Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Hey.”
With a grunt, he pushed off the frame, grabbing a cup and sitting beside me. He swallowed the strong brew with a grimace.
“Jesus, Cian. I taught you how to make proper coffee when you were thirteen. This is like fucking tar.”
“I thought we might need it today.”
“You heading in?”
I nodded. “As long as you’re okay. You, ah, recovered?”
He frowned. “Bit of a headache, but I’m good. Tell me you got all her drugs.”
“I did.”
“Good. She is far too clever for her own good. I plan on having a talk with her later.”
The news didn’t surprise me, but my protective feelings were simmering very close to the surface. “Take it easy on her, okay? This was all because of me. I should have told her.”
“Which makes me…” he prompted.
I rolled my eyes. “It makes you right, old man, okay? Just don’t yell at her.”
He smirked. “Hearing you admit I was right might be worth this headache.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “I won’t yell. I’m just gonna talk to her. I promise. Now, you want me with you when you go?”
“Not today. I’ll go see Orson. I want you to stock up this place.” I met his eyes. “Fill it. Get her everything she might need for the next while. She knows we’ll be gone a lot.”
“Did you tell her everything?”
“Yes.”
“How did she take it?”
“She handled it well. She told her story, I told mine.”
He arched his eyebrow at me, and I quietly shared Skylar’s history. He frowned as he listened, shaking his head when I was done.
“Rough.”
I nodded.
“Does she know how you feel about her?”
“I think we’re both pretty clear on that subject.”
“I guess she was meant to meet you.”
I smirked at him. “You believe in fate now?”
He shrugged. “I think things happen for a reason.” He poured himself another coffee. “Maybe we should send her to Julia, Cian. Get her away from this, from us entirely, until it’s done. She’d be safe, and you wouldn’t be distracted.”
My hand tightened on my mug. I had thought of that, and I knew it would be for the best. Still, I shook my head. “I can’t, Sean. Not yet. I…I need her close right now. Even if I can only see her once in a while—I need her close. She has Julia’s number in the phone.”
“And if things escalate?”
“You get her to Julia.”
“I may take that decision away from you.”
I swallowed hard, knowing he was right. He might have to.
I glanced down the hall where I knew Skylar was asleep. Safe and tucked into a warm bed—my bed—and resting, knowing she was protected and cared for. She trusted me to do both.
“You do what you have to do when the time comes,” I rasped out through my suddenly dry throat.
He regarded me shrewdly and nodded.
We were both silent as the sun began to rise, signaling the start of a new day.
A day that would begin the downfall of Orson Valenti.
And he’d never see it coming.
Chapter 13
Cian
I left her sleeping, unable to bear saying goodbye. I’d be back tonight or tomorrow and then take Sean with me. Project “Destroying Orson” was now starting in full gear. I had two objectives today: one, to get him to offer me a position in his organization, and two, to get close enough to his computer to plant the small devices on it Sean had given me. Today would be the right day to plant them so we could move ahead quickly. They would be activated at another time, but they needed to be in place.
I made sure to take all the precautions Sean and I discussed. I patted my pocket, suppressing a shudder, knowing, if needed, what was in there was for Skylar’s protection. I didn’t even ask Sean how he’d obtained what was in the small bag. I didn’t want to know. Everything I did now carried with it the added layer of needing to make sure she was okay.
Sean had done a quick search, and we’d both looked over the information we could find on her father and background to make sure neither was connected to Orson in any way since he had been a prosecutor. I couldn’t risk my operation—or her. But her father was exactly what Skylar thought—a good guy. The pictures we found were few, but I could see she looked like him. The online obituary was short and the comments scarce, mostly talking about his record of service. Skylar was as alone in the world as she thought she was. Until now. I had to get this done so we could start new, and I could make sure she was never alone again.
But for now, I had to dismiss her from my thoughts and once again become Anthony. My foot pressed down on the accelerator a little harder.
Showtime.
“How is it, Anthony,” Orson drawled in that nasal, annoying voice of his, “that you manage to show up with no notice? I can’t track you, locate you, or even know you’re approaching until you show up at my gate. How do you stay so invisible?”