Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 532(@200wpm)___ 425(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I stand and bring Jewel with me, our hands joined. “In less than two weeks, you will be signing everything over to me, as we discussed and agreed upon. I’m sorry if you don’t like my methods, but they’re turning in plenty of profit. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a wedding to plan.”
“Wait, Eli!” my mother calls out after us. She follows us to the door. “I know your father doesn’t always express himself well, but he only wants the best for you. For both of you.” I can sense Jewel locking up again. “But I agree with him. Just please be a little more careful. No matter how invincible you think you are, it only takes one bullet to finish it. We love you.”
A tiny sliver of guilt pricks me, and I take her hand and squeeze it gently. “I know, Mom.”
I shove down the guilt because it has no place here or in my plans for the future. I might be lying to them about Jewel’s background, but I’m not lying about how I have every intention of making her my wife and taking over the business entirely. That is the complete truth.
When we return to the car, Jewel is biting the skin around her nails. I don’t ask her about it because I know exactly why she’s uncomfortable. I’m weaving her tighter into my family affairs. As close as I pull her, I still have the sense that she’s going to run. And that fucking terrifies me.
CHAPTER 49
Jewel
Iattempt to glare holes into Hawke and Ford, who are sitting at their usual booth. It’s been four days since Eli dragged me into his “Shootout so I can rule the world” date. He’s been glued to me during the night and fucking me in every hole available ever since. Every time I think about killing him while we fuck, he seems to dominate me even more, as if instinctually sensing the switch within me.
“Is there a reason why they’re coming in every day?” Sage asks as we lean against the counter. After the incident at the Chinese restaurant, I owed her an explanation, not some half-twisted cover-up, because after being in that situation, she deserved to know the truth. That, and I realized during that ordeal how much I valued her as… a friend. I was certainly ready to fight to the death to protect her that night.
And in some ways, I’m grateful for Sage. Coming to this restaurant and talking with her makes things feel normal during the day, as it distracts me from the chaos happening in my life.
I sigh, crossing my ankles. “Because my asshole fiancé told them to watch me every waking hour, I’m not at home.”
“Oh wow. That’s pretty intense. But I guess you are marrying mafia royalty, so it makes sense.”
I give her an unimpressed look. It’s not that I’m offended that Tweedledee and Tweedledumb are following me; it’s more about the fact that they’re not following Eli. I’m certain something has happened between them, but no one will tell me what. I don’t blame them, but it’s irritating. And Eli has been more intense lately. It almost makes me wonder if he knows the final order for the hit has been given. He’s acting abnormally attentive, making it harder for me to believe every sleepless night that this is a game.
I can’t endure the idea of telling him how I feel because I can’t even put it into words. The moment I do, I’ve lost and will most likely be killed. I’ve imagined that he’s finally got me, and when I admit I got the order for the hit, he’ll know his time is up, and he’ll kill me. Then he’ll most likely find another fiancée to replace me and wear the dress, all so he can claim his empire.
Huffing, I walk over to the twins, my hands on my hips.
With the generous tip, they leave every day; my boss doesn’t seem to care much when they sit here all day, leering at anyone who speaks to me. I’m almost certain Eli has bought this run-down restaurant only because I work here.
He tried to persuade me to quit altogether, but I refuse to be owned in any capacity. I don’t need this job, and at this point, I don’t need a cover anymore, either. But I cling to it like it’s my only salvation.
“Do you need a refill?” I ask Hawke, regarding his fourth soda of the day. Ford is taking a sip from his coffee and doesn’t bother to look up. I quite like Ford; he keeps to himself, orders our selection of sweets every day, and reads. If anything, it looks like he’s quite enjoying this change of pace. Hawke, however, is an attention whore, and I think that’s mostly because he’s bored.