Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
He tilts his head and surveys the house, lips pressed together. “I like you for who you are, but—” He gestures at a pile of garbage. “Maybe you can work on being a little bit neater.”
“That’s a fair compromise.” I walk over and start gathering my trash. He comes and helps, and together we get the place looking halfway decent.
When we’re done, we sit out back together. I put my feet in his lap, and he gently rubs them. I’ve never met a gangster who doesn’t mind giving affection like this, and it feels good.
It feels easy, like it’s supposed to.
My stomach bubbles with nervous excitement. He glances at me and smiles a bit. “What?” he asks. “You’re staring at me.”
“Just thinking, that’s all.” I stretch and sigh. “I probably shouldn’t ask, but would you do me a favor?”
“Anything. You know that.”
“Would you come meet with my brother?”
He stops rubbing my feet. I kick him lightly to make him start again. “Why would you need that?”
“He’s in trouble. I think we can help him.”
“Riley—”
“I’m not asking you to do anything but talk to him.”
He sighs and nods. “I can do that. I already asked my crew to dig into Los Sombras. Maybe they’ll come back with something useful.”
“Seriously? You did that?”
“He’s my brother-in-law, and you’re my wife. This is what family does.”
I lean forward, stretching my leg, and kiss him. “Thank you.”
“Now that you’re feeling grateful—” He glances over his shoulder, expression darkening. “How about we discuss the sheer amount of pink in my living room?”
“Our living room,” I correct, grinning. “And maybe I can tone it down.”
Although I really doubt I will.
Chapter 31
Alexan
I drive over to Riley’s old house and park out front. She hesitates before getting out, frowning at the front door. “Does it feel strange now?” I ask her.
“It shouldn’t, but it does. I mean, how long have we been married? It feels like it’s been forever.”
“I know what you mean.”
“This was my home for a long time. I didn’t want to leave, and now I can’t imagine coming back.”
“It’s strange how fast life can change.” I push my door open and get out.
She follows, and we head inside together. “Brenden?” she calls out. I head into the kitchen to wait while she checks upstairs for her brother.
The house is in good shape. It’s slightly messy, but her father clearly did well for himself. I don’t know much about the man except that he’s well-respected in the McGrath organization. He’s got a reputation for ruthlessness on the streets, which makes a lot of sense.
“I’m not sure where he is.” Riley comes trudging down the steps, looking worried. “I thought he’d stick around the house for a while.”
“I’m sure he’s okay.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” She takes out her phone and starts texting. “But I’m going to ask around anyway in case someone knows where he’s at.”
The back door opens as she sends out her messages. I’m on edge until her father trudges in through the mudroom and pauses to frown at us both. He glances at her, then at me, clearly surprised to see us. He’s got a bag of groceries under one arm.
“Not going to offer to help?” he says sharply to Riley.
She leaps up. “Sorry. I was just about to.” She hurries over and takes the bag from him. He frowns at her, looking hard and unhappy as she unpacks it.
She doesn’t even live here anymore, and she’s still doing his chores.
“What are you two doing here?” he asks, glancing at me. “Hope things are going well, Alexan.”
“Things are fine,” I say.
“We were just looking for Brenden,” Riley adds quickly. “Do you know where he is?”
“That boy comes and goes as he pleases.” Her father stomps over to the refrigerator and takes out a beer. He cracks it and sucks some down. “I hear he’s been spending more and more time over at that new pub they opened, what’s it called—”
“The Hen and The Snare.” Riley looks at me and nods a little. “We should check it out.”
“Not even going to visit with your old man?” Her father looks at her with mild disgust. “Can’t say I’m surprised. You did your duty and got married, and now you’ve forgotten all about the people that raised you.”
“That isn’t true,” she says.
“It’s not? And how many times have you visited? But no, that’s alright, you have a husband and responsibilities in his house now. Just thought you wouldn’t abandon your father so quickly.”
She stares at him, clearly taken aback. Anger rushes through me. I turn to him, ready to put the bastard in his place, but Riley holds a hand out to stop me.
“I’ll do better,” she says, wilting slightly.
What the fuck? She’ll do better? She doesn’t owe this man a goddamn thing, not if he’s going to talk to her like that.