Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Like I’d ever leave you…”
Whatever pride I would have felt was masked by anger. “You bet your ass you’ll leave me.”
She stilled at the venom in my voice, clearly stunned I could be so affectionate and then so ruthless in a split second. Her eyes flicked back and forth between mine, treating me like an opponent at that very moment.
My words had clearly made an impact, so I let the topic die. “Ready?” I set the guns on the table before I turned back to her, seeing her breath continue to come out as vapor even though she was bundled up in her coat.
“Yeah.”
“These are the three ways a guy will grab you. I’m gonna show you how to get out of all of them, alright?”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be easy now, but then we’ll practice for real.” I faced her head on then grabbed her by the upper arm so I could drag her away. “Always twist away and then hit.” I moved her arm to show her what I meant. “My hand will have to release. Otherwise, I’ll break my wrist. While this is happening, hit the nose with the heel of your palm. This all happens at once.” I guided her hand to my face, showing her the way the heel of her palm should strike. “Okay, let’s try this for real.”
“I’m not gonna hit you.”
“Pretend you are.” I grabbed her by the arm hard, as hard as I would if I were truly trying to capture her.
She panicked at first, clearly surprised by my grip.
“Twist.”
She turned her arm, hooking her forearm around and breaking my hold.
“You’re supposed to hit me at the same time.”
“Oh shit.”
“Again.” I grabbed her again and watched her twist. This time, she struck her palm up, tapping me on the shoulder rather than hitting me in the face. “Good.” I showed her a couple more moves, making sure she knew how to handle herself if she were attacked from the front or behind. I also showed her how to get a gun out of her face or take it from an opponent. Without regular use and practice, I feared she would forget the instructions. Maybe she wouldn’t need it for five or ten years, and by then, she’d forget.
But hopefully, she wouldn’t need it ever.
When we finished, she didn’t seem cold anymore. Even unzipped the front of her coat to let the heat leave her body. “Does your mother know this stuff?”
“I doubt she remembers it now, but she did at some point.”
“Where did you learn it?”
“My father.” Everything I was, everything I’d learned, had come from him. Sometimes it was hard to look at myself in the mirror and accept that I was his son, that every part of me was rooted in greed, blood, and evil.
She gave a slight nod with no judgment.
“Let’s go home.”
“Good. I’m starving.”
I smirked. “What do you want to eat?”
“I don’t care—as long as I have you for dessert.”
I walked into the church in my suit and tie while Fleur hung on my arm. She was in a little black dress with sky-high heels, still a valley in the shadow of my mountain. She wore a gold necklace and bracelet, gold hoops in her ears, looking like a model who’d stepped straight out of a catalogue.
The church was already packed with people, but since guests were anxious to get to their seats before the wedding started, there wasn’t a lot of small talk. Luca caught my attention to the left side. He had a girl with him, a girl I’d never seen before.
When we came close, Luca gave Fleur a kiss on each cheek.
She hesitated before she reciprocated the gesture.
I knew he liked her, but he wouldn’t have done that if it wasn’t more than that, if she wasn’t family.
“This is Amelia,” he said. “Bastien and Fleur.”
I greeted her with a nod, and Fleur shook her hand.
I put no effort into Luca’s women because I would never see them again.
We took our seats in the row then waited for the ceremony to begin.
My hand went to Fleur’s thigh, and if we weren’t in public, let alone a church, I would have slid it under the material and inched much higher. The ceremony started, and it was a bore-fest because I didn’t know anyone but my business partner, who gave his daughter away before he took his seat at the front of the church.
The ceremony finally ended after what felt like an eternity, and then we headed to the Four Seasons, a few blocks from the church. The ballroom was drenched in luxurious décor, dimmed lighting, and flower centerpieces that flowed with elegance.
All I cared about was the bar.
I went to the bar with Luca and stood in line to order our drinks.
I felt bad leaving Fleur to make small talk with Amelia, but when I glanced at them, they seemed to be doing alright. “Who’s the girl?”