Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75144 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Offended by my words, his face reddens, but wisely, he doesn’t say anything and just nods.
Done talking to Ian, I walk into the house and cross the foyer before stopping by the front door. I gesture at the luggage while glancing at Martin, one of my guards. “Load the bags and get ready to leave.”
“Yes, sir,” he replies, quickly getting to work.
The other three guards hang back, making sure not to hover around me.
Feeling irritated as fuck because my social battery ran out days ago, I stare at the landing on the second floor, impatiently waiting for Grace and Evinka.
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave Grace with me?” Ian asks, his tone filled with caution.
My eyes flick to the man who’s lucky to be alive. “No.”
He hesitates, and I feel the tension coming off him in waves before he dares to say, “I thought you didn’t want a wife hanging around you twenty-four-seven.”
I silence Ian with a murderous glare and don’t bother replying to him.
Finally, the women appear, and I let out a sigh. Grace is dressed in black jeans and a T-shirt, looking like she’s going to a funeral instead of starting her life with me.
I forcefully soften my features so I don’t terrify her even more and manage a smile when she glances at me.
“Ready?” I ask.
“Never,” she mutters as she walks right by me.
Without saying goodbye to Ian, Grace walks to the SUV where Martin is waiting for us and climbs into the backseat.
Here we go.
I unbutton my jacket as I walk out of the mansion with Evinka and the other guards right behind me.
Shrugging the jacket off, I toss it into the open trunk before I climb into the SUV, taking my seat beside Grace.
While the trunk is shut and Evinka gets into the front passenger seat, I roll up the sleeves of my dress shirt.
Martin shuts the trunk before joining two of the guards in the other SUV while Alan slides behind the steering wheel.
Alan was the first guard I employed, and over the past fourteen years he’s been with us, I’ve lost count of how many times he’s saved Evinka’s life.
Evinka signals with a wave of her hand to get going, and it has Alan starting the engine and driving toward the gates.
Grace doesn’t spare the mansion a look, and as I stare at her, a phone beeps from her bag.
She digs the device out, and I don’t bother looking away, shamelessly reading the message she received.
Ciara: I’m still okay. How are things at home?
For the longest moment Grace just looks at the message before she types a reply.
Grace: I have everything under control. You can come home.
Ciara: I’m not ready to come home.
Grace: Just be careful and look after yourself. Let me know if you need anything.
Ciara: I will. Did you get in trouble because I left?
Grace: No. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.
“You’re not going to tell her we just got married?” I ask.
Grace’s eyes snap to my face. “No. It will upset Ciara.”
I shake my head. “You care too much about how she feels.”
She makes a disgruntled sound as she puts the cell phone in her bag, then proceeds to stare out of the window.
While Alan drives us toward the airfield where the private jet is waiting, I keep glancing at Grace, noticing how tightly her hands are clasped together on her lap.
Tension pours off her in waves, and every now and then, she swallows hard.
Wanting to set her at ease, I say, “I live in the Tetra Mountains, which are part of the Carpathian chain between Slovakia and Poland. My house is secluded, so we won’t be bothered by other people.”
“Great,” she mutters. “No one to hear me scream.”
Jebat. Not the reaction I was looking for.
After a moment of tense silence, I ask, “Do you have everything you need? Once we’re in the mountains, we won’t leave until Tuesday.”
Not answering my question, Grace asks, “Will Evinka stay with us?”
“No. She seldom comes to my place.”
I notice Grace’s hands gripping each other tighter until her knuckles turn white.
Thinking she needs to hear it, I say, “You’ll be safe with me.”
“So you keep telling me,” Grace whispers, her voice hoarse.
When we reach the airfield and Alan parks the SUV near the private jet, I’m on guard as I climb out.
With my hand resting on the hilt of my gun, I wait for Grace to get out of the SUV, then nod toward the aircraft. “Move.”
“Yes, sir,” she mutters under her breath.
Evinka silently laughs while signing, “She’s not happy with you at all.”
We all board the plane, and I’m surprised when Grace takes the seat beside me. I would’ve thought she’d try to sit on the opposite side of the cabin.
Not sparing me a glance, she asks, “How long is the flight?”
“Two and a half hours.” I suck in a deep breath, then add, “It’s another hour car drive from the airfield to my house.”