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)
Nodding, I agree. “I know it is, which is why I plan to take her farther upstate. We don’t have to be so secretive up there and can have a nice night together off the coast.”
“How far away?”
“A couple of hours.”
“I won’t be able to give a huge heads-up if Henry shows up.” His voice is weary, and I don’t blame him. He knows he’s the disposable one out of the three of us, but really, he’s a good guy. I wouldn’t let anything happen to him.
“You don’t have to worry about being blamed for this one. Just enjoy the time here at the cabin. Take a fuckin’ break and get some sleep,” I add, noting the dark circles around his eyes. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks. You’re cute, too.”
I chuckle at his antics and turn my attention back to the stairs. I check my watch and grimace. I have reservations for us and don’t want to be late. I do have a bit of worry hanging over my head regarding Henry.
He’s got a meeting tonight. There’s nothing to be concerned about.
It’s not about being caught taking Liz away from the cabin. It’s the fact that no matter how well I hide everything, he might be able to see the change in the dynamics between the two of us. I’m fucking crazy about Liz, and I intend to keep her very close to me.
The footsteps on the stairs make my heart jump, and Liz appears only a few moments later. She’s freshly showered, her hair in waves and makeup carefully done on her face. She’s fucking beautiful.
“You ready to go?” I choke out, meeting her to take her bags from her arms. “I have the car waiting outside.”
She nods, giving me a timid smile. “Yeah, I’m ready. How long is the drive?”
“Only a couple of hours,” I say, just as Gerard takes her bag from me and heads outside to where the car is parked. “It’s not too far away, but we don’t have to be so careful once we get there. No one knows I have real estate up that way—only Gerard and Henry.”
She nods, her breath coming out heavy and uneven. “Okay.” I can’t tell just how nervous she is, but I grab her hand and lead her to the front door, squeezing it.
“It’ll be a nice break, and hopefully, once we return, you won’t have to be here much longer,” I tell her. I open the door for her and hold it until she’s stepped across the threshold. “Trust me on this. I know this morning wasn’t the best, but you need to know what being mine is like before you write me off.”
She hesitates, eyeing Gerard in a way that makes me suspicious. Did they talk about us? Did she tell him any of the details from last night? The thought is infuriating, but I keep it to myself as I lead her to the car.
“Okay, well, you two have fun,” Gerard quips, shooting me a nervous look. “Don’t get caught.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I punch him in the arm. “Remember who you work for. Also…” I pause just as Liz gets into the car and out of earshot. “Keep an eye on things back at home. You know who to reach out to. I’m trying to set up a meeting with Vitali; that’s where I went this morning. I didn’t want any calls traced back to the cabin.”
He nods, his lips turning downward. “That’s ballsy, given the way things are going. Do you think he’ll reach back out to you directly?”
“I don’t know,” I say, my voice expressing uncertainty. “I’ve never had him dodge a call before. I have the burner, but you know how sly he can be. He knows we want a meeting and just might bring one to me.”
“That’d be real fuckin’ bad if that happens in the next twenty-four hours.”
“Don’t let it happen,” I warn, “or you’ll have to deal with me.”
He lets out a heavy sigh. “So much for getting a break.”
I pat his shoulder. “I’ll give ya a raise for this one.”
“Finally,” he mutters, spinning around and heading back for the cabin. I chuckle to myself, wishing that Gerard wasn’t such a brute. The guy is sharp-witted and intelligent, but from the outside, no one would ever guess he is, which is why he’s nice to have around.
As the door closes behind him, I turn my attention to the car, and my heart thuds heavily in my chest. Now, I can just focus on Liz—well, for the most part, anyway. I can’t ever fully let my guard down—not in this business.
“Before we head to the beach house, I thought it might be nice to get something to eat,” I say as I pull into an old friend’s restaurant. “It’s some of the best seafood on the coast.”