Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
She shakes her head. “He didn’t touch me.”
I nod and reluctantly release my hold on her. “Stay here.”
I walk over to Stone and the man and tell my driver, “Stand with Luna over there.”
Stone shakes his head. “Cole…”
I glare at him. “Stone, I got this. Go and stand with Luna.”
He doesn’t want to, but he walks over to Luna. Only when I know she’s safe do I turn to the man that is still trying to recover from the jab to his throat. He looks a lot less cocky than he did when he was just facing Luna. “How much?”
He shakes his head. “How much? I’m going to sue you for assault and—”
I step toward him, and he almost falls backward trying to get away from me. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”
He blinks, unsure. “Who.. who are you?” he stutters.
I jut my chin at him. “Cole Kingston.”
Luna gasps behind me just as the man pales and recoils, stepping away until his back hits the brick building behind him.
I trail after him. “So you see, suing me will get you nothing.” I sigh. “Dead, maybe, but nothing else.”
He peeks around me. “I’m sorry, Luna.”
I should be happy he’s apologizing, but hearing her name coming out of his mouth makes my blood boil. I’m about to punch the asshole again when the warm body I’m holding in my jacket stretches, reminding me Leo is still in my arms.
I’m fed up with this. I don’t want to talk to this asshole anymore. “How much for the building?”
Luna gasps again, louder this time. I hear Stone talking to her, but I focus on the man in front of me. I can see him working the numbers in his head. He wants this, but he doesn’t believe it. “You’re fucking with me.”
Bored with the whole situation, I shrug my shoulders. “Sell me the building today or I’ll have the inspector down here. I wonder how many other of your buildings are in disrepair like this one? I can shut down your whole operation. Your choice.”
He blurts out a price. It’s high for what I’m looking at, but I also don’t care at this point. I want this over.
I nod. “Meet me at the Hometown Bank at two o’clock.”
His eyes widen in shock, and just as he starts to relax, I step toward him again. “On one condition. You don’t ever say Luna’s name. You don’t talk to her, you don’t come see her, you don’t even think about her.” I lean in and whisper, “I’ve killed men for less than what I saw you do today, and I’m promising you that if I hear you’re around her again, I will end you.”
The man is holding his breath, and I hover over him. “Do you understand?”
He nods quickly. “Yes, sir, Mr. Kingston.”
I pull the cat out of my jacket, and Leo looks up at me like he’s bored with the whole conversation too. “Leave,” I tell the man.
He walks quickly away, and I take a breath, trying to calm myself before I turn to face Luna. I don’t want her to see the monster I can be.
CHAPTER 2
LUNA
I watch my landlord leave, waiting for Cole to turn around. I can’t believe Cole Kingston is standing before me. I’ve heard of him. Heck, I’ve heard of the whole family, but I’ve also heard that you don’t mess with them. And somehow, I just got all tangled up with the mafia king's son.
I muster up confidence that I’m not feeling and walk over to him, leaving Stone standing on the edge of the sidewalk. I look into Cole’s black eyes. “What just happened?”
He strokes his big tattooed hand down Leo’s back, and the traitorous cat purrs even louder. “I just bought the building.”
My heart is racing. “Why?”
He’s not used to being questioned, that much is obvious. I wait for him to tell me it’s none of my business, but he surprises me. “So you won’t have to deal with that asshole anymore.”
My heart is literally hammering in my chest. “But why? You don’t know me.”
He takes a step forward. His manly scent surrounds me, and my feet are cemented in place. He brushes a stray strand loose from my high ponytail, tucking it gently away from my face. My body trembles at the brief touch, and I bite my lip.
He tilts his head. “I thought this would make you happy.”
I stare into Cole’s black orbs. He’s not just watching me; it’s like he’s devouring me with his eyes, and my nipples harden from his heated gaze. I shake my head, trying to break the connection. “You can’t buy me. I’m not for sale.”
He takes a step toward me, his chest against mine, the cat cradled between us. I suck in a breath on contact. Being this close to him messes with all my senses, and I freeze, looking up at him.