Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“That fact alone tells me whatever you two had meant something to him.”
She looked away, drawing a slow and pained breath. She stared into her empty wineglass as if there was something to see.
“You weren’t entirely truthful with me.”
“I was fucked either way.” Her hand moved over her mouth, and she fidgeted.
“How so?”
“Because if I shared how Carvel felt, it might have made him look bad, and I didn’t want to do that. His business is his business. He deserves to keep it to himself if he wants. I’m surprised he told you anything.”
“He didn’t. But it’s obvious.”
She sat back in the chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “What now?”
I didn’t blame Carvel for getting wound up tight about Aliénor, even if it was years in the past. She was the only woman I’d ever met who changed me. The only woman who softened my indestructible exterior. “Nothing.”
She paused before she looked at me, like she was scared to. “What do you mean?”
I could see how scared she was to lose me. How I ever doubted that this was real was beyond me. “It’s okay, baby.”
The relief on her face was indescribable.
“I’m not going anywhere.” Maybe Carvel just needed some time to process the shock of it all. When he calmed down in a week or so, he would see reason and let this go. “I don’t care what happened between you. I’ll never ask. I don’t care if Carvel doesn’t like it. He’ll get over it.”
She released a breath like she’d been holding it for minutes. The relief swept across her face like the incoming tide, and the affection in her eyes was like one of those sunsets that burned red and orange as if it were on fire. Her heart was on her sleeve. She’d tried to play it cool in the beginning, but now she couldn’t pretend if her life depended on it. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I’d told Carvel I was invested in this, but invested wasn’t the right word. I was committed with undying loyalty, pledging my life and honor to fight for a woman like she was the queen who commanded me. I didn’t know when that moment had happened. When my life stopped being about me—but us. When my dedication couldn’t be shaken by former lovers or strained friendships or half-truths.
I was all in for this woman.
That meant her battles were my battles. That meant those who wronged her had wronged me. That meant whoever had hurt her would hurt a million times worse.
She’d never asked me to destroy those who killed her family. Never told me who it was. I should stay out of a conflict that seemed to have been resolved.
But I couldn’t stay out of it.
I needed to finish this—for her.
I wanted blood.
I wanted bones.
I wanted revenge.
For her.