Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 94513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
When Grissele had noticed my anxiety over costs, she’d stopped letting me see the price of things. Like the skirt and blouse I was currently wearing with my new bra—because Bane was right; my bra had gotten too small. Dr. Stella had informed me it was from pregnancy and completely normal.
The driver, Ledbetter, rang the doorbell.
“Thanks for carrying all that for me,” I told him.
He gave me a nod. “Of course, ma’am.”
I wasn’t a ma’am, but I let it go. He was real formal about things. He was also very large. As in tall, muscular, and broad. He reminded me of a bouncer at a club instead of a driver for a rich lady.
The door swung open. Than looked from Ledbetter with my bags to me, and then his eyes widened in surprise before a smile spread across his face.
“Grissele got ahold of you, I see,” he said, then reached for the bags. “Thanks, Led,” he said to the driver. “Come on in, Hollywood.”
I grimaced. “Is it that bad?”
Than closed the door and gave me a once-over. “You look good.”
I felt like a little girl, playing dress-up.
Voices and music filtered from somewhere in the house. I looked toward where the sound was coming from.
“I’ll introduce you to everyone, then take these upstairs for you,” Than said.
Everyone? Who was everyone?
“Maybe I should go upstairs,” I suggested.
He frowned. “No. It’s time you met the rest of the guys.”
Bane stepped out into the hallway, blocking our path up ahead. He didn’t even notice the bags. His gaze went past Than to me. “Halo,” he said. “Come with me.”
Than let out a sigh. “Now?” he asked.
Bane lifted his brows slightly. “Unless you want to take that up with Linc?”
Than glanced back at me. “I’ll put these in your room.” He didn’t say more before heading toward the stairs.
I was left with following Bane. Than hadn’t wanted to argue with Linc either. Was anyone ever going to explain that to me?
I walked into what appeared to be an office, and Linc was sitting on the edge of the desk with his legs crossed at the ankle and a glass of amber liquid in his right hand.
“How was shopping with Grissele?” Linc asked with a smirk, then took a drink.
It was strange how they all seemed to know my schedule. As if I was being tracked at all times.
“Okay,” I replied. “She enjoys it.”
Linc chuckled. “It seems you’re good for her. We are all relieved she’s out shopping again.” Then, he waved at one of the leather chairs in front of him. “Have a seat, Halo.”
What was wrong now? I glanced over at Bane, but his normal hard-ass expression didn’t help at all. Was this about Ares? What if they’d gone to the police after all? He could be in prison. I wanted him to be. He belonged there. He was a murderer.
I sat down.
“Did everything go smoothly at the doctor’s appointment?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Did you tell Dr. Stella you were having nightmares?”
I swung my gaze to Bane.
He rubbed his chin and shrugged. “I can’t keep sleeping half the night against the wall.”
I’d woken him up again while screaming last night, but he’d not mentioned it this morning. He’d barely acknowledged me at all.
“I did,” I told Linc, looking back at him. “I have a prescription for it. Grissele took me to get all my medications filled.”
Linc appeared pleased to hear that. Not as pleased as I was that Bane wouldn’t be bursting in my room and shaking me awake, then sleeping against the wall.
“How far along are you?” he asked.
“Fourteen weeks,” I told him, “and two days. I had an ultrasound done.”
Linc took another drink. “Very good.” He glanced over at Bane, then back to me. “Grissele has made it very clear she wants both you and the baby in the family. Everyone now knows about you and Crosby. I won’t lie; there are a couple who will be difficult for a while, but we intend to keep you distanced from them.”
Was he talking about Saylor? And why was he saying it like she was part of the family?
“Since this decision has been made, you need to know everything about us. Who Crosby was. Who we are. You are being brought in because you’re the mother of his only child. The fact remains that Ares killed Crosby. We do not blame you for his crime, but he is not absolved because of his relation to you. He will pay for Crosby’s life with his own.”
I said nothing. I didn’t know how they thought they were going to take a soldier from the United States Army and kill him, then get away with it. The way he’d spoken made it sound like they were capable of doing whatever they wanted. As if they had some pull or control. The police had never shown up about Ronnie’s and Nicco’s deaths. They had no fear of that either. Not a bit of concern. It hadn’t even been brought up. It was like they were … the mob.