Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
He’s clearly afraid.
Something’s going on with Tony Vetch—something about him running for office, about him closing off loose ends, whatever that means. I’ve heard rumors about Adler’s relationship with Tony, but nothing concrete.
They’re rivals. They used to be friends and business associates. Now they’re both trying to become the preeminent casino operator in AC, which means a certain level of friction.
Adler runs a crime family. Tony probably does too.
But what does any of that have to do with me?
I’m chasing myself in circles when I hear the elevator doors ding around ten that night. Adler steps into the apartment, spots me, and seems to relax somewhat, like he was expecting to find me missing and he’s relieved that I’m still here.
Not like I had anywhere to go.
He comes into the kitchen and pours himself a glass of wine. I watch him from where I’m standing near the balcony doorway. He drinks it down in two gulps, pours a second, and looks at me over the rim.
“How was your night?” he asks.
So casually, like nothing’s wrong.
“Well, I came up here, made some dinner, sat outside, drank some wine, and oh, yeah, my husband locked me in the apartment. Not a bad night.”
“Good to hear.”
“What’s going on, Adler?”
His face gives me nothing. “I had to be sure you were safe. This was my best solution.”
“Why would I be in any danger? Just because I ran into Tony Vetch and he said a bunch of cryptic stuff?”
Adler’s jaw tightens. “Yes.”
“You know that makes no sense, right?”
“It doesn’t need to so long as you stay here.” He turns and walks back toward the stairs.
I follow him, feeling heated again. “You can’t keep me locked up forever,” I say.
“I can and I will.”
“Adler, stop it.” He continues up into the bedroom. I stay on his heels. “Why are you so worried about Tony? Why do you think he’s going to hurt me? I get it, you two are rivals, but it makes no sense. He’s running for office. Why the hell would he do something so stupid like hurt a random woman?”
“Tony Vetch is dangerous.” Adler stands at the foot of the bed glaring at the pillows like he wants to rip them to pieces. “And you are important to me. He’ll do whatever it takes to win, including going through you.”
I laugh at the absurdity. “That’s really all there is? You’re afraid he’ll hurt me because you two are in some stupid rivalry?”
“It’s more than a rivalry.” His eyes go distant. “We’re in a war, Casey, one which isn’t going to end anytime soon.”
“I still would love to understand why it makes sense that he’d come for me.”
“You don’t have to understand.” He turns on me, his face twisted with emotion: anger, sorrow, even a hint of fear, and something else.
A yearning. A desire.
I take a step back in surprise. “You can’t keep me locked up because you’re worried,” I say, trying to find my footing again. “That goes against our deal.”
“I’m not sure I care.”
“You’d better.” He starts walking toward me. I back up and bump into the doorframe. “We got married so you can inherit all your money, right? You need a baby to make that happen? Well, good luck getting me pregnant.”
“You really think I give a shit about that?” His voice is strained as he stops a couple feet away from me.
My heart’s racing up into my throat. “What do you care about then?”
“You.” His head tilts. “Your safety.”
“Again, we’re in a business relationship.”
“Con said something to me earlier. You’re the wife of the Don. Even if you don’t care about that, I do. You’re too important to risk.”
“We didn’t discuss this. How can you ask me to hide out all of a sudden? I’m supposed to be allowed to work the floor.”
“That’s out of the question now.”
“Then good luck getting me pregnant and you can kiss your stupid inheritance goodbye.”
He stares at me. I stare back. I’m sick of letting him drag me around without so much as an explanation, like I’m not even worth talking to. There’s clearly something more going on that he’s not saying, and if he refuses to give me what I want, then I can do the same thing.
The tension is so heavy I feel like my knees might collapse. But I stay there, meeting his gaze. Chin out, forcing myself to stay strong.
Otherwise, he’ll roll over me, and he’ll never stop taking everything he wants regardless of what I think about it.
After a long moment, he seems to relax. Some of the tension in his shoulders calm. He moves closer to me, but not in a threatening way.
“You’d really do that, wouldn’t you?” His voice is soft. Most of the rage seems to have gone from him. “You’d screw me out of spite.”
“I’d screw you because you went out of your way to make my life miserable.”