Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 516(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
“Hey,” I say, before he goes out the door. “Thank you…for coming for me…for wanting me.” The vulnerability in my words is impossible to miss. Rian turns to look at me, forehead creased in this way that says he’s trying to make sense of what I mean.
His features soften. He cups my cheek, brushing his thumb against the bone there. “I’ll always come for you, and I’ll always want you. You’ll never have to feel alone again, pretty thing. Not now that you’re mine.”
I nearly come apart at his words, want to pull him into my arms and show him how much I belong to him—that I’ve known it since the day he was supposed to kill me, maybe sooner, and that I’ll always be his, even if I lose him. But now isn’t the time, so I say, “You’re mine too.”
“That won’t change, either. Even if I don’t get to keep you.”
Warmth floods every inch of my body. I don’t care if it’s unhealthy, if I would judge anyone else for feeling the way I do—being wanted by Rian fills me up, makes me whole. I deserve that, to feel craved the way I do with him.
I’ve spent my life trying to take care of people, to do the right thing, to make up for who my father is and the fact that I allowed him to hurt her. But when it comes to Rian, I don’t care what’s right. I just want him.
“Do you promise?”
I swear I see fire ignite in his eyes—his intense stare, all possessive and powerful, is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.
“I promise.”
Rian is as loyal and devoted as they come, and for whatever reason, it’s me he wants.
Gun in one hand, and my hand in the other, Rian leads me out of my house, into an uncertain future that I’m willing to dive headfirst into as long as he’ll have me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Abbott
As soon as we pull away, Rian makes a call. Whoever it is must answer quickly because it’s only a couple seconds later that he says, “I need a crew at,” before proceeding to give the person my address. “I need the place wiped clean of any evidence I was there or anything else I might have tracked in with me tonight.”
“Wait. What are you doing? Who are you sending to my house?”
He glances in my direction. “People I trust. I shouldn’t have been at your place before cleaning up tonight. The last thing we need is me inadvertently leaving proof of shit that doesn’t need to be tied to you.”
When he puts it that way, he’s right. But still, the idea of someone being in my home, going through my things…
Rian sighs. “They’ll be careful. If there’s anything you want them to get, they can do that too.”
I shake my head. “Nothing. It’s fine.” It’s not as if someone else hasn’t been in my place recently, maybe more than I realize. At least with Rian’s friends, I know it’s for my safety…or Rian’s, I guess.
The person on the phone must speak again because Rian says, “None of your fucking business.” And he ends the call.
Neither of us speaks for the rest of the drive. Honestly, I’m not even sure what to say. In a matter of weeks, my life has been completely altered—leading to tonight, where I find out someone may have tried to kill me, and now my Mafia-boss lover is bringing me back to his place, where he’s sworn to protect me.
I lean forward, pressing buttons on the dashboard, trying to turn on his AC.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m hot. I think it’s all just hitting me.”
Rian turns on the air conditioner, then reaches over, lacing his fingers through mine. The silence is different now, more comforting with the feel of Rian’s steady hand in mine. “I don’t understand how being with you makes everything feel better…how I trust you and know that I’m safe with you.”
“Because you know I’m a monster, and you’re not supposed to feel safe with people like me?” he asks.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“But it’s true. I know who I am, but while I’m all the things others should run away from, I’m not that for those who are mine. I’m your monster. The one who will always take care of you.”
His. He said it again. That I’m his. I don’t know how we got here, and if we’re only here now because I’m possibly in danger, but here is my favorite place I have ever been. “I like being yours.”
“Good. It might’ve gotten awkward if you didn’t.”
I give a small laugh, then squeeze his hand.
Rian doesn’t let go until we’re pulling into the driveway of a huge, Greek Revival-style house with towering pillars along the front and made up of white brick. The lawn is perfectly manicured—a family home that looks like it would belong to anyone other than the leader of the most notorious Irish Mafia family still around.