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)
“Victor,” she said quietly, not wanting to leave him.
He shot her a fierce look. “Go. Now.”
“Please be careful.”
Maxim stepped forward and hauled her toward the back door just as a voice rang out.
“Hey, baker lady, we’re back. You best have the cash for us.”
Instead of heading out the back door, Maxim pulled her back to the side of the fridge. He placed a finger on her lips.
Yeah, she didn’t need to be told twice.
“Yo, where are you, baker lady?” Baldy called out.
“She’s not here,” Victor said, stepping out of the shadows. “But I am.”
Burpy yelled and Baldy fumbled for his gun at the small of his back.
She let out a squeak of warning, but Maxim turned her against him, pressing his hand to the back of her head. Then he moved his hands to her ears. But it couldn’t fully muffle the noises. The thud of flesh hitting flesh. Moans and groans of pain. It sounded horrific, and the entire time, she was terrified that Victor was the one being beaten. But surely, Maxim wouldn’t just stand here if that was the case.
At one stage, she tried to fight her way free of his hold, but he held onto her tighter, pulling her back further into the shadows.
Then there was nothing.
She trembled in Maxim’s arms.
“Fuck,” Maxim muttered as he removed his hands from her ears. But he kept her face pressed against his chest. “You completely annihilated them. I was totally ready to get in there, but you didn’t need me.”
“They’re a pair of idiots,” Victor said darkly. “They were no match for me.”
“Here, you want Gracen?” Maxim offered.
“No. I’ll get the car brought up outside the alley. Take her out there.”
“No, Victor! I want you!” She tried to move, to get to him, but Maxim lifted her in his arms. She attempted to peer around Maxim. She couldn’t see Victor, but she glimpsed a body lying on the floor. Her stomach turned and she shut her eyes. She didn’t want to see that. She let out a low whimper. She felt ill, and all she wanted was Victor to hold her securely in his arms.
Maxim carried her out quickly. “He’s just trying to keep you from seeing anything.”
“But I want him.”
“Soon, doll. Soon.”
They exited into the alley, and she turned to see a dark car waiting there. Maxim’s phone rang as soon as they were inside the vehicle.
He answered it with a frown, glancing over at her. “Sure? Gracen wants you.”
She was trembling. She just needed to know he was all right. She just had to see him.
“All right. Fine.” Maxim sighed and ended the call. Then he lowered the privacy screen. “Aero, take us home.”
“What? No! Why?” she asked.
“Victor doesn’t want you anywhere near here. He wants to get the bakery cleaned up. And make sure no one else was around. For that, he can’t be worrying about you.”
Or he didn’t want to see her. She bit her lip. “Is he all right?”
“He’s fine, doll. He has to take care of those idiots. Permanently. They won’t be terrorizing anyone else.”
It was hours later when she heard a car approach.
Regent was in his office, still set on destroying the entire Ventura gang. And she’d been pretending to watch a movie with Maxim. Jumping up, she rushed to the entrance. There he was. Whole. Unharmed.
But when he looked at her, she could tell that wasn’t true. There was something in his gaze. Something cold and broken.
Should she go to him? Was that what he wanted? Or had he been staying away to avoid her? Were they over?
Screw it. If something had changed, he could damn well find the courage to tell her. What she needed right now was to hug him. So, she raced forward.
His eyes widened. “Gracen? What are you—oomph—” He caught her against his chest as she jumped.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and clung to him.
“Baby? What is it? What’s wrong?” He rocked her back and forth. “Damn it, Maxim, I thought you were looking after her.”
“I was trying,” Maxim replied. “But she wanted you. She was worried about you.”
“Baby, I’m fine.”
“I needed to see you. To know for sure. You didn’t even call. Where have you been?” She pushed back until he let go of her. Then she whacked him in the chest with the palm of her hand.
Which likely hurt her more than him. She shook her hand to ease the sting.
“What are you doing?” he barked. “You’ve hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine. But I’m mad at you.” She pointed at him to emphasize her point. Then turning, she stomped up the stairs. “I’m going to bed.”
Victor watched his girl as she raced up the stairs. He wanted to tell her to slow down, but he was still feeling speechless.
“She hit me. And then she stormed off . . . she’s mad?” What was happening? When he’d come home, he’d been expecting an entirely different reaction.