Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
If he thought he was making her move, then he’d have fucking drama.
“She doesn’t want to go,” I repeated.
“She doesn’t get a choice.”
He was pushing past annoying me, and I didn’t want to put a fist in his face with the kid in the room.
“Yes, she does.”
“Luther, whatever shit you started stops now,” he said under his breath so Stevie couldn’t hear him.
He had no idea the shit I’d started, but I’d stopped that already.
“She is staying here,” I repeated. “She needs me.”
Linc’s eyes heated as he glared at me, and for a moment, I prepared to dodge his swing. But Stevie let out a round of giggles that I was sure saved me the trouble.
“Mal will fucking kill you. I won’t have to.”
Reaching for my cup, I took another drink before responding. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “She has information we need about her sister. I’m the one she trusts. I can get the answers. Why don’t you stop trying to micromanage every fucking decision and let me handle that?”
Linc looked as if he was mulling that over.
“You’re the last one of us anyone needs to fucking trust,” he hissed.
I shrugged. “Hey, I tried to tell her that. She refuses to listen.”
“Good morning, Lace!” Jayda said with exaggerated enthusiasm that was meant to get our attention.
My gaze swung to see her walking into the kitchen. Damn, she was beautiful. The bruising on her face was fading, and the swelling was gone. It seemed like, every day, the woman got more breathtaking. Which sucked for me because I liked pretty things. With cunts.
Stevie instantly began chattering about Maui’s new trick and was telling Lace to watch. I tore my gaze off her before Linc got ideas in his head and started in on her moving again. I was done with that conversation.
“Get her to talk,” Linc said under his breath. “Then she goes to Mal’s.”
I ignored his comment.
“Two boiled eggs and berries with whipped cream?” Jayda asked her.
I turned my head back in her direction to watch her respond.
She hesitated, then glanced at me before nodding. “Yes, please.”
“Add a slice of buttered toast,” I told Jayda, and Lace tensed but only for a moment.
“Why are you ordering her food?” Linc asked me accusingly.
“She has food issues,” I whispered, giving him a pointed look.
He wanted to ask more. I could see it on his face, but he didn’t.
My plans today had changed, it seemed. When I’d left my room, I had made up my mind to stay the hell away from Lace. But we needed her to explain her father’s insistence that she was someone else. And I sure as fuck wasn’t letting anyone drill her with questions.
“You can sit, Lace,” I told her when she didn’t make a move toward the table. “Linc is harmless.”
She glanced warily at him, then back at me, and I gave her a reassuring nod. As if there were fucking strings attached to her and I was the one holding them, she came over and sat down, still looking at me, as if waiting on my cue as to what to do next. She was an obedient little thing. It was hot, but the reasons why she was so obedient were messing with my head. I wanted answers about her life. Even though I already knew I wasn’t going to like them.
Twenty-Two
Lace
It had been easier to finish my breakfast once Linc left the room. I felt as if he was judging my every move. The buttered toast was really good, and as long as Luther was sitting there, watching me, I could eat it and enjoy it. He’d seemed so pleased that I almost asked for another piece.
My sunken mood from his leaving my room last night took a complete turn for the better when Luther told me we were going to the stables. They had horses, which I’d expected since I knew that the Louisiana branch of the Mafia were big into thoroughbred racing. Wayon had talked about it often.
Getting to go anywhere with Luther meant more time with him. I couldn’t think of anywhere I wouldn’t want to go with him.
“I’m assuming you ride,” he said, glancing from the road to me as he drove his truck back farther onto their property.
I nodded. “Yes.”
I did, but not often. Alpheus had made sure I was taught both on English and Western saddle when I was growing up. But unlike my sister, I was never given a horse. Dalia had had three of them by the time she was six.
“When your ribs are healed we can take a ride out to the edge of the property line. There’s a creek down there.”
More time with him. In the future. I liked the way it sounded.
“That sounds nice…but I’ve never ridden a thoroughbred.” However, if it meant more time with Luther, I would deal with it.