Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
She shrugged and pushed off the doorway, taking two short steps inside the parlor. “Maybe not the specifics, but the casino businesses, the other legitimate business are my business, and I don’t want you to fuck it up for the rest of us. Keep drinking like this and that’s exactly what will happen.”
She threw her hands up in frustration. “For fuck’s sake, Ma, get it together. You worked too hard to let it all fall apart like this.”
She looked to Jasper, expecting him to say something. Instead, Jasper refilled his glass and mine, staring back at her in silence.
“Right. Well, fuck it and fuck you too!” Kat stared at me and shook her head before she stomped off.
Ignoring my petulant daughter, I turned to my reliable son. “I want Lucky Lopez back up and running. I have plans for that place, Jasper.”
My eldest son nodded and finished off his drink, slamming the glass down with more force than the act required. “I guess you don’t want to clue me into these plans, huh? I mean, I’m only the one in charge of every fucking thing we do, or did you forget that?” Jasper didn’t wait for me to respond; he just shook his head and walked away.
There was too fucking much walking away from me today, and I was damn tired of it. “What do you want?”
Thomas stopped a few feet inside the parlor and frowned. “I came to see if you needed anything, ma’am.”
“Do I look like I need anything, Thomas?” I snapped. “If I need anything, I’ll let you know. Leave me the hell alone. And don’t call me ma’am.”
He gave a short nod and turned away, leaving me as I requested before I could take the hurtful words back.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Thomas
She was the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes on and the moment she entered my life, I knew I could never have her. She belonged to my boss’ son, Colm. I was the hired help and she belonged to the man who would one day be King.
It sounded old school, even to my own ears, but it was how things were. I was a young kid with good breeding but no money or parents to go along with it, and Cillian Ashby was like the father I never had.
He took me in and treated me like I was family. At the same time, I taught him everything he needed to know about mixing with legitimate businessmen and politicians, the who’s who of Nevada society.
In exchange for etiquette and fashion lessons, Cillian taught me how to fight. He taught me how to get on in the real world, not the rarefied world of expensive fundraisers, designer suits and private schools. He taught me what I needed to get by in the underworld without much money or influence to back me up.
“A boy with manners like yours needs to know how to protect himself,” he said to me with a laugh.
From the age of fifteen, I spent my time at Cillian’s side. The world looked at me and saw his valet, and that’s precisely how Cillian wanted it.
Years of training in boxing, martial arts, Greco-Roman wrestling and every other combat sport had turned me into a lethal weapon, ready to be unleashed at Cillian’s word. I was that loyal to him.
And now to her.
Sadie.
Colm was jealous of my relationship with his father, even after Sadie came into the picture. It got worse once he had Sadie by his side as if he thought I stood a chance in hell of taking her from him. I didn’t. It didn’t take any real observational skills to see just how much she loved the drunken fool.
It was also equally clear that she didn’t know the real Colm Ashby. If she had, she would have burned pavement to get the hell away from him.
But she stayed and what started as a naïve crush grew as I watched her and watched over her. She was beautiful with thick blonde hair and big green eyes that were a mix of forest green and jade. She was as pale as an Irish rose with pink cheeks, flawless skin, and almond-shaped eyes that gave her a slightly exotic appearance.
I watched her so closely over the years that I memorized every feature, every expression. I knew when Sadie was happy or sad, when she was afraid, worried or excited.
She was the first and the only woman I’d ever loved. That would never change, no matter how much she changed.
When she first stepped into Ashby Manor, she was a shy little thing, scared of her own shadow and as fragile as a porcelain doll. Even though she didn’t know it at the time, Sadie was tough. It was a privilege to watch her discover her strength over the years, especially when Colm had done his damnedest to strip it from her.