Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
After witnessing the tension-charged duel of words between Baba and Delphine, I was beginning to question my decision.
Should we leave? What the fuck was that about?
A cold prickle of uncertainty crept up my spine. My instincts were screaming at me, raising alarm bells that echoed loudly in the pit of my stomach.
Every fiber of my being twitched with a newfound alertness.
I watched Delphine walk ahead of us. Her every movement an enigma. It was as though she was a puzzle, each piece brimming with danger, and I was growing unsure whether I’d be able to put it all together without losing something precious in the process.
We probably should leave.
A part of me desired nothing more than to grab Kaz, Max, and the boys, then bolt from this place and never look back. I longed for the comfort of familiar surroundings, the reassuring routines of everyday life. Yet, I stood rooted in my place, bound by the hope of healing and an unnerving curiosity.
Plus, I was no stranger to danger. My life hadn’t exactly been a safe haven; I knew when to stand my ground, and when to flee.
But this. . .this was different.
Here, the threat was cloaked in ambiguity and made the hairs on my neck stand on end.
I swallowed hard.
Perhaps, it was time to reconsider her help.
Shit.
However, the tension eased as Delphine guided us around the house. Still, we kept a good amount of space between her and us.
Kaz walked on my right, firmly holding my hand.
Max kept step with me on my left. Worry decorated his expression.
Several feet up ahead, Delphine moved with surprising grace, her cane tapping rhythmically against the ground.
My voice wavered. “What do you make of that whole exchange between Baba and Delphine?”
Max leaned in closer, his reply coming in hushed tones, “I once saw this fantasy flick, right? Two wizards going head-to-head, draped in robes of black and white. They took out their wands, levitating, twirling around each other in this intense duel. I was at the edge of my seat, mouth agape.”
I shot him a sideways glance, “Okay. And your point?”
He held up one finger. “I’m saying, what went down between Baba and Aunt Delphine? It was like a replay of that movie, but double that shit. Then, there was Paolo mentioning her in his dream. . .”
A cold wave of dread crashed over me. “So, it wasn’t just my imagination?”
He shook his head, “Not a chance. Paolo was dead serious, like, ‘Hey, that’s the awesome lady from my dreams.’”
Shit.
Panic bubbled up in my chest, its searing tendrils almost wrapping around my throat, “If she really went into Paolo’s dreams. . .then, Max. . .what am I supposed to do with that?”
His eyes met mine, full of grim determination, “Only thing you can do is try your best not to piss your pants.”
I sighed and looked at Kaz. “What do you think, baby?”
A neutral mask covered his face as he watched Delphine. “She also hinted at Paolo being with someone from her bloodline in the future.”
“Yeah.” I swallowed. “I was thinking maybe Max has a daughter and—”
“Adult Paolo better keep his hot ass away from my little girl.” Max glared. “I know that. I love the little dude, but he is not touching my girl.”
I frowned. “You don’t even have a daughter and you are being possessive?”
“I’m just saying, Em. My girl will be marrying brothers. Brown to fucking shades of black. They can pick out of that spectrum. That’s it. And not any gangsters either. Doctors and lawyers. Black ones.”
“Paolo is not going to be a gangster.”
“What? With you two raising him? Shit.” Max snorted. “You want to put a bet on that?”
“Whatever.”
Kaz spoke, “We cannot forget that Ava is related to her also. So. . .it could be her kid if she ever haves one.”
“Facts. Misha is surely trying to put a baby in Ava.” Max nodded. “But then there’s Rafael and Gwen, if he can ever bag that.”
I shivered. “Why is everything always pointing back to the Jones family? That’s two women that are connected to you Max.”
“What do you mean, Em?”
“I don’t know. It’s just. . .it’s a lot of Jones women around the world and we keep bumping into them.”
Kaz raised an eyebrow. “You think it’s more than just coincidence?”
“Maybe.” My nerves flared. “It just seems strange.”
“Yo.” Max leaned my way. “I brought extra guns just in case.”
I quirked my brows. “You think we will need to shoot Delphine in the garden?”
“She looks small and fragile, but I would keep my eye on her.”
“Would you stop scaring me?”
“I’m just telling you how it is, Em.”
Kaz nodded. “For once, I agree with Maxwell.”
“That we need guns?”
“No, mysh. We need to keep our eyes on her.”
“That exchange between Delphine and Baba set you on edge?”
“I was not happy about it.”
Still following Delphine, we rounded a bend, and a sprawling garden came into my view.