Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Insurance policy,” Massimo says. “You know how paranoid our employer can be. Call me once you’ve gotten rid of the body. And just know, I’m thinking of sending some guys over. Check on the girl…”
I clench my fist around the phone. Fire flares inside of me at the implication in his words, the hint that he’s going to hurt Violet.
“That’s a point, too,” Massimo goes on. “If it was a messy job, did she not wake up? Where is she? Or did you finally break your rule?”
“I had to,” I growl. “There was no choice. There isn’t just one body in my trunk.”
“Are you lying to me?”
“I’d never lie to you. I consider you one of my best friends.”
My tone is sarcastic in the extreme, making Massimo laugh gruffly.
“We’ll see about that. Don’t remove the tracker. It will make us suspicious.”
I hang up the phone and then climb from the car, combing over it, reaching behind the wheel, and finding it—a metal box magnetized to the underside. Pulling it loose, I throw it over the barrier of the bridge. It makes a soft whistling noise, like a grenade, which is appropriate. This could blow up everything.
“We’re officially on the run,” I say, climbing back into the car.
“What happens if they catch us?” my innocent woman asks.
I almost don’t want to answer.
It would be better if I could protect her from the dark aspects of life, standing as her shield against the pain and the terror, but she deserves the truth.
“Death,” I say, starting the engine.
CHAPTER FOUR
Violet
I wrap my arms around my middle, hugging myself and staring out the window as the dark forest passes us by. There are patches of light where the stars and moonlight filter through the foliage, but otherwise, the world is black.
It’s difficult to believe I was sleeping in my bed not too long ago. Ready to wake up and drive into college with the car I own because Dad works his butt off. He has always done everything necessary to provide for us.
I try not to look into the rearview mirror, into Luke’s face.
I try not to think about slipping into his lap and sliding my arms around his shoulders, and then rocking with him, grinding my crotch against his and feeling the lust inflame. Even if he wasn’t a killer, the thought would be straight from fantasy island. I wouldn’t know what to do.
Plus, I remind myself, I should… do hate this man, but that’s a lie.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I’ve got a safe house in the forest. We’ll spend the night there. I’ve been careful to keep the location secret from the mafia. They shouldn’t be able to find us.”
“Shouldn’t?”
“Nothing is certain, Violet.”
I like the way he says my name. My body gets warm at the huskiness of it. I know it’s all in my head, but it makes me think he’s thinking some of the same things I am, which means he’d be just as batshit as I’ve suddenly become.
“But I’m fairly sure,” he goes on.
“Well, that fills me with confidence.”
“Are you always this sarcastic?”
“Only when a stranger comes out of nowhere to ruin mine and my dad’s life.”
“Enough,” Dad says with a sigh. “This won’t be any easier if you two keep at each other.”
“You should hate him,” I snap. “He was going to kill you, Dad.”
I’m telling Dad to hate him when I can’t. Even if I try. Even if I say the words, he was going to kill my dad aloud or in my mind, I still can’t switch off that gushing stream of unstoppable hopes… for the future, and steamy hopes for the present.
“But he didn’t. And now he’s helping us.” Dad’s face softens as he stares at me, his features mostly dark in the nighttime. “The world isn’t so simple sometimes.”
“Yeah. You could say that again. I still think he could be tricking us—”
“I’m not,” Luke cuts in. “I told you, Violet, I’d never hurt you.”
I look out the window, telling myself he’s not saying this because he’s attracted to me. He’s certainly not wondering if we could have a future together, if we belong together, if there’s heat and affection just waiting for us to claim.
“I guess I should just take your word for it.”
Luke lets out a shuddering sigh, but says nothing else, leaving me to fold my arms tighter and stare out the window. I should be freaking out about this killer, wondering if he’s going to keep his word and keep us safe. What I shouldn’t be doing is reliving the moment in the bedroom when I was sure his gaze was moving up and down my body.
If Dad wasn’t there…
I definitely shouldn’t be imagining what it would be like if Luke paced across the room and wrapped his arms around me, squeezing onto my hips and pulling me right up against him, letting me feel how excited I make him as his manhood pushes against me.