Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“Are you just trying to piss me off from the start?” Z enters the room. His eyes go directly to where my boots are. I smile, loving that it always gets him to react. He knocks my feet off the table. “Cosima said we should have sent her in with Nick if we wanted the job done right.”
That wipes the smile right off my face. These two assholes just couldn’t wait to have something to needle me about. I wanted him dead, but my need to give Ellie what is best for her overrides everything else.
“Cosima can go take that up with Ellie.”
“What happened to your hair?” Z drops down next to me.
“Fuck off.”
Z chuckles. “So?” He hedges. They all know he’s alive. I had to pull him out of the hole and bring him back. I tossed him into one of the extra rooms. Ellie isn’t wrong; Nick is purely a dumbass, but hey, being dumb gets you killed. I am eager to expedite the process.
“He’s a dipshit.” I share with them everything that transpired, including my trip to see Ellie's dad. He was disappointed when I told him what I’d put together. Not really sure how he’ll feel about Ellie not having me pop him, but the night is young, and bait doesn’t always make it out alive.
"The compound where Ellie's father lives is tight-knit."
"Family-ish?" Z asks, and I nod.
"That's why I'm leaving it in Ellie and her dad's hands. The little punk can't hurt us. The damage is done at this point. Ellie isn't hiding anymore."
"I trust your judgment." War stands.
"I have orders to bring Cyberius in alive," Z tells us.
"Since when?" He wouldn't tell this Bruce handler all this.
"Those orders are long-lived, and this is the first time his ass has left Russia in years. I didn’t tell the handler anything."
“I didn’t ask.”
“But you thought it.”
I shrug. I didn’t think he would, but all of this can be out of my scope. I know how to lie low and keep myself off the radar or set small traps that Z has taught me.
I never gave a shit about knowing about the ins and outs of the tech world, but things have changed. I’m on new ground and can’t afford to lose my footing. "I get it." Z's hand comes down on my shoulder. "Fucking messes with your head."
"You get used to it." War tries to reassure us or maybe himself. "Parents are here."
"What?" I stand too, as War comes around his desk.
"Wasn't me." Z holds his hands up.
They come back to the farm every now and then but have been traveling since retirement. They have a place in the city.
"How about your other half?" If it was anyone, it's Cosima. Mom and her talk most days. Both of them had pushed for a quick wedding with War and Tova, and they know Cosima and Z are solid. It was only a matter of time before their sights were set on me.
"You'd have to ask her." That confirms it for me.
I'm fine with introducing my parents to Ellie; I just don't want to overwhelm her, and I'm sure it's going to be overwhelming meeting our mom. She is very affectionate and mom-like. It will kick things up about her own mother.
“It’s better that we’re all here while there is still a threat. We can get Dad up to speed. He may have retired, but we still give him the respect of letting him know things. And maybe Mom mentioned that he’s bored.”
“It was you.” I stare down War. “You told Mom.”
“Cosima had already told her.”
“But he agreed to make sure everyone was here for dinner?” I toss back to my brother.
“You know Mom is likely already on Marks.”
“Nice save.” I head out of the office, passing Dad in the process. I don’t stop and say hi, but I hear his chuckle behind me. They’re all too excited about me having a woman. This place is turning into a henhouse, and I can’t say that I’m hating it.
Chapter Thirty
ELLIE
“Mom, stop staring at her.” Cosima laughs. Since Rochelle came whirling into this house, she hasn’t gone far from me. I’ve been peppered with compliments and questions. I don’t mind it at all. Actually, I’m finding that I’m enjoying her trying to get to know things about me because I can tell it’s genuine. It makes my heart hurt a little because she reminds me of my mom.
“I’m not staring; I was only thinking.” Rochelle picks up her champagne glass, taking a sip. Both of Ro’s parents have been very sweet. It’s hard to believe this is the Marino family that so many others fear.
They’re not scary, but one is obsessed with me and could murder a whole room of people in seconds, so not many rooms will be intimidating to me when Ronan is next to me. Right now his hand is resting on the back of my chair, his thumb stroking my back gently. His mother is on the other side of me. We just finished dinner.