Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“Where the hell are you? I dropped by the casino to see you, but you were gone, and no one seemed to have a clue where you are.”
“Taking a little vacation,” Thompson said. “Needed to breathe some fresh air.”
There was a short silence and then a laugh. “You’re with a woman. Don’t tell me the mighty Walker Thompson actually has fallen for a woman.”
Again, there was a short silence. Finally, Thompson sighed. “Don’t give me shit over this, Mike. I met her, yes, but I haven’t reeled her in.”
“Because you have a reputation. She’s smart. You look at women and they fall all over you. You get that anytime you want. She’s got to know that. She’ll know you’re never going to be faithful.”
“That doesn’t matter. She’ll be faithful. She’s going to be my wife, and she’ll do what I want her to do.”
Crandell burst out laughing. “That sounds like the man I’ve known all my life. You get to carry on as usual and do whatever the hell you want, but she must live up to your standards or what? You’ll break her neck?”
“She’ll wish I’d break her neck,” Thompson said ominously.
Ambrielle wanted to go shoot him right then. He was so decisive. Absolutely convinced that he was entitled to dictate to his wife while he went on to keep his life exactly how he wanted. She must have made a move as if she was going to crawl over the ridge, because Master dropped a hand on her bottom, his palm curving around her left cheek. He leaned close to her.
“Down, princess. He’ll get his.” There was amusement in his voice. It came in on the channel built into the little radio that looped in all the Torpedo Ink members.
“He’s making my head explode.”
“I can imagine.”
“You’re not alone,” Lana said. “Scarlet is with me, and both of our heads did explode.”
“I’m with Lissa,” Alena chimed in. “Our brains are splattered all over the ground.”
Ambrielle laughed. She couldn’t help it, the tension building in her dissipating because she was part of these people already. “Where’re Seychelle and Soleil?”
“They never take part in something like this, honey, and have to be protected,” Czar said. “They’re very sensitive. I can’t explain exactly what I mean, but it has to do with the mind and the ability to process and get rid of images. Particularly violence.”
“To answer your question,” Savage said, “Soleil won’t go to the clubhouse when Ice is gone. She wants to stay at her home, so Seychelle asked to stay with her there. Anya is with them as well. Blythe, Lexi, Breezy and Zyah are all at Blythe and Czar’s. We’ve got everyone locked up tight. No worries.”
She knew that members of another chapter had arrived to guard the clubhouse and the women while they carried out this “mission.”
Crandell chuckled into the phone. “We’ll see if your woman has enough sense to wiggle off any hook you’ve dangled in front of her. Get that shipment to the Billowses and get home. We’ve got to work out these glitches we keep running into. We need a face-to-face meet.”
“Give me a couple more days. I’ll wrap this up, put a ring on her finger and get home.”
“That fast? This isn’t a love match. You’ve found some old lady with money. You’ll marry the bitch, then off her a month later and play the part of the grieving widower. You clever bastard.”
“She’s young and hot as hell,” Thompson said. “I’m hanging up now.”
Crandell laughed and ended the call.
“You are hot as hell,” Master said. “Only thing that man said I agree with.” He rolled over, caught Ambrielle’s chin and kissed her.
It wasn’t his usual take-no-prisoners kiss. He nibbled on her lower lip tenderly, nearly making her heart stop. Suddenly, he angled his body, so his chest was across hers, his hands cupping her face gently. His thumbs slid over her skin as if he were absorbing the texture of her into him. He kissed the side of her mouth. Her upper lip. Trailed kisses to her chin.
“I love you, Ambrielle. In case I forgot to mention that to you this evening before we left the house. I’m so fucking in love with you I can’t think straight.”
His mouth settled on hers, once again with exquisite gentleness, not at all like his crazy, out-of-control kisses, but that didn’t seem to matter. Her stomach immediately reacted with a wild roller-coaster somersault, and electricity sparked over her skin. She tried to pull him closer, to settle her mouth tight against his, but he pulled away, just a breath away but out of her reach.
“That means you’re worth more than revenge, Ambrielle. Staying alive is always worth more than dying because you have me to get back to.” His intense eyes bored straight into her, piercing her soul. “Every one of us in Torpedo Ink is needed. Our women are needed. I need you just to breathe the fucking air. You can’t take chances. We can’t get him this time, we pull back and go after him later.”