Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“Go to bed, Dylan. You have a ton of shit to do when you get back home. You’ll find her soon.” I sigh and go to climb between the sheets to try to get some sleep.
Ciara
“Ugh, my stomach hurts,” Ciarán groans.
“I bet it does. Alice said she made enough cookies for the both of us. A dozen each. Where are my cookies, bro?”
“They were so good and we’re leaving. When am I going to get a chance to have them again?”
“Really, Ciarán?”
He gives me that adorable smile. This kid has me wrapped around his finger. Thankfully, Alice said she knew he would eat mine, so she made me another batch.
“I’m all packed. Can I help you with anything?”
“No, I’m all good. I’ll make you some warm water and lemon so you can go poop those cookies out.”
“You’re the best. I have ninjas in my stomach. I’m never eating that many cookies in one sitting again.”
He stands up from the couch and comes to kiss my cheek. I pull him into a hug and kiss the top of his head. My little brother is going to be much taller than me.
I’m only five two. He’s already about three inches taller than I am. I haven’t forced him to continue training as Theo had.
Ciarán is a good boxer, but he’s not in love with the sport like I am. He’d rather tinker with building things and playing games on his computer. I think it would be different if he started the sport under someone else. Theo tried to force it on him.
“I love you, kiddo.”
“I love you too, Cee.”
I watch as he disappears in the direction of his room. With a smile on my lips, I get up and go into the kitchen to heat up some water for him. My sketch pad on the counter catches my attention.
I place the kettle on the burner and turn it on then go over and open the sketchbook. It opens right to one of the pages of the boy from my dreams. It’s one I used colored pencils to draw.
My mouth falls open as I look into his eyes. The guy from the bar comes to mind. His eyes were a pretty intense blue as well.
I shake my head to clear it as the whistle of the teakettle pulls me back from my musing. I swallow hard and close the book. Some random in a bar has nothing to do with the boy in my dreams.
“You need to go to bed, Cee-Cee. It’s time to start fresh. Ciarán deserves better,” I murmur and turn to fix my brother’s lemon water.
CHAPTER 10
New York
Ciara
“Oh, look over there, there she is,” Daliah says excitedly.
I look in the direction she’s pointing and furrow my brows. I’m looking for another white girl, but what I see is a girl with deep chocolate-brown skin and a pretty face. Her hair is brushed back into a full curly puff, and she has neat baby hairs around her edges.
When she smiles, it lights up her pretty face. Daliah rushes over to her and the two huge men surrounding her and pulls her into a tight hug. I’m five two even, this chick has to be about five five. She’s taller than me for sure.
One of the first things I note is her sharp eyes and her build. She looks as much like a fighter as I do. It’s just something I know when I see it. Although there’s something else about her. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something else in her eyes.
“Ariel, this is my cousin Vega. Vega, this is Ariel and her brother Chris,” Daliah says.
“Nice to meet you guys,” Vega says with a thick New York accent.
She then nods at the two men for them to grab our bags. As they take our things to the SUV and load them, Daliah gushes and rambles on. Ciarán looks around with a twinkle in his eyes.
“You all right?” I say to him as I wrap my arm around his shoulders.
“Yeah, I’m excited, but I thought her cousin would be white,” he whispers. “I also thought we’d get to go back to our real names here.”
I give his shoulder a squeeze and give him a pointed look. I assumed the same thing about Vega, but this isn’t the time to express that. I purse my lips and turn my attention back to Daliah and Vega.
“I had time today. I decided to come get you guys myself. Come on, these cops be on one.
“They’ll try to give us a ticket in a heartbeat. Dimitri can be impatient. Let’s go.
“Climb in and we’ll get something to eat and talk about what you guys need. Welcome to my city. You’ll want for nothing here.”
“Yes, food,” Ciarán croons.
I laugh and shake my head. This kid is always ready to eat. We follow Vega and the other two men to climb into the SUV. I can feel the excitement coming off Ciarán as he stares out of the window as we ride through the city.