Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
The question I think all of us asked once he was done doing his duty, the question I asked myself when I was told I could leave.
The gates opened.
Trees lined the sides of campus as I sped down the lane and then took a right for the registration building.
He would be waiting for us.
It would be easy.
She would be protected here.
From everything.
My bare hands included.
The guys would look the other way. They’d be curious but they wouldn’t think I would hide her in plain sight like I was doing. According to them I still had a De Lange girl prisoner, and Alice was just someone I had an interest in.
It would be fine.
I gripped the steering wheel and wondered why I was sacrificing so much… for so little.
After all a woman was a pawn.
An object.
And yet.
This one reminded me of them.
Of the wives.
Of their strength.
And I couldn’t stop.
Just couldn’t fucking stop.
The rabbit hole had me sucked in its grasp, and I was still falling without a clue as to what was at the bottom.
I parked the car and got out then went and opened her door. She seemed confused by this as I held out my hand.
My gloves were gone, they would look ridiculous with what I was wearing, and again, it would look too conspicuous.
I wasn’t a boss here.
Here I was just another rich guy.
Not that every single staff member wouldn’t know who I was, just like the dean was probably already holding out his prayer beads and chanting.
Students walked around, some stared, others looked away like they knew it was dangerous to be too curious.
And the whole time, I clutched her warm hand.
Felt her palm pressed against mine.
Warred with the need to do something about it.
With the strange tingle in my chest that made its way down my arms and legs like I was slowly burning from the inside out.
“Walk faster,” I snapped. I couldn’t hold her hand forever, I couldn’t even hold it for a few seconds without losing touch with reality.
We finally made it to the front steps and walked up. The building was solid brick, three stories, and looked completely innocent despite all the crimes that it had been involved in.
I grinned when a staff member opened the door to us and then quickly jogged away like I was going to impale him with my knife.
And slowly as we walked down the hall, doors closed. No, they slammed like they were afraid I was going to stop and ask for directions or just stop and start shooting.
My reputation, it seemed, preceded me.
Nice.
We finally made it to the dean’s office.
The secretary, Mrs. Derullio, looked up, eyes wide. “We weren’t sure if we should be expecting you or not.”
“Do you not have a phone?” I asked just as one started ringing.
With shaking hands, she answered and nodded. “Yes, sir, yes, I’ll tell him.” She hung up. “The dean says he’s expecting you.”
I winked. “Thought so, nice sweater.” It was horrible but she didn’t need to know that. That shade of green would make anyone look sick.
“Oh, thank you.” She smiled wider.
I grinned and led six thirty-two to the door just as it opened. Bear Abandonato stood on the other side. I wasn’t really sure what his real name was. All I knew was that he had a reputation for being like a big teddy bear, hated confrontation, and wasn’t for the life, despite his height of six-foot-seven, and weight of three fifty-two pounds.
The guy was a beast.
“Come on in.” He beamed down at Alice. “I’m so happy you could join us this semester…” He looked briefly at his paper. “…Alice.” And then he frowned. “I’m sorry, it seems we don’t have a last name for you,” He grabbed a handy pen and looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
Alice stiffened.
Her hand gripped mine so tight I was ready to outwardly react.
Woman had grip strength that was for sure.
“Petrov,” I volunteered. “Alice Petrov.”
“Oh!” Bear’s smile could not, manage to get any bigger, “Didn’t know you had another sister, Mr. Petrov.”
I smiled mockingly at him. “Oh, I don’t.”
“Cousin.”
“Most of them are dead.”
“I see.” He frowned. “So, she’s… a niece?”
“No. Actually.” I beamed at Alice and very slowly lifted her hand to my lips, inside shaking with… something. “She’s my wife.”
Alice gaped and then shut her mouth. The minute my lips touched her skin, she sucked in a breath.
“Ah, in the honeymoon phase still, I see.” Bear winked.
Alice snatched her hand away and nodded. “Yes, it’s new…” She shot me a glare. “Some might even say, hardly any time has gone by that we’ve been… together.”
“Seems that way, doesn’t it?” I laughed, enjoying her obvious hatred toward me and the idea of being my wife. For some reason it gave me pleasure just as much as the touch of her skin.