Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
They laugh and joke and make plans to meet up after tonight to discuss some kind of business that no one says out loud, but all seem to understand, depending on who the words come from and who they’re going to. The wives, if they’ve earned such a right, stand around and smile, seemingly worthless in their position, but it doesn’t look like they mind. They get to play dress-up, all glitter and shiny shit women like them kill for. Maybe even literally, but who knows.
Maybe her misery has nothing to do with where she is and everything to do with who she has to be on nights like this. This world of back-alley criminal organization shit is supposed to be hers one day, or at least a part of it. According to her, she’s the heir that will take over when her dad’s time ends, but if that’s the case, then I’m having a really hard time figuring out why he makes her wear a mask of perfection when he should show them the chaos that creeps inside her. Those little manic moments she gives glimpses of? That’s what he should want the world to see. A viper with a poisonous bite, not a princess with a preening smile.
Logically, that’s exactly what he would do.
So why doesn’t he?
There’s no doubt in my mind there’s a reason. People like him in places like this don’t make moves on a whim.
From the left, golden fucking hair catches my attention, but I don’t bother looking, and he doesn’t need to step in front of me to announce his arrival.
Damiano places himself at my side with his hands in his pockets, attempting to stand taller and stretching out his chest as he does it. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“You should fuck off.”
He looks around the room, shaking his head slowly. “You’re putting her in a bad spot by coming.”
“You’re putting me in a bad fucking mood tryin’ to tell me what’s what with a girl who ain’t yours.” My eyes slide his way.
He shifts so his body is facing mine slightly, but I keep mine pointed toward the bar. “She would come to you if she could.”
“I know.”
“She’s kept you away with good reason.”
“I’ve been in her bed every night for the last week, with the exception of the last two.” Raising a brow, I look to him. “That sound like she’s keeping me away.”
If he’s shocked by my announcement, he doesn’t say it. “You know what I mean.”
This time, I do face him. “No. I don’t ’cause there is no keeping me away. You should have plenty of proof of that by now. I go where I want, and if she’s there, chances are I’m not far.”
“So you have been watching …” He trails off, but he’s gonna have to do better than that. “Do you not have a life back in Brayshaw?”
Okay, he wants to pussyfoot around. Got it.
“No.”
He waits for more, but it ain’t coming. Do I have shit to handle? Yes, more than normal since Raven Carver showed up in town and flipped the Brayshaw family on their ass, but that ain’t my life. That’s work. That’s doing what I can for a friend and what I’m paid for.
My sister isn’t there, and if my mother was, I would know.
So, again, no, I don’t have a life there. There’s no trust fund sitting around with my name on it, so I have to work my way out of the gutter.
Sighing, Damiano faces forward as I do and finally says something real that’s on his mind. “You’ve seen him watching her.”
I press my tongue to the back of my teeth to keep my jaw from clenching. “I have.”
“It’s not about his proposal.”
My head whips around so quick I can’t fucking stop it. “Say what now?”
Damiano’s brows jump, and then he scoffs a laugh. “Yeah. He thinks he’s got a shot at a union between them.”
A union, he said.
“That all relationships here are agreements between two people who ain’t even the ones stuck together?”
Damiano tips his head, smiling as if to say pretty much. He eyes me a minute, and when he speaks again, it’s with a watchful tone, almost as if he’s attempting to reassure me. “She’s not interested.”
I can’t help the laugh that leaves me, and my eyes snap forward as Rocklin’s spine shoots straight, the sound reaching her from across the giant room.
Yes, baby, I’m still here, but you knew that.
I don’t bother with a reply to his little informative note that I did not need. I know she’s not interested, just like I know some things aren’t her choice, and from what she’s said, I’m betting whose ring ends up on her finger falls into that category.
That ain’t gonna work for me and it sure as fuck isn’t all that’s happening here.