Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
I invited Emily to join us, but she said she wanted to make a roast for dinner. Dante is discussing business in his study with a dark-haired man he introduced to me as Reino. He said he wouldn’t work today, and I’m disappointed that he’s not spending time with us, but I know how demanding his business is. When you’re running several illegal operations, unexpected emergencies are the norm rather than the exception.
I wasn’t surprised when he told me he’s managing Teszner Agglomerate. It makes sense that I’d give him my shares. I’ve never been interested in the business, at least not in that business. What did surprise me was that my brother hasn’t called. We’ve never been close, but you’d expect your only sibling to enquire how you were doing when you’ve disappeared for five days, especially in our world where kidnappings are at the order of the day.
Dante only told me Leander was incapacitated and that my brother isn’t to be trusted. They’re enemies now, which means I can’t contact him under any circumstances. I don’t miss him, but I do miss my mom. The grief isn’t raw and new. Instead, it’s persistent, like a constant ache.
Noah turns the boat into a submarine and watches it sink to the bottom of the pool. When I retrieve the toy and give it back to him, I sense Jazz’s gaze on me. I can’t see her eyes behind her sunglasses, but her concern is palpable.
“This is weird, right?” I say with a bright smile.
“You don’t have to make me feel comfortable. I’m supposed to do that for you.”
I lean back on my arms and straighten one leg, splashing water with my toes. “Is it the scars?” I’ve noticed the look on her face when I took off the cover-up I wore over my bikini before she had time to school her features. “You haven’t seen them.”
“You never wore clothes that revealed them before, not in front of other people.”
Shrugging, I grin. “I guess I forgot about them, excuse the pun.”
She makes a face. “That’s not funny.”
“Sorry.” I sigh. “I just don’t want to take anything too seriously right now.”
“You’re right.” She looks at where Noah is docking his boat on the other side of the pool. “You should take things easy.”
“They’re old.” I study her from under my lashes. “The scars.”
She nods, training her gaze on a point in the distance. “Older than Noah.”
“So you knew about them?”
“Uh-huh.”
I’m sure Dante briefed Jazz, Emily, and his men about what Dr. Chad had said. No one has brought up a word about my past since I returned home minus four years of my memory.
She removes the sunglasses and gives me an uncertain look. “Are you asking me what happened?”
“I’m not ready to hear that yet.”
I don’t know why, but my intuition is warning me not to go there, and I’ve decided to listen to that voice deep inside me for now. I don’t want to start digging into a past my mind has suppressed out of self-preservation. Sabotaging myself sounds like a very bad idea. I want to wait until I’ve done a few sessions with Dr. Chad to work on controlling my anxiety. I’m barely keeping my panic at bay. What happened to me is bad, I know that with a deep-seated certainty, but it will be so much worse if I fail Noah now. My absence traumatized him, and it breaks my heart. He woke up screaming from a nightmare last night. When Dante and I went to console him, he made me promise that I wouldn’t leave them again.
Not wanting to dwell on those thoughts, which only threaten to drag me down, I push myself off the step and swim to Noah. “Want to race?”
We swim a lap and then float on our backs to catch our breaths.
The men must’ve wrapped up their business, because Reino exits the house and walks toward us. He’s dressed in a white T-shirt and black leather jacket paired with dark jeans and metal-tipped boots.
I don’t miss how Jazz’s back goes rigid or how she quickly slides the sunglasses back onto her face.
Mm. Am I sensing animosity or attraction?
“Ladies.” Reino nods at Jazz. “There’s a phone call for you.”
Her tone is catty. “How kind of you to take my calls. Have you been demoted to playing secretary?”
“It’s an agency.” He holds out a hand. “They’re calling about an audition.”
Ignoring his proffered hand, she gets to her feet. “Then it’s a good thing that you’re keeping my phone on.”
As soon as she’s said it, she glances almost guiltily at me. “Excuse me.” She ducks her head. “I better take the call.”
“Of course.” Excitement for her bubbles up inside me. “Maybe it’s a big shot producer who saw your portfolio and recognizes you’re the next big Broadway star.”