Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Then I’m on it, but he still hasn’t moved. He doesn’t undress, and I wonder if I read this wrong, but when I move to cover myself, he shakes his head.
“Just because I’m still dressed doesn’t mean I don’t want you, but right now, I just want something different,” he says, and I level him with my best fake glare.
“And what would that be? Because I’m not doing anal.”
Alaric breaks out into a boisterous laugh, and the sound warms my heart. Even though my joke is stupid, it’s exactly what Alaric needs to pull him out of the daze he’s in.
“Good to know, but no, that’s not what I meant,” he clarifies.
“What did you mean, then?”
“Here, let me show you.” He crawls onto the bed and lies down beside me, resting his hand on my belly. I’m not showing yet, but it doesn’t matter to him.
“Thank you,” he says.
“For what?”
“For giving me something to look forward to, something to want to live for. I have spent the past few years never caring if I lived or died, but now, because of you, because of the baby …” He lowers his body and places his lips on my stomach.
My eyes fill with tears.
“I already love you,” he says to my invisible bump. “I will always protect you. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.” He looks up at me, his eyes glassy and full of emotion, and then crawls back up until he’s face-to-face with me. He leans over and kisses me. “After this, I’m done.”
When he pulls back, I look at him. “What do you mean?”
“I’m out. I’ll tell your father. Either he can buy me out or I’ll offer it to Cristian.”
I shake my head in confusion. “Why?”
“There has been too much death. I don’t want you or the baby in the crossfire anymore.”
“What will you do?”
His lip tips up into a smirk. “Maybe Cyrus is hiring?”
“Isn’t his job just as bad?”
“Hardly. Ever since he settled down, he really only focuses on the money aspect. He’s given all the rough shit to Matteo to handle, and the investments now go through Ivy’s brother Trent. Cyrus is just a stern face to keep the assholes in line.”
“Holding the mob’s money still seems pretty rough.”
“True. Fine, I’ll just retire.”
His words take me off guard, and I think I stare at him for five minutes before I blink. “Can you do that—”
His hand reaches up and touches my face. “After this, yes.” Then the movements stop, and his jaw is tight. “Before I figure out who really killed my brother, no.”
“What do you think happened?”
“To be honest, I think after Grace died, Damian was in a bad place. I wouldn’t put past him to have gotten into bed with some bad people over grief.”
“Maybe someone from her family,” I mutter to myself, but his eyes go wide at my suggestion.
“Maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s the piece of the puzzle I’m missing. Maybe he got into bed with her family and convinced them it was my fault. Fuck!” He grunts, his fist hitting the bed beside us. “Why hadn’t I seen it before?” He reaches across the bed and grabs his phone.
“What are you doing?” I ask, lifting my back and resting my weight on my elbows to stare at him.
“I’m telling Jax this new information. It makes the most sense. Her father lost his in when his daughter died. Maybe this was his second shot to get into the family business.”
He leans down and kisses my lips.
“What was that for?” I ask.
“That was for always listening and loving me regardless of what I say.”
I wrap my arms around him and bring him closer.
“Always,” I say against his mouth as I continue to kiss him. Then I tell him with my body just how much I love him.
51
Alaric
After killing the man on my yacht, we drive out to sea. Then we weigh the body down and dump it.
When this is all over, Phoenix and I will need to go somewhere no one can find us and just be together. Maybe we can dock by our island.
I’m lost in my own head when Cristian walks into my office.
“We are going to be docking soon.”
“Any word from Jaxson?”
“Nothing yet, but it’s only been two days. I’m sure as soon as he has anything, he will let us know.”
“Phoenix wants to see her dad,” I say as I stand from my desk and move past him.
“You sure that’s wise? The last time you were all together, there was a near attempt on Michael’s life.”
“True. No, it’s not wise. But at the same time, what will you have me do? Keep her locked up like a prisoner on this boat. I already tried that, and we all know how that ended.”
Cristian smiles. “Congratulations, by the way.”