Total pages in book: 227
Estimated words: 220940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1105(@200wpm)___ 884(@250wpm)___ 736(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 220940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1105(@200wpm)___ 884(@250wpm)___ 736(@300wpm)
“I don’t,” I say flatly, prizing Pearl from her hiding place and giving her a very scornful look. “You’d better send him up.” I place the phone in the cradle. “Guess who that was.”
“My fairy godmother?” she asks, looking cute when she half-smiles.
“What did you do?” I grip her ass and squeeze threateningly.
“Stole his car keys so he couldn’t come after me when I ran.” She presses her lips together and shrinks on my lap.
“With a trunk full of weapons in the middle of Miami?”
“That part didn’t occur to me at the time.”
“I’m mad,” I say, slapping her ass and lifting her off my lap. “Fury sounds even madder.”
She groans, falling to her back as I pull on my boxers. God damn her, the trunk full of weapons is the least of my worries. There are too many men out there wanting to get to us, and I’ve just added Pearl to their list of targets. “You’d better get dressed.” I grab her panties and lean over her reclined body, dropping them on her face. “I’ll let Fury in.”
“Please don’t,” she pleads, leaving her panties exactly where they are.
“Get dressed.” I pass through the suite and grab a trash can, taking it to the table and dragging the pile of coke to the edge and into it, dusting off the remnants from the glass before quickly washing my hands. I don’t need you anymore. I don’t need that kind of fix now.
Freedom.
The door knocks, and I open it to Fury. He looks down my semi-naked front. Then beyond me into the room. “She’s getting dressed,” I say, opening the way for him. “Come in.”
He looks startled. Not because of me and Pearl, but because I’ve not denied it. “I’ll be telling the others later,” I say, and he nods.
“Good to see you’re okay.” He links his hands in front of him.
“Thanks.” I go to the coffee machine and slip a cup under it. “Want one?”
“No, thanks. After the day I’ve had, I think I’d like something stronger.”
I laugh under my breath, pointing to the bar behind him. “Help yourself.”
“Not while I’m on the job. Am I still on the job?”
“You’re still on the job,” I confirm as the machine spits out some caffeine. “And Pearl just reached Rose and Beau status.”
“She wasn’t before?” he asks, making me raise my brows. “I mean before you finally admitted you have feelings for her?”
I smile around the rim of my cup as I take a sip of my coffee and Fury looks past me. I turn to see Pearl in the doorway, looking sheepish. “I’m sorry,” she says, trying to look cute.
“Not accepted,” Fury grunts, flicking a cautious eye to me, checking I’m cool with his scorn. I’m totally cool with it. She’s been reckless, and anyone in this family who pulls her up for being reckless has my blessing.
I toast thin air with my coffee. “Have at her,” I say, taking another sip, smiling on the inside when she gasps at me, outraged.
“Don’t you ever give me the slip again,” Fury fumes, wagging a fat finger in her face. “Christ, Pearl, I can’t believe how stupid that was. I can’t cope with another Beau.”
I cough over my coffee. No, we definitely do not want another Beau dashing off all over town.
“I know,” Pearl breathes, truly looking remorseful. “I—”
“And all because you wanted to—” He pauses, looking my way. “See Brad.”
“Actually, I wanted to tell Brad he’s an arsehole.” She smiles across to me.
“But you ended up in bed with him instead?” Fury says over a laugh. “You sure did tell him.”
“Oh, fuck off,” she spits, and I chuckle, amused.
“Take her home,” I say. “I’ve got some business to deal with.” I go to Pearl and lead her to Fury. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Yes, boss.”
I dip and kiss her cheek from behind, and she turns into me quickly, looking up at me. “Can we have dinner together?” she asks.
“Sure,” I say, handing her over to Fury, trusting him to do my job. Just for now.
As soon as he’s gone, I call Otto. “I need you to find someone for me.”
“And?”
“And put him in the green container at the boatyard.”
45
PEARL
* * *
Fury’s giving me the silent treatment, and it’s screaming as we wait for the elevator. “I’m sorry,” I say for the hundredth time. “It was reckless and stupid, and I feel bad.” I’m sure Brad, Danny, and James would have figured out how to get Fury out of jail—blackmail, threats, murder—but it would have been a stress no one needs.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
He gestures to the elevator doors opening, and I wander into the cart, Fury following. “Okay, I might forgive you.”
“Might?” I nudge him with my shoulder, rolling my eyes. He doesn’t budge an inch.
“I’ll think about it.”
I see his hidden smile when I stare up at the big beast as he hits the button for the lobby. Everything worked out in the end. I smile at the door, a little giddy. A lot sore between my thighs. He loves me. I never thought Brad would ever admit loving anyone. He’s conditioned not to.