Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 145942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 730(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 730(@200wpm)___ 584(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Karleigh laughs, unable to wrap her head around it. “What’s the catch?”
“There is no catch,” I tell her. “I just want you to keep helping these kids and giving them a home like you did for me. I have the money to get them off the street, but not the time to show them the care and affection that they need. I don’t have that motherly touch the way that you do, and with everything that I have to do for Dynasty, I’d be far too distracted. Hell, do you want to open a shelter? We can do that. My parents have places all over the world. We can have them renovated into homes and get some really great people running them. We could call it the Ravenwood Foundation after my parents.”
Karleigh blinks, staring at me as though I’ve completely lost my mind, but perhaps she doesn’t understand just how much money comes with this lifestyle. I need to do something with it because right now, it’s just being wasted when I could be helping so many kids who are just like me. “I … um. Slow down a second,” she tells me. “Are you being serious?”
“I’m so serious,” I tell her. “Do you want to partner with me in all of this? We can do it. I can speak with my lawyers and get it all started as soon as this party is over.”
“I … yes,” she squeals. “This is insane. Do you really think we can do it?”
“A thousand percent,” I laugh as she throws her arms around me and pulls me in. “As long as we have you, we’re going to be just fine. You’re my secret weapon and I want to share you with the world.”
“Stop,” she hisses. “You’re going to make me cry in front of all these people.”
“Consider it payback for not coming to help me in your driveway,” I mutter, letting her see the smirk that stretches across my face. “But it’s settled. I’ll put you and the kids up in a five-star hotel for the night, and come tomorrow, we can start planning this new business and get the first shelter approved and opened within a few months. Though, I think I should introduce you to Dianna Danforth. She won’t want to miss this.”
“This is insa—”
Karleigh cuts herself off as four imposing men in the most jaw-dropping suits step in beside me, each of them greeting Karleigh with a silent nod before turning their attention to me. King’s hand slides across my back, his touch sending goosebumps sailing down my body. “It’s time,” he murmurs.
I glance back at Karleigh to find her mouth hanging wide. “Shit, Winter. No wonder you got yourself in so much trouble.”
I can’t help but laugh as I take her hand and give it a firm squeeze. “I have to slip away for a moment, but I’ll find you afterward and we can talk. This is going to be really incredible.”
“You’re damn right it will,” she tells me before turning back to the bartender and asking for a refill, more than ready to celebrate her new home and business that’s bound to help children all over the world.
I slip away with the boys, hiding in the shadows as they lead me right to the top of the street. We make our way down the narrow road that leads to the lift down into our underground world and slip inside. I take Grayson’s hand in the darkness of the lift and don’t let go until Carver is pushing the door of the council chamber wide open to a full table of men.
I walk in with my head held high and pride resting on my shoulders. Earnest stands and pulls my chair out before helping me into my seat, my gown making life just that little bit harder.
King and Carver take their seats as Cruz and Grayson move into their favored positions behind my chair. “What’s this all about?” Harlen Beckett questions, annoyed to have been pulled away from the party where there are countless men gathered in the street, all of which he was surely planning to sweet talk into following his lead.
“Thank you all for slipping away tonight,” I tell them, ignoring his question and sticking to my original plan. “It’s certainly been an eventful day, but it’s not over yet. First off, I just want to say thank you to all of you for being on guard today. Had we failed in the penthouse apartment, the protection of our people would have fallen on your shoulders and each one of you stepped up just as I knew you would.”
I take a breath and slowly trail my gaze around the table, meeting the stare of every man who sits in my chamber. “Now, the reason I’ve brought you all here tonight is because a situation has arisen. Well, if I’m honest, I’ve known about this situation right from the start. However it was lying dormant for so long, up until recently, and that situation is Harlen Beckett.”