Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 147801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Bran shrugs, his smile soft. “Animals and children usually like me.”
I lean back, arms crossed. “Makes sense. Niko does have the personality of a hyperactive toddler. Kudos to you for keeping up with him.”
Bran laughs, his blue eyes bright as he steals a glance at my cousin, who’s still loudly debating Kayden in the kitchen. “He’s the one who kept up with me, really. This is nothing. If anything, I’m happy to see him happy.”
“He’s been over the moon since he started introducing you to us.”
A flicker of sadness crosses his face, dimming the light in his eyes for a moment. “That’s because I insisted we stay a secret for too long. I wish I’d been more courageous earlier and came out sooner.”
“You shouldn’t blame yourself for that. Coming out is a different experience for everyone. I don’t have the best track record myself.”
He tilts his head, studying me. “Niko said Kayden was your professor, so you had a viable reason to keep things quiet.”
“There’s no such thing as a viable reason. Coming out is personal, and it depends on the person, and this is coming from someone who had a massive struggle with my sexuality in the beginning.”
“Me too, for years, actually. If Niko hadn’t come along, I have no idea where I would be.”
“Honestly, same. Kayde kind of pulled me out kicking and screaming.”
“Wow. We have that in common, too.” He grins. “I think, aside from Mia, you’re my new favorite from all of Niko’s entourage.”
“Former Confused Dick Alliance not to be mistaken for Niko’s Fun Dick Alliance?”
He chuckles, but before he can respond, Niko bursts into the room.
“What’s making my lotus flower laugh?” he demands, wedging himself between us on the sofa.
“Me, obviously,” I say, smirking.
Niko narrows his eyes and then does the most Niko thing ever—he shoves me off the sofa and wraps his arms around Bran like a possessive octopus.
“Only I get to make him laugh,” he declares, pressing a dramatic kiss to Bran’s cheek.
“Stop being dramatic,” Bran mutters, though his smile suggests he doesn’t mind one bit.
They’re still tangled together when I make my way to the kitchen, where Kayden leans against the counter, arms crossed and a faint frown tugging at his lips.
I slip my arms around his waist, pressing against him. “What?”
“Don’t be so charming with others,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.
I grin, leaning up on my tiptoes. “Jealous?”
“You know I am.”
“Mmm.” My grin widens. “I guess I’ll try to tone it down.”
“Gareth.”
“Yeah?”
“Behave.”
“No promises.” I press my lips to his ear, my voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “Feeling cute, so I want to turn that reward into a punishment, baby.”
He’s kissing me then, groaning in my mouth because he loves how I call him baby.
And I love that I’m his baby.
Now.
Forever.
And beyond.
EPILOGUE 2—KAYDEN
SIX MONTHS LATER
“That was fucking sick!”
Gareth punches the air as we sit in a bougie restaurant in Manhattan.
His treat.
And it’s not for me.
That statement that’s bursting with excitement is also not for me.
It’s for the third party that’s joining us for the dinner—upon Gareth’s invitation. As I said, his treat.
And he’s standing out like a sore thumb in the midst of all the smartly dressed people because he’s still wearing the hockey jersey he bought at the game earlier in the evening.
No one would refuse to let him in, though, because one of his mafia friends owns this place, and he just walked in like it’s his house.
I know I was the one who introduced him to hockey and promised to take him to his first game, but I’m starting to have regrets.
Maybe dragging him to my nephew’s college away game in New York wasn’t the best idea, because he’s been annoyingly cheerful all evening.
And it’s not because of me.
Okay, so he said he loves me and thanked me for bringing him while kissing me in the stands, but still.
And no, I don’t really hold a grudge against my nephew.
Or maybe I do, because now, he’s smiling at Gareth as he eats a bite of his food.
Kane is tall, almost as tall as me—little fucker wouldn’t stop growing up—and he has a lethal broad and muscular body, which is a product of a decade and a half of rigid hockey—and Vencor—training.
I made the decision to leave that shitshow, even if I don’t get to step a foot in my hometown and the state ever again. Aside from the mafia protection Gareth managed to summon, I made a deal with Grant. I willingly banish myself from town, and I keep his profits going. He doesn’t want to kill me anyway, not when I’m better at business than he’ll ever be.
As for Vencor, they can try. It’s impossible with the amount of security we have. Besides, New York is the Russian mafia’s turf, and they wouldn’t dare come here.
Grant also made the other families promise to stay away from me. At least, for now.