Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 427(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Breathe, baby. Breathe in through your nose.
I couldn’t. I fucking couldn’t.
The edges of my vision became darker and darker, and a dizzy spell sent me to the floor. Or maybe West had lowered me to it. Fuck, he’d walked me backward too. We were closer to the wall.
Follow my voice, Alfie. Feel the tap on your shoulder? Breathe in.
I managed to suck in a mouthful of air, though I kind of choked on it. But an involuntary shiver helped me focus on a gentle tapping on my shoulder blade, and I poured all my focus into it. I felt the calm rhythm.
I was breathing again before I actually knew it; I just noticed that my heart wasn’t racing as quickly anymore, and the panic was fading little by little.
Tap, tap, tap.
Exhale.
They were dead. A part of me wanted to get angry, because I hadn’t fucking finished. Luka had barely suffered at all. And yet, it felt so goddamn freeing. They were history.
It allowed me to see clearer too. I’d always hate not being able to keep my loved ones safe at all hours of the day, but it wasn’t really feasible, was it? Make no mistake—West and I would keep paying for security for my mother when she was out on her own, at least past dark. Which would amount to what, three or four hours a week? Besides, she lived her life on a strict schedule. So that was happening. Dad would happily take a photo for me of her weekly planner. He was on my side.
But there would always be a risk. Even more so when our kids grew up.
I drew a deep breath through my nose and leaned against West’s touch. He was down on one knee next to me, still tapping me gently on the back.
We weren’t alone in the room with the dead guys anymore. Bran and Kellan were doing something with Jakov and Luka—untying them, maybe. Other movement too. I saw Finn and Shan from the corner of my eye.
“Justice has been served,” West murmured.
I nodded and stared at my bloodied hands. Yeah, maybe. Probably.
“I can’t believe you shot them,” I mumbled. “I hope you didn’t use the guns you used to compete with when you were young.”
“Younger, you mean?”
“Sure.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “No, I didn’t. I used yours. The unregistered one.”
Oh. That was good.
As Finn would love to point out, I hadn’t been smart enough to bring it with me. In my defense, I’d left in a hurry. I wasn’t always walking around armed, even though Kellan wanted me to.
“Finn said I had two brain cells battling for third place,” I muttered. “He’s mean.”
“Two seems generous.”
Whoa. I peered up at him, all bleary-eyed and probably looking like shit, but that was uncalled for.
West smiled faintly and touched my cheek. “You can’t be that reckless again, Alfie. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
Fuck. I lowered my gaze again, and I hugged my knees loosely to my chest.
Deep breaths.
I had been reckless. I’d jeopardized everything that was good in my life, all so I could get my revenge.
“I hate my fucking temper.” I wiped my face with my arm and shook my head. “I’m so sorry, West.”
“Let’s not exaggerate.” He rose to his feet, only to hook his hands under my armpits and haul me up. With a grunt, of course. “Your temper makes my life more interesting. I just don’t want you to get caught because of it.”
A breath gusted out of me, and I nodded. I had to work on a balance.
West accepted a stack of towels and a packet of disinfectant wipes from Shan.
“How are you feeling, son?” Shan asked.
“Eh.” I shrugged. “You should see the other guys.”
He rumbled a laugh and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “You’ll be fine.”
As long as West and I were solid, yeah, absolutely.
Shan spoke to West next. “Just leave your clothes on the floor. Our cleaning crew is on the way.”
West nodded in understanding and carefully wiped blood off my hands.
I hissed. That shit stung. Maybe my skin had broken here and there after all.
“Pop, I’m heading home,” Finn said in passing. “I gotta stop for ice cream.”
“All right. What do you want me to tell T?” Shan wondered.
“Remodel of the interior—strip it down,” Finn replied. “We’ve had too much traffic here in the last couple of days, so we’ll use it as a storage for a year or so. Then we can sell it.” He nodded at me next. “By the way, Colby’s with JJ tonight, but you gotta make shit right with him tomorrow.”
I winced internally. I owed Colby the biggest apology for how I’d acted earlier. “Aye, boss.”
Kellan piped up from the doorway. “Oi, clothes off. Down to the base layer, at least. West, you’re going home barefoot.”