Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66661 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Dante gave a growling laugh against her throat. “Yes.”
“I can see why everyone says you’re lethal. I thought I was about to go through Heaven’s gate there for a second.”
“Only a second? Damn.”
“Any longer, and you would have needed to bring me back to life.”
Dante reached a long arm down to the floor to pick up the blanket that had fallen, covering them as he settled down next to her. “You have any plans for tomorrow?”
Raising sleepy eyes to his, she saw he had risen up on one elbow. “Nothing in particular.”
“Feel like hanging out with me for a few days at the beach?”
“There’s a beach in Kansas City?” she asked, trying not to yawn.
“I was thinking more like Cancun.”
Contentedly, she placed her head in the curve of his arm, snuggling closer to him. “How long?”
“A couple of weeks, maybe three.”
Nadia instinctively knew why he wanted to go on a sudden trip after the one they just had. He wanted her far enough away from One-Shot until his son Lucca either unmasked the person or killed them.
“I’ll have to ask Haley.”
“I already did. She said she didn’t see any problems she couldn’t handle.”
“I don’t know if I’m liking this relationship you are developing with my best friend.” However, she could see how important it was to him that she was out of harm’s way. “But I’ll go as long as I don’t have to get on any boats.”
“We’ll fly there,” he said, finally able to relax since she said she would come. “Desmond has a private jet. I’ll ask if he’ll fly us there.”
Nadia made a comical face at him. “Good luck with that. I wouldn’t even place a one-dollar bet on that possibility.”
He disagreed. “He owes me a couple more favors.”
“Dante, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think any favors he owed you were blown to hell and back.”
EPILOGUE
THE PROMISE
Dante skirted around the workmen carrying plywood and tools inside the mall that Nadia was converting into Moonbeam. Glancing around the bustle of activity taking place, he searched for Nadia.
Amo had texted him to explain which portion of the mall Nadia was currently working in. Taking his phone, he was about to text Amo back to ask for better directions, when he heard a laugh coming from somewhere above his head. Recognizing the joyful sound coming from the ceiling, he moved forward and looked up then nearly lost his lunch.
Nadia was balanced on one board between two scaffolds, walking on the thin plank as if she were a fucking gymnast. Dante lost ten years off his life at seeing her casually hanging a “Welcome” banner from the ceiling.
Afraid to take his eyes off her, he started making his way toward one of the scaffolds.
How in the fuck did she even get up there?
Terrified that if he said something, she would lose her balance, he snarled at two workers who were walking past him, in too big of hurry to get where they were going to pay any attention to him. He lost another five years of his life when the long sheet of plywood they were carrying came within a hairsbreadth of hitting one of the scaffolds that Nadia was on.
Silently reciting the rosary, Dante finally reached one of the scaffolds, trying to determine how to get up the fucking thing.
“I’m up here, Dante!”
Jumping in his shoes at Nadia yelling down at him, he managed to choke down the hellfire he was going to bring down on her head once she was on firm ground again.
“Having fun?” he asked blandly.
“We’re having a blast!” She smiled, completely unaware of his feelings. “Amo and Leo are around the corner, if you’re looking for them.”
It was everything he could do to stay cool. “I came to see you. Can you come down here so we can talk?”
Nadia leaned over the side to frown down at him. “I’m a bit bus—”
“It’s important,” he urged as ice-cold fear had him promising to seek the nearest confessional right after he turned her ass the same color as the red-hot rage streaking through him. “How did you get up there?”
“I climbed.” She lightly walked to the side of the plank farther away from him, and he saw her swing a leg over the metal bar and begin to climb down.
Swiftly, he went to hold the bottom of the ladder that had been hidden from his view by a large pillar.
She jumped down the last two steps, then Nadia’s jubilation collided full force with his fear.
Taking her by the arms, he jerked her into his. “What in the fuck were you thinking to be up there? You could have broken your neck,” he blasted her. “I told you I didn’t want to lose another woman I love, and you’re up there, prancing around like you’re going to win the gold medal on the balance beam!”