Total pages in book: 211
Estimated words: 201554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1008(@200wpm)___ 806(@250wpm)___ 672(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 201554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1008(@200wpm)___ 806(@250wpm)___ 672(@300wpm)
“I want this all over, so yes. If it helps us get to ‘the end,’ please.”
And so, we all load into the elevator and head to our floor. Eric opens our door and we enter the foyer and I swear, it’s home. I’m home. My house in Denver was the only place I felt I belonged because I never fit inside the family circle or the company circle. How was that ever a life I wanted? Here, it’s Eric’s hand on my back, his earthy scent in the air, his presence even when he isn’t touching me that soothes, arouses, and excites. With him is where I belong.
The three of us head to the kitchen, but Eric detours to the bar, and returns with three glasses and a bottle of honey-flavored whiskey. He fills my glass first. “You need this.”
“Yes,” I say. “I do.” I down the amber liquid, letting it warm my throat, while Eric fills his and Blake’s glass, then refills mine.
Blake downs his drink. “I think we all needed that. We found Gigi, Harper. The man she thought was attacking her was our man just trying to make contact. She’s safe. She’s being protected.”
“And what does she have to say about all of this mess?” I ask.
“She confirmed everything your mother said without much more detail, and the same kind of speculation and talking in circles.”
“What about the messages?” I ask. “Did she have them sent to us?”
“Yes,” he confirms. “She confirmed that she sent the messages. She was afraid to go to you directly. She wasn’t sure Isaac wouldn’t find out. She’s old and wasn’t sure how to prevent being recorded and hacked. She was afraid of Isaac finding out and lashing out. She also didn’t think Eric would believe any information that came from her. She didn’t know the man who delivered one of the messages was dead, but she believes Isaac killed your father. She also thinks he killed Richard, one of the men that helped intimidate your mother. She offered that information so randomly that my gut is she had something to do with his death. Interesting tidbit. He died in a car crash like Isaac’s mother and father.”
“So did Isaac or Gigi kill them all?” I ask incredulously.
“We may never know,” Blake says. “I believe they were all professional hits and I’m not sure it changes anything. Isaac’s fate is in your hands, Eric. We’ll move forward as you see fit and Gigi is exiled, in hiding for the rest of her short life. She has no intention of returning anytime soon. She’s too afraid. She’s going to wait and see what happens between Eric and Isaac.”
“Of course she is,” Eric says dryly, sipping his drink, savoring the amber liquid while Blake and I have gulped. “I have a plan to deal with Isaac forming in my mind. I need the night to sleep on it.”
“You could easily take his inheritance,” Blake states. “You could simply ask for a DNA test.”
“I don’t need the money.” Now Eric downs his whiskey. “I don’t want that mob-infested empire.”
“He’ll always be threatened by you,” I say, this new fear hitting me hard and fast. “He’ll always be gunning for you. And Gigi. You know he’s hunting Gigi.”
“I couldn’t give a shit about Gigi,” Eric replies. “Fuck Gigi, but Harper’s mother is going to be with her, so we’ll have to protect her.”
“My mother basically sent Isaac to kill you,” I remind him.
“She’s your mother, sweetheart. I’m not going to have her blood on my hands. She’ll inherit. She’ll be fine. And I told you, I have a plan forming to deal with Isaac.” He strokes my hair and eyes Blake. “What else do I need to know?”
“The police aren’t likely to question you any further. Not unless that report comes back with poison, which we both know it won’t. That’s a non-issue that lets Isaac, and Gigi if she’s a part of the murder, walk. The mob, on the other hand, isn’t going away like the police.”
“The mob and Isaac will wait until tomorrow. What else?”
“Grayson is losing his mind wanting to talk to you.”
“I’ll call him.”
“Then I’ll leave,” Blake concludes, eyeing me. “You were brave, Harper. That was a lot of shit to get unloaded on you. And you stood by your man. Respect. You have my respect.” He turns and leaves, and Eric and I watch him as he exits the apartment.
Once the door shuts, we turn to face each other and then it’s just us, me and this man who has changed my life. This man that I love. “You’re not the bastard anymore,” I whisper.
He pulls me to him. “I’ll always be that family’s bastard. And you’ll always be my princess.” His mouth closes down on mine, and in that moment, in this place and time, I know that the bastard and the princess coming together has changed lives. Changed me. Forever.