. I’ll be out to chat with you and get a brief in an hour,” he said and then took my hand and we went inside.