Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“He demands loyalty,” Soren said. “Because he’s your boss. But also because he loves you and to keep you all safe, he needs to know you will obey the rules.”
He really did have Renzo pegged.
“What did he say? You know, about me… leaving?”
“He said he would support it. That he would like to see you having a better life.”
“Better?”
“I think Renzo sees a lot of you, maybe especially you as his kids or little siblings. He knows this is his life and he’s reconciled that for himself and his future. But he wants a different life for you guys, if you want it for yourselves as well.”
“I can see that. But, you know, from a logistical standpoint…”
“He wrapped his head around the computer coding thing a lot faster than you did.”
“Maybe you just explained it better to him,” I teased.
“Don’t. It’s hot,” he tried to warn as I plucked the waffle right off the plate with my fingertips.
“Ow ow ow,” I said as I shoved it into my mouth, scalding hot gooey chocolate chips and all.
“Now, if you would show some restraint,” Soren said, shaking his head, “you would know that those are infinitely better with some powdered sugar on top.”
“I dunno. They’re pretty good without,” I said, mouth opening and closing like a fish to cool off the waffle.
“The strawberry ones are going to have whipped cream. And the blueberries will get syrup.”
“I won’t be waiting for any of that,” I declared, but reached for the powdered sugar he was offering before my next bite. “So… you haven’t changed your mind?”
“I’ve been thinking of that,” he said, making my heart sink. “And I think I can slowly taper you up to liking nutmeg.”
A surprised, choking laugh escaped me.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do,” he agreed, putting down the batter ladle and reaching for my hips instead. “And I will happily reassure you as many times as it takes to make you accept that I haven’t changed my mind. That I’m never going to change my mind.”
“We haven’t known each other long enough to say things like that.”
“Look, the only reason I’ve gotten this far in my life is because I trust my gut. It’s never led me wrong. And my gut says that what we got here, this is some forever type of thing.”
My heart felt close to bursting at that.
“Besides, we’ve already survived two major secrets, a kidnapping, attempted murder, and extortion,” he went on, pulling the plug on the waffle iron.
“Hey, you’re not done with that.”
“We’ll get back to that,” he said, grabbing my hips, picking me up, and dropping me down on the island.
He pressed into my knees until my legs parted for him.
“What I’m saying here is: I’m yours, if you’ll have me.”
My legs wrapped around him, and my hands danced up his arms to circle the back of his neck.
“I’ll take you. But not the nutmeg.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “But I accept the terms of your proposal.”
And this little contract, we sealed it with a kiss.
Soren - 1 Day
“Where have you been?” Teresa asked, rushing to follow me into my office, her heels clicking across the floor.
“Had to make my way in from Brooklyn,” I told her. “Why? What’s the matter?”
“You haven’t seen the news then?”
“What news?” I asked, moving to sit behind my desk.
“This news,” she said, dropping her tablet down on the desk in front of me.
The screen was frozen.
With a grumble, Teresa tapped the screen to make it play.
A brunette newscaster filled the screen, face serious as she started speaking.
“Breaking news out of The Bronx tonight—NYPD officials have confirmed the arrest of a 42-year-old man found in possession of a significant quantity of xylazine, the dangerous sedative commonly known on the street as 'Tranq.'"
The screen cut to B-roll of flashing lights, police tape, and a table covered in plastic baggies.
“Authorities say the suspect, Alen Hakobyan, was apprehended during a late-night raid in the Soundview neighborhood where over three kilos of drugs were seized.
“Xylazine, a powerful animal tranquilizer, is not approved for human use, and is often cut with the dangerous drug fentanyl. Tranq has been linked to a sharp rise in overdose deaths across the city.
“This is a developing story. We will continue to bring you updates as the story progresses.”
“Holy shit,” I said as Teresa snatched back the tablet and silenced it as it ran to a commercial.
“I’m no expert or anything, but I’m pretty sure 3 kilos is enough to qualify for kingpin charges,” Teresa said. “He’s not getting out.”
Before I could even wrap my head around that, my phone was ringing in my pocket.
Saff.
“Fire the lawyer,” she said in my ear as soon as I answered.
“You heard?”
“I heard. Fire the fancy lawyer. Let him navigate this with a public defender. He will get the book thrown at him.”