Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 199(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 133(@300wpm)
“I can second that,” Novak says, swirling his spoon in the soup. Everyone begins to eat, and the tension slowly dies down. The rest of the evening carries on with some heated business discussion and shady political dealings. Two hours later, the night comes to an end. I can’t wait to get those sons of bitches out of my home. I have my home secured and searched for any mysterious cameras or listening devices once they depart.
Hopefully they heed my warnings, and my godfather pulls through. I’m not sure how we got so mixed up with the families in the first place. We aren’t technically criminals, but the elements are always around us, intruding on our existence, making every legal avenue difficult to navigate. Sometimes our hands get dirty, but this warning will be my most serious because I’m willing to do anything to protect the family, especially Elsa.
****
I enter the waiting room where Elsa sits in a chair by herself. Her eyes dart upward, spotting me, and my heart nearly cracks in half as I see the tears in her eyes. I haven’t received any negative news, but I know it’s not because something bad has happened. She’s worried and scared because it’s her daddy. My heart hurts for her—she needs comfort. Also, I got here as soon as I could. Before I can react, she’s out of her seat.
“I’m so worried about him, Miles,” Elsa sobs, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her face into my chest. Fuck, it takes all of my willpower not to cave to the growing desire, but we are in the hospital for her father. Still, I allow the indulgence of my hands on her waist.
“He’s going to be fine. You know your father. He’s insanely strong and stubborn.” I chuckle, attempting to lighten the severe mood.
“You probably think because I’m young that I’m being foolish and overreacting,” she huffs, looking up at me with her tear-stained face, gently pushing away from me. I don’t fully let her go.
“You’re not overreacting, Princess. I don’t like seeing those tears on your beautiful face.” I cup her flushed cheek and swipe my thumb across it, wiping away a lone tear. “You shouldn’t ever have to hurt, Elsa.”
Before I realize what is happening, her lips are pressed against mine. I freeze, mouth closed, unable to process the softness of her sweet mouth on my lips. It’s like my brain short fucking circuits. The sound of footsteps prevents me from responding, and she wrests herself away. She pulls back before I can respond.
“Hey, Elsa, are you okay?” her brother asks. He raises his brow at me and then looks at her with brotherly concern.
“Um, yeah. I’m going to check on Mom.” She wipes her eyes and then walks away without looking at either of us.
After she leaves, her brother, one of my closest friends, sighs. “I’m sorry, bro. I saw that.”
I groan, stuffing my hands in my pockets, trying to cover the uncomfortable fact that I’m half-staffed right now.
“I’m sure she’s just upset and confused with a huge schoolgirl crush on you.”
“Yeah, and I think I just made it worse. She’s vulnerable and needs comfort.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of her. Just make sure that the rest of the families stay away from her. The way she’s feeling right now, she might be putty in any of these slick fuckers’ hands.” As soon as he says that, the words infuriate me.
I leave the hospital on a mission to re-establish my role as the protector of this family and of Elsa. By the end of the night, every family is aware that I will be handling all business meetings, and no one is allowed to even speak with Elsa unless we allow it. As soon as my godfather is all cleared and the families around us aren’t trying to come after us, I’m taking the time to claim Elsa.
“He’s not out of the woods yet, but the surgery went well and he’s awake,” Milo says as I take his call in my library.
“Good. Tell him I expect him back at work soon,” I tease. Although knowing him, I’m sure he’ll try.
“He said you’d say that,” he says with a chuckle.
“How is Elsa?”
“She’s fine now that my dad is better. She said that kiss was just a thank you because she was upset.”
“Well, I hope she isn’t going around thanking other fuckers like that.”
“We know she’s not, but she won’t admit to it. She said she did have a crush, but that stopped when she was seventeen and started dating Jacob. He took her to prom.”
“Of course not. Well, I’m going to get some sleep because while some people are just lying about being lazy, some of us have to work.” I’m going to look up this fuck named Jacob. He’s a dead man.