Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
As intense as he was, she would never have someone desire her like he did. Want her as much as he did.
Be as utterly dedicated to her happiness and safety as he was.
And she wanted to be his.
Forever.
12
Gracen mopped the floor.
Damn it. This was Anita’s job. She was supposed to do it before she left. It was Saturday evening and she had better things to do than deep clean the bakery.
No, you don’t.
She wished Sammy was in town so she could meet up with her. She really needed to talk about what happened with Victor.
And at the same time, she couldn’t talk to anyone. Sammy wouldn’t really get it. She wouldn’t get how Gracen could have feelings for a criminal who had obviously done bad things. And yet, she still wanted him in her life.
Because he was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Because all she thought about was him. Day in and day out.
Sammy would remind her that he’d basically deceived her. That he was keeping things from her.
But that wasn’t all on him.
God, she didn’t know what to do.
Setting the mop down, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
What it really came down to was whether she wanted to be with Victor or not. Whether she could live with his other side.
And perhaps it made her a terrible person or a selfish one, but she still wanted him.
Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath.
He’d told her it was forever. And that’s what she wanted.
Because she loved him. She wouldn’t feel this awful, this torn and sick if she didn’t.
The thought of living without him was worse than anything else.
Decision made, she grabbed the garbage bag and hauled it to the dumpster in the alley out the back.
A bad feeling rolled over her. It was dark already, she’d been here longer than she’d intended. That’s what happened when you paused every few minutes to think.
Shaking it off, she walked back into the bakery. That’s when she heard voices from the front.
Oh, God! Someone was here! But who? She looked around for a weapon. Why the hell didn’t she keep a bat or something in here?
Just leave. Get out the back and run.
Smart idea.
This place wasn’t worth getting hurt over, and it wasn’t like she had much money on the premises.
Turning, she stepped toward the back door.
“Going somewhere?” a voice asked from behind her.
Shit. Should have moved faster.
She turned, her heart racing. Nausea bubbled in her stomach as she took in the two scruffy guys standing there. They were younger than her. Likely in their early twenties. Both of them wore dark T-shirts and ripped jeans. One was completely bald while the other one had long, dark hair.
And both of them made her skin crawl.
“If you’re after money, just take it and go. I won’t call the cops.”
Baldy grinned. “We know you won’t call the cops. Because that would be a very stupid thing to do, and you’re not stupid, are you?”
Her gaze flickered between them. “What do you want?”
“I thought there’d be some goodies around here to eat,” the other one complained, moving around and opening cupboards and the fridge. He drew out a carton of milk and started drinking straight from it. It was then that she got a look at the tattoo on his forearm.
A large V with a viper swirling around the letter.
Ventura gang. She’d never had issues with them before, but she knew Ice hung out with some of them. Anita had made it sound like Ice was planning to join the gang one day.
“Are you looking for Ice? He’s not here.”
“Who’s Ice?” Baldy asked. “He your boyfriend? He shouldn’t let a cute little thing like you stay here on your own, should he? Bad things could happen to you.”
The other guy let out a loud burp, making her cringe. Then he threw the carton of milk toward the garbage can that she’d just emptied. He obviously didn’t drink all of it as milk sprayed everywhere.
She stared at the floors that she’d just mopped in dismay.
Dirty floors are the least of your worries right now.
“What do you want then?”
“We’re here to offer you a really good deal. It’s something all your neighbors are getting too.”
“What sort of deal?” she asked. This wasn’t going to be anything good.
“Why, our protection. See, crime in this city is at an all-time high. Terrible, really.”
“What else you got in here?” Burpy demanded, searching around for food.
“Yeah, terrible,” she agreed, ignoring Burpy. “What has that got to do with me?”
“You’re one of the lucky ones we’re offering our protection to.”
Protection? When they were the ones probably causing most of the increase in crime? What the hell?
“And why would I want your protection?”
“Because we’ll keep you and your business safe. Don’t you want to be safe? From all these criminals?”