Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 118333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
When I got home, I crawled into bed. But as heavy as my lids were, sleep didn’t find me. I heard the footsteps of my father’s men patrolling outside my windows. I heard the crickets in the grass outside singing their nighttime song.
Rolling to my side, I stared at the box I kept locked. I stared at it, willing myself not to open it. I hadn’t let myself open it in over a year. But tonight, with Luis’s words playing havoc with my mind, I couldn’t resist. I reached over and opened the box. The small piece of white fabric immediately stared up at me. I swallowed back the lump in my throat and gently picked it up. My hands shook as the tiny bit of cotton fell into my palm. The scrap of torn t-shirt felt as heavy as the most precious gold in my hand.
I closed my eyes and could still feel Tanner on top of me. I felt his rough hand take hold of mine. Opening my eyes, I slid off the extravagant ring Diego had placed on my finger and let it drop to the comforter. Then I slid on the small makeshift ring Tanner had made me years ago. It sat on my finger, the cotton’s frayed edges as stunning as diamonds to me. Curling my hand, I brought it to my nose and inhaled. As the faint notes of Tanner’s cologne drifted into my nostrils, it suddenly didn’t matter how much time had passed since I had seen him. In this moment he was here beside me. And in my heart, he occupied every possible bit of space.
I kept my eyes closed, needing to keep him here just a while longer. But eventually I had to accept that he wasn’t. Taking a deep breath, ignoring the deepening fissure that was cracking my heart, I carefully removed the cotton ring and placed it back in the box. I closed the lid, yet minutes later I found myself still staring at the box. No closer to sleep, I ran my fingers over the pillow that I now only ever saw as Tanner’s. If I closed my eyes, I could still feel his warmth.
But feeling him slipping from my grasp as quickly as sand in a timer, I needed to keep him close. Needed him to be alive again in my mind.
Lying back in bed, I replayed the story I held captured in my heart—our story. And I relived every moment—the good, the bad, and the impossibly, tragically beautiful . . .
“Adela, I need you to show Tanner around.” My heart started thudding as my father’s request sank in.
“You can’t be serious,” I whispered. I made sure no one was close by. “They’re Klan, Papa. They hate us for our skin color alone. I do not want to spend time with men like that. Anyone like that.”
Papa stepped closer. “We need them for business, Adela. Nothing more than that.” His hand came down on my shoulder. “We don’t have to like one another to do business. Together we can make a lot of money. That’s all there is to it.”
“Why me?”
“Diego is gone, and I need the son distracted. I have no time to wonder what to do with the heir while this deal is hashed out. I want a swift contract secured. William Ayers brought his son here as protection, as a witness to the fact we met. But, for whatever reason, he wants Tanner excluded from this deal—not how I’d operate with my second, but to each their own. He wants to keep the nature of our business to himself.” He shrugged. “I care not why. I just want it done with.”
“You never involve me in business.” I made sure I pronounced each of those words clearly. He knew I was bitter about that.
My father’s hand pressed harder on my shoulder. I made sure I didn’t wince. “No one else is here to distract him. This deal is very important, and therefore I won’t have any old plebian watching over the heir. He will not accept one of my men watching him anyway. He will view it as aggressive on our part. An insult to his whiteness.” My father flicked his hand dismissively. “I’ll play into his ideology on this occasion. I don’t really care if he thinks we are rats or whatever derogatory label the Nazis have for us Mexicans. I trust you. You’re a good girl, smart and won’t be affected by his disapproval. You understand how to play this game.” Papa kissed my cheek. “You’re my daughter. And you will do this for me.” He smiled. “For the business.”
My teeth gritted together in annoyance, but I nodded. “How long will he be here?”
“As long as it takes.” Papa walked off to his office, shutting the door tightly behind him. I slumped down to a nearby chair. Minutes passed, then I saw Tanner walk by the window. He was wearing jeans, boots, and a white shirt. He was huge, tall, his bulging arm and neck muscles wrapped in masses of black ink. His blue eyes were assessing as he leaned against the wall and lit up a smoke.