Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“C’mon, let’s go,” I say to Marta, pulling her into the car. I grab the keys from the dead guy, and we take off to her house.
When we arrive, she insists I come in. When she tells Mr. Gutierrez what happened—that had I not shown up when I did, they would’ve raped and killed her—he shakes my hand and says, “I owe you, son. One debt to be repaid any time, no questions asked.”
“You saved my mom’s life. And you think it’s equivalent to saving that bitch’s life?” Eleazar spits. I ignore him calling Sienna a bitch since it wouldn’t do anyone any good to start a war over name calling.
“You seem to have taken a special interest in this girl. Who is she to you?” he asks. “Your wife? Your lover? Your daughter?”
When I shake my head, he shrugs as if that’s all he needs to know. “That deal was done with my father, not me. And maybe I would consider honoring it if she was someone of any real significance, but she’s no one. She’s not worthy of being spared.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Micah, but no deal. She and her mother are dead.”
Because I’m not on a suicide mission, I stand and shake his hand, thanking him for his time. I head out knowing exactly what I need to do, certain that Sienna isn’t going to be happy about it at all.
Before I go home, I stop by my parents’ place to talk to my dad. He’s been the man I’ve looked up to my entire life, and I trust his opinion. I already know what I’m planning to do, but I still want to hear what he thinks.
“Son, nice of you to stop by,” Dad says. “Business or pleasure?”
“A bit of both,” I say with a light laugh.
“Can you bring us some fresh pastries and coffee, please?” Dad asks Adeline, the woman who’s been running the house for the past thirty years. She cooks, cleans, and when Lincoln and I were younger, she was like a nanny to us, making sure we were taken care of when Mom and Dad were busy.
“Of course,” she says with a smile.
He gestures for me to have a seat on the couch in his office, and we make light conversation until after the food and drinks have arrived and we’re left alone.
“I’m going to ask Sienna to marry me.”
Dad chokes on his coffee. “Don’t you think it’s a little soon for that? I know you care for her but—”
“I’m in love with her,” I admit. “And if I don’t marry her, Gutierrez is going to kill her. I can’t let that happen.”
“That’s a lot of info in one sentence. I think you’re going to need to start from the beginning.”
I explain how quickly I’ve come to care about Sienna and how I know she’s the one. I can feel it in my heart and soul. When we kiss and touch, the way I crave her all the time. I tell him all about the life she and Ellie have had to endure. And then I go on to explain what her mom has done and how it’s fallen down into Sienna’s lap.
“And you believe by marrying her it will stop Eleazar from killing her?”
“I believe it’s my only shot. He practically told me as much. If I go to him with a marriage certificate, I think he’ll agree to call off the bounty. His father owed me a debt, and while Eleazar won’t be happy about it, I trust he’ll call it even.”
“And what about Sienna’s mother?”
“I don’t give a fuck about that woman. She made her choices and fuck her for running and leaving her daughters to deal with the fallout. From what Sienna and her sister have said, she’s done nothing but hurt them their entire lives. It ends now.”
Dad nods in understanding. “You know you always have your mother’s and my support.”
After talking with my dad, I call my mom into his office and tell her what needs to be done. She hates that Sienna is going to be forced to do something she doesn’t want, but she understands that it’s our only shot at saving her life.
“I would love to help plan the wedding,” Mom offers.
“It’ll have to be quick. I can’t chance someone getting to her before we’re married and Eleazar hopefully agrees to call off the bounty. I’m thinking this weekend...maybe Friday?”
“We can make it happen.”
“And what if Eleazar doesn’t agree?” Dad asks the question I’ve been thinking about since the solution came to me.
“Then I’ll find another way,” I tell him. Even if it means I have to end his life. Any enemy of Sienna’s is an enemy of mine, and I won’t stop until she’s safe.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
SIENNA
“No. No. No. No. This is not how it’s supposed to go.” I back away from Micah as tears fill my lids.