Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 108988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
She laughed again. “How’d you swing graduate housing? Do you have early acceptance for a grad program already?”
I didn’t want to answer those types of questions. “Just lucky, I think? I had to leave where I was in the dorm. There was a situation with another girl on my floor. She—I’m sure the school is just scrambling, finding an open slot.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Yeah, but . . .” A strand of her hair slid free from where it had been tucked behind her ear. She didn’t notice. “You know, it doesn’t matter. You must’ve won the lottery of housing because this is one of the best to get into. I should know. I’ve been gunning for a place here since Mr. Dollumn brought up being his grad assistant to me. We have the most space, with parking, and we’re on campus. We’re basically rock stars.” She chuckled again. “Or that’s how we’re going to enjoy it until we have to go out into the real world and learn how to survive on crackers and ramen because we’re suddenly poor. But that’s the way of it, right?”
I gave her a weaker smile. “Sounds like. Yeah.”
She gestured behind her. “Well, as you can see, this is my room.” She moved past me, indicating the living room and kitchenette. “We share the house as a whole, so there’s another actual living room and kitchen on the first floor, but we get this cute little sitting area and we’ve got enough space so we don’t have to go downstairs for our first cup of coffee or snacks. Though, roommate request, please don’t watch a movie late at night here. Keep it in your own room or use the first floor living room for that. I’m usually in bed by nine or nine thirty every night and trying to sleep by ten or so. Early morning sessions.”
She moved through the sitting area, opening a door on the other side of the kitchenette, and stepped back. “Here’s your room. You can claim the bathroom out here as your own. I have a little one attached to my room, so I’ll keep to that.” She indicated the door that’d been immediately to my right when I first entered the space.
She went over, opening it to show a tiny bathroom. A very tiny bathroom. “Still. Lap of luxury for us considering where we’re living. Am I right?”
“I think it’s nice.”
She frowned at me before disappearing into her room. A second later, she emerged, sliding on a coat. She zipped it up, pulled her hair out, and flipped her long tresses behind her. “Anyways.” She took two steps and opened a drawer in the kitchenette. A folder was inside. She handed it to me. “That’s all yours. Wi-Fi information. Codes. Your fob. Not sure about a mail key, unless they might’ve just kept your mail where it was? There’s other information in there. We have our own resident adviser. A Pete guy, but I’ve only met him once. I think he’s a PhD student, so good luck getting a hold of him if you ever need him. I added my number, along with the guys’ and our emails. Not sure if you need our socials. If so, we can share that later. I didn’t include Niko since I don’t know it myself.”
She grabbed the coffee mug, pulling some creamer out from a little fridge on the floor, then moved to the closet. Reaching inside, she tugged on one of the backpacks. “Okay. I’m off. I’ll be back this evening. Nine or so. You have my cell if you have questions. Text, please. If you call, I won’t answer. And bye! Welcome to the house.”
She left, and I was alone in my new place.
A queen-sized bed. A desk. A closet with a dresser inside.
A small window with a view of the next building’s brick wall and fire escape.
This was all mine. I couldn’t contain my smile.
Chapter Three
Creighton
“They’re here, Boss.” Levi pushed to my side, his gaze hooded, but I knew he was alarmed as he was focused on who was coming up the steps in my nightclub. Tristian West and Ashton Walden.
Best friends from childhood. Both came from Mafia families.
Their families used to run this city, along with a third Mafia family. The Worthing family. Then war happened between the Worthings and the other two families. People died. A lot of people died, and in the end, the best friends ran the city. They were the current kings of New York.
The entire place noted their arrival, moving aside to let the two heads pass through. One of my men led them up the stairs, and when he spotted me, I motioned to a booth in the corner. His head dipped down, a slight movement to let me know he understood.