Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“Carson Wells. I know him. He’s got a lot of trained men working for him, Ollie. You’d be safe there. They’re rough and tumble men, but they will watch out for you. I promise you it’d be a move.”
“Do you think …”
“If you’re asking if I think you should move, the answer is yes. It would make me rest easier knowing you have round-the-clock protection.”
I let out a sigh. With a sad smile, I shake my head as I look up at Cross, my eyes locking with his. “I was actually going to ask if you think Bear would want me to move there,” I confess. “God, I’m so stupid. Bear’s gone, but I still don’t want to disappoint him. It’s ridiculous, but sometimes at night I can almost feel him next to me. Then, when I fall asleep, I keep seeing him in this thick fog, and he keeps calling my name. I try as hard as I can, but I can never reach him.”
“It’s just a nightmare, sweetheart.”
“That’s the thing. It’s not a nightmare. He keeps asking me to find him, and for a few minutes, it’s the sweetest dream I’ve ever had because there, he’s alive …”
“Ollie-girl, you know that’s not possible.”
I feel tears running down my face. I don’t bother trying to wipe them off. “I want it to be true, Cross. I want it to be true so badly …” He pulls me into his arms, and I let myself cry. It probably makes me a horrible person, but I also imagine Cross is Bear. Guilt hits me at once, but I’m too far gone. I just hold on tight, soaking the front of Cross’s chest with my tears. “I just want him back. I just want him back.”
I repeat it over and over, and even though I know it’s hopeless, I’m praying that my words somehow create magic, and a miracle happens …
10 BLADE
“Are the men here yet?” I growl at Layna.
“The appointment is not until three. It’s only two-thirty, Blade, baby. You’re so tense. Maybe I can help you take the edge off,” she purrs, and just looking at her makes me sick to my stomach.
Since seeing Cross at the boys at the funeral yesterday, my head has been a mess. It’s worse because I can’t figure out Olivia. The girl at the funeral was a mess. There’s no way she’s the same woman who mocked me and then begged for her death. That night I swore I’d make her pay. I’ve spent my time in prison thinking of twisted, evil ways to break her. I vowed that this time when she begged for death, I would laugh at her and walk away, knowing she had no hope left.
Now? Fuck, I don’t know what I’m thinking.
“Get out, Layna,” I mutter, not even looking up.
“Lover, you forget I know just what you need.”
“I said …” I stop when I look up and realize her dress has fallen to the floor. This is my fault. I know it is, but that doesn’t lessen my anger one bit. “Get your fucking dress on. Then leave. If I see your face again today, you will no longer be working here. Do you understand?”
“But—”
“Leave!” I bellow. She quickly pulls the dress over her head. It’s barely slid down half her body before she’s running for the door. I turn away, determined to get my anger under control before I talk to my men.
“What in the hell?” I hear a woman say.
When I look back to the door, there stands the woman that I dreamed of last night when my brain finally shut down. Dr. Winnie Mason. It didn’t take me long to track down a name when I left the funeral. She’s a therapist at the Women’s Crisis Center in Townsend. I have all kinds of information on her and the only thing it did was make her more interesting—which is fucking complicated. My plan was to ignore she ever existed and fuck some women with long dark black hair and a curvy body until whatever has me on alert around Winnie disappears. I did not plan on her showing up in my office.
“I didn’t have seeing a woman’s droopy vagina on my bingo card today. I guess I should have penciled that in when I decided to come to your office, Mr. Aetos.”
“You bitch. My body is perfect. It’s exactly how Mr. Aetos likes it!” Layna screeches. I really should have banned her from entering the club property. Even using her to hurt Olivia isn’t worth this kind of shit.
“Oh please. You’ve been stretched so much it was like they were trying to recreate the drum solo to In the Air Tonight. You should really try some Kegel exercises.”
“You cunt!”
Winnie steps up to Layna, slapping the hell out of her. Layna’s head goes back, and red blooms on her face immediately. “The next time you spout shit at me could be your last. I’d be careful if I were you,” she growls. Then she whirls around to look at me. It’s an alien feeling to me, but I feel ashamed when I see the condemnation in her gaze as she looks at me. “I came here to try to talk to you about Livy. I can see now it’s useless to even try, especially if this is the type of women you surround yourself with,” she huffs.