Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“If you’re nice, maybe I’ll let you suck my dick too.”
My lips purse together with the intention of spitting in his face, but before I get the opportunity, he’s dragged backward and dropped to the floor with a single punch to the head. Conor is between us, his fist still clenched at his side while his eyes move between us in question. They aren’t the calm, soothing green I’ve come to know. Right now, they are a raging sea of pure wrath, and my immediate instinct is to step back.
The instigator scrambles to his feet, dazed, and Conor grabs him by the shirt. “What the feck do ye think you’re doing?”
“Lay off.” The guy pushes against him. “She’s a fucking dancer. I was just—”
“You were just touching what’s mine, and now ye can say your final words before I bury what’s left of your body in the Charles River.”
“Do we have a problem here?” Crow interjects, his eyes darting between the three of us.
“Fecking right we do,” Conor bites out. “This chump thought he could touch my…”
The words get caught in his throat as he looks to Crow. He stopped himself before he could call me his wife, but right now, that’s all I want him to do. I wrap my arms around my chest and wish to God he’d never brought me here tonight.
Crow inserts himself between Conor and the other guy. “Is that true? Did ye cop a feel of this girl?”
“She’s a dancer! What the fuck does it matter. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”
“She’s not a dancer anymore,” Crow answers. “And even if she were, I believe ye’re well aware of the fact that’s not how we do things around here, Slick.”
His face pales, and Crow gestures to Conor. “Take him downstairs and teach him a lesson he won’t soon forget. Just make sure he’s breathing when he leaves here. Ivy, you can come to the office to visit with Mack.”
I don’t want to go, but Conor won’t even look at me. He’s hell bent on retribution and so deep in his anger that he’s already dragging the guy toward the basement.
“Come on.” Crow gestures for me. “He’ll be back soon enough.”
“So…” Mack says.
I nod in answer. We’ve been sitting in silence for the last five minutes and it’s beyond awkward. I’m not exactly in the frame of mind to visit with anyone right now but it occurs to me that I should probably make the effort.
“Thank you for the clothes,” I tell her. “Conor mentioned you picked them out.”
“Of course. It’s probably the only time I’ll ever get to shop in those teeny tiny sizes. It was fun while it lasted.”
My eyes move over her, and it doesn’t take long to understand what Crow sees in her. She’s absolutely gorgeous. Dark hair and a pretty face are just a couple of her best features, but I can’t find a single thing that she shouldn’t be proud of. She’s lean and strong in a way that can only be earned in a gym, and I admire her for that.
“You look amazing,” I assure her. “I wish I was in such great shape.”
She shrugs and pats her belly. “I have a weakness for Dunkies, and I pay for it. But it’s totally worth it.”
The room falls quiet again, and I start getting sucked back into my own thoughts before Mack interrupts me.
“Okay, I just have to say it,” she blurts. “I think it is so freaking cute how wrapped up in you Conor is. I’ve never seen him like this.”
“Oh?” I squeak. “Really?”
She nods enthusiastically and scoots closer to me on the couch, waving her hands about as she talks. “He’s such a grumpasaurus sometimes, but you can’t help loving the guy. I’m so happy he’s finally found someone to make him act like a total caveman.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” I wrap my arms around myself. “He’s not really with me by choice.”
“Oh, please.” Mack laughs. “Crow told me about your situation. Conor wouldn’t have married you if he didn’t have major feels for you.”
She seems so certain of it that I don’t want to argue, but I don’t know what to believe anymore.
Mack pats my arm. “Honey, he wouldn’t be down in that basement fucking up that guy for touching you if he didn’t care. It might seem barbaric, but that’s his way of saying he cares about you. He’ll protect you. And he damn sure won’t let anyone degrade you.”
I release a breath and laugh. “It really is a different world, huh?”
“I know it’s a lot,” she says. “Living this life is kinda nuts, believe me when I say I get that. When I first got into it, I thought I hated every one of these mafia guys. But it takes a while to see that they are the best brothers you could ever ask for. And things with you and Conor will get easier too.”