Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Lucy’s always saying I need to get out more. Sometimes she even offers to fly women to the Fortress for me. But I always make it clear.
I don’t pay for sex. And I’m not interested in people.
“Makes it hard to find a partner then,” she likes to grumble at me.
Only Lucy gets to talk like that.
We approach my town car limousine and I’m already thinking about home. But before we make it, a voice cuts through the night.
It’s a woman. She sounds frustrated, angry, and a little afraid. I turn to the corner and come to a sudden, fascinated halt.
The girl from the bar earlier is standing near my car. She’s facing the young man, but now she seems angry. Her jaw’s tight and her hands are fists. The young man comes closer, talking softly, but she yanks her arm away.
“—told you already, I don’t want to.”
“What’s wrong with you, Allie?” The young man seems exasperated and drunk. He weaves a little as he snatches at her again. “My place is like ten blocks from here.”
“I’m going home, Thomas. Would you just stop? My Uber’s coming to the corner over there—”
“You don’t need a fucking Uber. I thought you were into this?”
“We’re friends. Would you stop?”
Thomas reaches for her again. I tilt my head curiously as she slips to the side gracefully. The young man loses his balance and snarls as he swipes at her suddenly, his open hand catching her in the side of the face.
Her chin snaps sideways and she gasps.
“Should I clear them away?” Lucy murmurs, looking bored.
I hold up a hand. “Wait a second.”
The girl touches her face. Rage burns in her expression as she stares at the young man. He steps back, mouth hanging open, hands raised in apology. “Oh, fuck, Allie. Oh, fuck, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“I’m going home,” she says fiercely. “Don’t call me. Don’t try to stop me.”
“It was a fucking mistake,” Thomas says, hands falling. “Don’t be such a bitch. Come on, we were dancing. You were having fun.”
“You’re drunk. I’m not interested. Just leave me alone.” She tries to push through, but she’s small and delicate, while Thomas is built more like a linebacker. She has to dart around him instead, but she only makes it a few steps before he shoves her from behind.
She hits the ground hard, her knees scraping on the concrete. She cries out in pain and surprise as Thomas looms over her.
“Fucking bitch. You shouldn’t have teased me all night like that, you stuck-up slut.”
Enzo’s voice cuts in through my earpiece. “Sir, the plane is gassed and waiting for your arrival.”
I look at the young man looming over the girl. She’s beautiful and fascinating.
But just another person. And I don’t do people.
They’re messy and complicated.
I followed through with my promise already, and now it’s time to leave.
“Let’s get moving,” I tell Lucy and stride over to my car, already forgetting about the petty drama playing out a few feet away.
MASS
Present day
Five hours after the wedding
My wife won’t even look at me.
Allie sits at the far end of the plane closest to the rear with our daughter sleeping against her chest. The little girl cried during takeoff, but Allie quickly calmed her down.
I didn’t like the screaming.
But at least the child is acceptable when she’s unconscious.
I can’t stop looking at my wife. Even as Lucy talks about schedules, shipments, payments, and protection deals, I keep staring over. Allie cleaned as much of the blood off her as she could, but there are still little red scabs at her hairline.
The blood makes her more beautiful.
“You should offer her a towel.” I look back at my right hand and scowl.
“That’s not for you to decide.”
She shrugs casually, glancing down at her phone. “You want to make your life easier, don’t you? Try ingratiating yourself to her.”
“Since when do you offer me marriage advice?”
“Since you got married.”
I stare at her, giving away nothing. Because inside, there’s nothing to give away. I’m an empty shell, only ever filled by power, money, and death.
“Focus on business. I will focus on my private life.”
“Your private life is my business.” When I narrow my eyes, she only sighs like I’m the one being annoying. “Alright, I’ll just pretend like you didn’t abduct your blood-covered wife from her own wedding.”
“Good choice.”
We continue going over business, and I do my best to focus on what she’s saying, but my attention keeps getting pulled away. Allie stares out the window, her body tensed and hunched around our daughter, looking like one wrong word will make her crumble to pieces.
Maybe Lucy has a point.
My wife will need to be strong.
I’m a powerful man. I have money, guns, soldiers, and the loyalty of efficient and skilled killers. I’ve done my fair share of murder over the years.