Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
He nods, rubbing the gray stubble along his jaw. “I suppose I will then. I’m not pulling the bodyguards away, though.”
“Probably for the best,” I agree.
“I’ll give her two weeks to think about it, but if I haven’t heard from her by then, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands. I can’t have her living out her life like this part of her doesn’t exist. That kind of method leads to danger.”
I nod, mostly in agreement. “Maybe a week, not two weeks.”
He raises his brow. “I don’t know. That might be too soon. She’s a touchy girl sometimes. It takes her a long time to get over things. She dated a fella at college her freshman year for about two months, and when my men ran him off without her knowing, she was heartbroken for nearly three months afterward. She spent more time upset about it than in the actual relationship.”
My chest burns at the thought of her dating someone. Did the guy touch her? Kiss her? Take her virginity?
“He never laid a hand on her,” Henry adds, picking up on my irritation. “I don’t let men touch my daughter in any way that might displease her.”
I don’t want them touching her in a way that might please her, either.
“I know you don’t,” I say instead.
“I better get to work,” Henry grunts, standing. “Do me a favor, will you?”
“Yeah?”
“Keep an eye on her if you can. My bodyguards are some of the best, but no one is as good as you. You have eyes everywhere, and I need those. I have a feeling she’s softer toward you as well. That might work in our favor, especially if you can convince her to come to work for you. Make it worth her while by paying her well, whatever. Just do what it takes to keep my daughter safe. She needs to learn this business. I won’t be around forever.”
“You got it,” I say, joining him as he stands. “I’ll do the best I can. If you need anything else, let me know.”
“You want me to take care of Nick?” Henry asks as we exit the living room. “You know I got some new connections recently, all for you.”
“Nah, I think I can take care of him myself. He just needs to get his head on straight, and we both know I can straighten out about anyone,” I add with a dark chuckle.
Henry laughs, squeezing my shoulder. “There’s a damn good reason you’re my best friend.”
I nod, thinking, But you’d kill me if you knew what I did to your daughter.
CHAPTER 5
Liz
My cell phone rings, vibrating against my desk. I lean over, unsurprised to see my dad’s face lighting up the screen. I roll my eyes and deny the phone call. This has been going on for nearly two weeks, and I’m still not ready to discuss it.
I have no idea what to think about anything that happened that night between finding out that I’m the heir to a Mafia throne and the fact that my father’s best friend gave me my very first orgasm. Ugh.
I run my fingers through my tangled hair, leaning back in my seat to peer out the window. Sure enough, I see the backs of the two bodyguards Dad has assigned to me. Gerard and Philip are fine, I guess, and they never make themselves known at my workplace, but I still don’t like it. I can take care of myself.
“Elizabeth,” a voice calls from behind me, one I recognize as my boss. “Can we speak for a moment, please?”
I spin around in my chair and nod, forcing a smile on my tense face. “Of course, Mr. Hudson.” Two weeks ago, I would’ve been excited about talking to my boss, hoping I would finally be assigned a case. However, now, I just feel nervous as fuck that he knows about my family history.
“How’s your Friday going?” Mr. Hudson asks in a friendly tone, his caramel-colored hair shiny and styled perfectly. He’s around the same age as Troy, but unlike him, I’m positive he dyes his hair to hide the gray. For some reason, I find that very unappealing.
“It’s going well,” I finally answer him as we enter his office. “What about you?”
“Fine. Any weekend plans?”
“No, sir,” I answer the question as I always do, hoping that my availability will earn me a case.
He says nothing in reply as he walks around his desk and then sits. His green eyes study me, the lines around them creasing as I stand awkwardly at the doorway. “Take a seat.”
“Yes, sir,” I say, swallowing hard as I situate myself in one of his red leather chairs. I smooth out my suit pants, always opting for a pantsuit over a pencil skirt, for work anyway.
“So… I want you to take a look at this,” he says as he picks up a manilla file folder with his scrawny fingers and then hands it to me. “It’s a new case that the firm is taking on.”