Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“Dad’s the one in control.”
“Until he’s not.” I start walking.
Andrew double steps to catch up. “I know you, Lilah. You don’t say things without purpose. What does that mean? Until he’s not?”
I don’t have it in me to get into the Pocher dynamic before I eat. “Food, Andrew,” I say, giving him side eye. “I choose Sarabeth’s. It’s close and expensive, and you can pay.”
“As if you need me to pay. You know I hate that place. That’s why you want to go.”
“No one hates that place, Andrew. It’s delicious. You don’t hate that place. You’re just saying you don’t like it because you’re my brother.”
It’s in that moment that Kane enters the lobby, still in his tux from the night before, exhaustion radiating off of him. Kit enters after him, and is immediately by his side, and he looks about as crappy as Kane. Oh, mortal men, you need sleep.
“Wait here,” I order my brother pulling ahead of him, while Kit just knows to stay back.
Kane and I come together in a corner of the sitting area. “Is he alive?” I ask.
His hands come down on my shoulders, warm despite the cold outside, while his posture is pure exhaustion. “Unfortunately, yes, and we’re going to talk about how to ensure I don’t regret that after I get some sleep. Where are you going and can you not go?”
“I need to get Andrew’s head on straight,” I say, “and from there, I need to deal with Adams and my job. I’ll be back by the time you wake up, but there’s good news to take up with you.”
He arches a brow. “What twisted version of good news do you have for me this time?”
“I don’t believe Ghost randomly came for me or my father last night. The lieutenant governor is Pocher’s pet who couldn’t get elected on his own merit. I think Pocher sent Ghost to check my father and he just wanted to fuck with me in the process.”
“Ghost is an assassin. He doesn’t take bully jobs.”
“While I get that, he’s highly motivated by keeping his number one rank. If he was promised the kill later, he might agree to play a game in advance.”
“You do know you’re saying he’s planning to kill your father, right?”
“Or Pocher.”
“Pocher didn’t hire him to kill himself.”
“No, but Pocher might not know what’s really going on. Maybe your father hired Ghost. Either way, Ghost was not there for me. That should make you happy.”
He stares at me for several beats. “The only thing that will make me happy is you coming upstairs to be with me.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then I’m going upstairs. For the moment, I think you’re safe enough with just Jay, but I’m working on a second bodyguard for you.”
“You better go rest. You’ll need to be your best for the fight I’m planning.” I push to my toes to kiss his cheek, and before he can capture me for more, I’m already walking toward the door and motioning for Jay and Andrew to follow. I don’t need a bodyguard. I need to decide who makes my next best target.
Chapter Sixteen
Me, Andrew, and Jay sit at a tiny table at Sarabeth’s and Andrew grumbles as he sips his coffee, his elbow close to Jay’s face. When Jay backs his chair up, Andrew sets his cup down. “Sorry, man.” And then to me, “This is why I don’t like this place. It’s not meant for big men. We’re on top of each other.”
“You sound like a privileged white guy from the Hamptons right now,” I say. “Actually, any privileged guy from the Hamptons. It’s called New York City. Everywhere is like this, Andrew. If you can’t take it, go back to the beach.”
“You’ve mistaken me for someone who has that option. I’m here out of necessity.” He holds up his hands before I can offer some snark. “I don’t regret it. I need to be more than his shadow.”
“Aren’t you working for him?” Jay asks and I almost spew my coffee.
As I choke on the dark liquid, Jay is the one holding up his hands now. “That came out wrong. I just meant—I don’t know what I meant.”
“You know, Jay,” Andrew replies, a lift to his voice I know all too well. It means he’s pissy. “You’re judgmental as fuck,” he adds, proving my point, “And from a guy who has no idea what I’ve got going on.”
I blink at my brother in playful jest certain to agitate his already foul mood. “Two fucks in one day, Andrew? Who are you becoming?”
“I hope like hell not you, Lilah. I love you, sis, but I don’t want to be as sour a puss as you. Ever.”
“I wasn’t trying to be judgmental,” Jay says quickly. “That’s not me. I was just trying to put it all together.”