Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
He brought her palm to his thigh again and slid his thumb over the back of her hand, maintaining contact. “I don’t talk to anyone about my past. I don’t think it serves much purpose, but you’re committing to us, willing to build a relationship with me. That means you hear about my past. I’m warning you, like yours, it isn’t pretty.”
He’d mentioned his mother’s betrayal and briefly spoken of the school he’d been taken to, but there was no way she could understand him if he didn’t give her the entire story. It wouldn’t be fair to her if he didn’t give her something of himself. She deserved to know whatever he could share with her.
His thumb slid over the back of her hand a second time. “I’m saying again, baby, the things done to me in my past aren’t for the faint of heart. If you’d prefer me to stay silent on the subject, I’m down with that, but understanding me will take some serious work.”
“I want to know whatever you’re willing to share with me, Andrii.”
Bog. Those eyes of hers. He could stare into them every day and never get enough. Drown in them. He saw that look on her face and wanted to keep it there forever. No one had ever looked at him like that in his life. He saw the beginnings of love in her eyes. It was there, stark and real—for him. He didn’t deserve that emotion from her, but he was determined to work every day to make himself into a better man for her.
“I told you my mother sold me so she could get her drugs.” He found himself doing what was natural, what he’d trained himself to do from a very early age—distancing himself from the story he was telling her. He did so when he lived through it and whenever his mind insisted on returning to those memories. Mostly, he had closed that door and refused to open it. For her, he would.
Azelie deserved to know exactly what she would be dealing with. He understood her trauma even more than she realized. His club had researched her very carefully. Code was thorough. She didn’t have that same advantage when it came to him. She would have to rely on whatever he chose to tell her. Maestro wanted her to know him intimately. To be able to accept him as he was, flaws and all. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t keep trying to overcome his failings, but he wanted—even needed—acceptance from her.
“What I didn’t tell you is that I was barely able to walk when she started using me to get what she wanted. She had a sister, my aunt Anna, who was a year older. I thought Anna really cared about me. She fought with my mother all the time and eventually gave my mother money to allow Anna to keep me. That’s when my life really turned into a nightmare.”
Azelie gasped, her eyes widening with shock. “Both your mother and aunt?” She whispered it as if the treachery of their betrayal was too much to believe.
Maestro had watched Zelie for weeks before he made his move on her. She had been drawn to children. Laughing with them, playing, watching over them. Children who weren’t even hers. It hadn’t mattered to her. As a mother, she would be a fierce little thing, protecting her children—and him—with everything in her.
At first, he hadn’t believed. He’d looked for ulterior motives. No woman could ever be that filled with sunshine, enough that she shared her light with everyone she came across. She seemed to look after the older people in the coffeehouse. She was the same with the owners. She nurtured others. Soothed them. Brought them serenity.
He knew she didn’t see herself like that, a woman others gravitated toward. Since she’d lost her family, she held part of herself aloof. Because she was a naturally giving person, it made her feel guilty that she didn’t give all of herself to others. Reporters and police had made her leery of sharing her story with anyone. He didn’t think she realized just how much of herself she did give. The peace she brought people. The joy. The sunshine.
Billows was addicted to her. He might be a moody bastard, and it may have taken him time to realize she’d grown up, but he didn’t want to give her up. Now that Azelie was in college full-time and around more men, it had probably occurred to Billows he might lose her. That didn’t sit well, so he did what he always did—threatened and bullied to get his way.
Maestro realized threatening Azelie wasn’t the best way to get her attention. If Billows had taken the time to get to know her, he would see bullying her would never work. Billows was used to dismissing women, using them for his business to make a crapload of money. Any man involved in human trafficking had zero respect for women. Having Billows’ attention centered on Azelie was extremely dangerous for her. Having his man, McGrady, watching her every move was becoming annoying. Maestro intended to make certain Billows wanted to get rid of his spy.