Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
He winked at her, then made his way to the shower.
Kage soaped up his body under the warm water as he hummed to Ane Brun’s, ‘All My Tears.’ Soon, he heard the door slowly open, then close, and he slowed down. He glanced at the gun he kept tucked behind the toilet, but recognized the silhouette of his lady as she drew closer. He closed his eyes, and heard her step in the shower behind him. He felt a million pounds of pressure lift from his shoulders as she wrapped her small, but strong, arms around his waist, hugging him from behind.
The soft skin of an angel’s face pressed against his back. He looked down at her hands locked around his stomach, and stroked them with his tattooed and soap-covered hands. They bathed one another, kissing here and there, then rinsed, and left the shower. While getting dressed, they enjoyed a bit of small talk, and made plans to watch some television together downstairs before bed.
“I’m gonna head on down,” she announced, slipping on a pair of extra socks she left at his house for when she’d spend the night.
“Okay, I’m comin’.”
She nodded, and headed out the bedroom door. He sat on the edge of his bed in his pajama pants and tank top. His phone buzzed, and he saw it was a text message from Phoenix.
Almost there. Be there in 20 minutes
He quickly wrote him back: 20 it is
He opened his nightstand drawer and removed a jewelry box. He held it tightly in his hands, his chest rising and falling hard. A thrill of frightened anticipation touched his spine as he opened the box, and peered down at the ring. He quickly slammed it shut, closed his eyes briefly, then placed it back in the drawer.
Yeah. I’m gonna ask her. But we’ve only been dating for five months. She’ll think I’m rushing this. I can’t convince her that I just know, in my heart, that she’s the one for me. I’ll give her a long engagement if she wants.
His nerves were raw and all over the place.
But she mentioned wanting to live here, with her Aunt Huni. That was a good sign that she might be ready after all, right? I wonder if she was just talkin’… that after-sex bullshit women say… He shook his head. If I ask her to marry me, and she says no… Fuck. The hell with this. My mind is made up. I’m going to ask her soon.
He heard a noise in the backyard, which caused him to abandon his thoughts. He sat there for a couple of seconds, hearing it again. That’s not Orvil. He peered out the window, but didn’t see anything. This didn’t sit right with him. He knew practically every sound that came from his land like the back of his hand. His hearing was always acute—one of his strongest senses.
“You comin’ down, babe?” Poet yelled up from what he presumed was the kitchen.
“Yeah, baby, I’m on my way. Just need to check somethin’ real quick. Grab me a beer, would you?”
“Sure.”
He seized his phone and pulled up the outside cameras, checking each one. His heart thundered in his chest when he spotted several men he didn’t know, trying to navigate his property. He looked back out his bedroom window, seeing nothing, but then realized it was interference from two cameras, picking up something from about a mile away. He leapt off the bed, phone in hand, and raced down the steps.
“Baby, you gotta go.”
“What?” Poet sat on the couch in her oversized nightshirt, a mouth full of ice cream as she watched some reality show on MTV.
“YOU HAVE TO GO! Someone is comin’ and you could get hurt!”
“WHAT?!” She popped up, swallowed and began cursing and waving her hands about.
“I don’t have time to argue with you!” He raced back up the steps and called Phoenix. Thankfully, the man answered on the second ring.
“Where are you? How far?”
“’Bout ten minutes. What is wrong wi—”
“Push on the gas. I need you to get Poet out of here, NOW! I’m in deep. There’s some motherfuckers tryna get to my house, and to me. I spotted at least four of ’em, and they are armed. I see ’em on the cameras. I have less than ten minutes to get these sons of bitches!”
“I’m on it.” He heard the music stop playing in Phoenix’s vehicle, and the truck speeding up. “Do you know who they are, or who sent them?”
“No, but you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready. I bet you my entire bank account this has somethin’ to do with that old fucker on the hill. I want you to come in through the side door and scoop her. Use my motorcycle you just fixed. It’ll be easier to ride on the terrain than your truck. Put her on, and stay on path 5. The one I showed you when you visited a few weeks ago. If you deviate from path 5, you could be toast. That is the only path with no… surprises.”