Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
“Sav,” Nicole says in greeting, hugging me with a dish and a bottle in her hands.
Logan extends a hand. “Thanks for the invitation, man.”
I shake his hand. “Thanks for accepting.”
Anya and I will have a word about this later. Scheming little minx. I know why she didn’t tell me she invited my acquaintances. She didn’t want to give me a chance to object. I’m not a social person, but I know how tough it was for her to lose Tersia’s friendship because of who I am. Nicole doesn’t have any qualms about what I do for a living, and Anya can do with a friend.
In all fairness, Nicole is more than an acquaintance. Over the years, we became friends. We’re not close friends, but Nicole gets me like few people do. Plus, she doesn’t put up with my bullshit. I met her via Rachele at a formal do a few years ago. We’ve been running into each other at galas since. Rachele was a patient until we got married. After that, she changed ob-gyns. Nicole and I never exchanged numbers or chatted outside of public gatherings, but we liked one another. Whenever we attended the same fundraiser or social event, we searched each other out for a drink at the bar to kill time with banter and people watching. It made those obligatory parties less boring. It’s only since Anya became a patient that I called Nicole more regularly, mostly with questions about Anya’s wellbeing during her pregnancy.
I invite them to the back where Livy is mixing gin and tonics. Nicole puts her dishes on the table—potato and carrot salads—while Logan adds the wine to the makeshift bar set up on the side table. Livy adds a sprig of rosemary and a slice of lemon to each G&T before handing them around.
Anya returns with Claire in her arms. Our baby girl is dressed in a warm fleece jacket over her pajamas.
“Let me,” I say, taking Claire from Anya to free her hands so that she can greet our guests.
“There you are,” Dante says, making his way down the step onto the terrace where the small group is gathered. “I saw myself in.” Meaning a guard opened the door for him. “I hope you don’t mind.” Inviting himself, he takes the drink Livy hands him. “This looks nice. Are you guys having a party?”
“We’re just going to throw a few steaks on the grill,” Anya says. “Why don’t you join us?”
“Yes,” Livy pipes up. “There’s plenty of food.”
“Great,” I grumble. “Another surprise guest.”
“Hey.” He makes a wounded face. “You’ll hurt my feelings.”
“What feelings?” I scoff. “You don’t have any.”
Anya gives me a stern look. “Be nice. Don’t spoil our first barbecue as a married couple.”
Our first barbecue. Fuck yes. It has a nice, normal ring to it. I have no intention of spoiling that.
Once the introductions are over, Nicole steals Claire from me. “How’s my gorgeous goddaughter doing?”
While they’re fussing over Claire, Dante pulls me aside. Glancing at where the others are gathered around our baby, he says in a lowered voice, “I have news.”
I tense. “What happened?”
Nothing can go wrong now. We have Raphael as good as cornered. He’s taken shelter in his house where his defenses are the strongest, but he’s been sufficiently weakened to no longer be a match for us. We’re ready for the final attack. My orders are clear. Morelli is mine. No one touches him. I want him alive so that I can look into his eyes before I pull the trigger.
Dante clenches his jaw. “Raphael went into hiding.”
“What?” I bite out.
Dante sneers. “He fled like a dog with his tail between his legs.”
“Motherfucker,” I say under my breath. “Do we have any idea where the rat might’ve gone?”
“No. He was clever about it. He walked out dressed as one of his guards. Our guy who’s keeping an eye on his house takes photos of everyone who comes and goes. I recognized Raphael’s face when our man emailed me the latest photos to get a headcount of how many guards are left on his grounds.”
Fuck. “I guess we’ll just have to smoke him out.”
“I’m working on it. I’ll involve Anya. She’s good at making clever plans.”
“Not tonight,” I say, stealing a glance at where she’s pouring wine for Nicole and saying something that makes everyone laugh. “This dinner is a big deal for her. She’s finally making new friends.”
Laughing, Dante shakes his head. “You really are clueless.”
The fact that he thinks I’m in the dark about something makes my hackles rise. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Anya isn’t doing this because she needs friends.” He points a finger at me. “She’s doing this for you.”
To draw me out of my shell. To force me to look the world in the eyes with my new face. She did that effectively enough when she carried five million into After Dark—in cash. That move was so dangerous it still gives me nightmares. The fear of losing her will make me face my demons any day.