Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 141255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
“Do you have a lot of intel?” She was looking at me with huge eyes.
“I don’t yet. Zack does. Who did he fucking shoot, Angel?” I snapped.
She started to shake.
“Hey?” I pulled her closer and put my hands in her hair. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Nothing. Do you believe that? Do you trust me?” I caressed her face with both thumbs and she nodded and sank into me.
My phone made a text sound so I reached for it. It was Zack.
“Chen arrived and is checking into a hotel now. Stay tuned.”
My phone rang while I was replying to Zack. It was a local number but not one I recognized. I answered it.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Ferrano?”
“Yeah?”
“Gan Chen. I’m in town. We need to meet.”
I let go of Angel and stepped outside.
“Where? When? Anything I should know before we do?”
“I’m staying at the Hilton downtown, near your office. We can meet in my suite or in your office. You should know we have a minor problem with someone from Felicia’s past. I’m here to ensure, personally, that it’s dealt with. Our relationship is important to me, Mr. Ferrano, and I wanted to make sure I spoke to you personally to notify you of the problem as well as to assure you that it is in hand.”
“I see. Okay. I’m a little out of town. Do we need to meet immediately?”
“We can meet tomorrow. I can work on the situation in the meantime.”
“All right. How about noon at my office?”
“Perfect. I want you to know, Mr. Ferrano, that I will ensure the situation is handled.”
“Just call me Dario, Gan. And good. You need help with this situation? You need manpower?”
“No. If I do, I’ll let you know.”
“Gan, Felicia told me when we were out earlier that she thought she saw someone she knew. Is the person you’re here to deal with named Jason?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Well, he was seen in a restaurant on Canal street, but he disappeared as soon as she saw him. You sure our meeting can wait? I can come sooner.”
“It’s fine. It’s in hand. I just wanted you vigilant. Jason was a little put out that Felicia left Thailand and based on his reaction I had him watched. I found out he’d flown to your city so I’m having him apprehended. I recommend you have someone watch Felicia until I update you.”
“She’s safe. And all right. See you at noon tomorrow. You need anything in the meantime, you call me.”
“Thank you, Dario. All’s well with your Felicia?”
“Exceptionally well,” I replied.
“Good. Until tomorrow.”
“Right.” I ended the call and then I let out a long breath and phoned Tommy and conferenced Zack in. I informed them of the latest and Zack told me he had Chen under surveillance by someone on his team. He said they were working to track Frost down, too.
I reached into the truck and got another pack of smokes out and as I lit one I got another text from Tommy telling me that Dex was escorting the girls from the hospital back to the house. I got a text from Sarah that she’d just helped Nino load his car with groceries and now Nino was on his way with supplies for us.
I had just a few drags and then went back inside and she was sitting on the sofa looking lost.
“It’s all okay, baby.” I tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. She’d been wearing it straight in order to keep herself together and while it looked beautiful, sleek, shiny, and gorgeous, it was the hair of “Felicia”. When it was wavy it gave me the promise of who she was before she was broken. One day soon I hoped we’d be able to toss that fucking flat iron off my balcony. Together.
She snuggled into me as it started to rain. It got heavy, coming down in buckets. We sat quietly for a while, watching the rain out the big picture window. I rubbed her back and rained kisses all over her face. She made contented sounds, arms around me. I was gonna ask her about Jason Frost and the shooting again but before I could, I heard a car. I jumped up, pulled a gun from my bag, and stepped out with it, catching her face as she saw and watching a horrified look spread across her face.
“It’s probably Nino with our supplies but stay here.”
She nodded and I stepped out. It was Nino. He and I unloaded about a dozen grocery bags into the kitchen and she started unloading food from bags into the fridge and pantry.
“Sarah must’ve shopped for a month instead of a few days,” I muttered, carrying in two stacked cases of bottled water. Nino followed with the last of it, a case of 24 rolls of toilet paper and case of 12 rolls of paper towels.