Total pages in book: 209
Estimated words: 196085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 980(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 196085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 980(@200wpm)___ 784(@250wpm)___ 654(@300wpm)
My brain spins as I scan the room and see a box of syringes and zip ties and my finger twitches on the trigger.
“I’m sorry.” The woman breaks down. “I’m so sorry. I just needed her to come with me. I just needed her to help me. I had nowhere else to go. I’m sorry.”
“Not as sorry as you will be.”
Calfus chuckles at my statement and fire engulfs me in hatred.
“Laugh now. I’m coming for you. As sure as the sun is going to set, I’ll find you. And I’ll kill you. Keep your noses against that wall.” I order as I snug my gun into the harness.
“I told you, Stanislov, I always win. That girl’s family ruined me. Stole my daughter from me. Stole a woman I loved. You understand that, don’t you? Men like us, we don’t get many chances at a life like this. I tried to forget all those years. But when I saw you with her outside your house? It was fate. It was time I took back what was mine. They ruined me. My chance with her. Now I’ve ruined them.”
Ginger’s mother starts to sob.
“Shut the fuck up. Both of you.” I stick my hand into my pocket, come up behind Calfus and put a death grip on the back of his neck as a reminder of his current position. There’s no more time for what I’d like to achieve with his neck, so I step back to Ginger, reach down and scoop her off the sofa. A minute later I’m backing out the door, keeping my eyes pinned on those two.
Once I’m outside I spin and run to the car, open the back door and buckle her in.
“You’re going to be okay, baby. Daddy’s here.”
I believe her mother. They didn’t give her much Rohypnol. I’m guessing they slipped it into something she drank, but I’ll never know how. What I do know is it will wear off before long. But judging by the syringes they had in there they were planning on keeping her controlled indefinitely if necessary, and I know what could have happened to the baby if that was the case.
I tear out of the parking lot, punching up George as I go, glancing in the rear view to keep my eyes on her while I drive.
“Hey.” George’s voice comes through. “What’s up?”
“I have a job. It’s wet. I need it done now. Today.”
Silence for a moment, then he replies. “Where and who.”
I spend the next few minutes running down the necessary details. Her mother gets to live. That’s a hard one for me but it’s my decision because otherwise, I think it would ruin what I have with Ginger.
Calfus? Not so much. He’s going to be on the run but unless he’s shed his clothes, that grip on his neck I gave implanted a micro tracker on the back of his jacket. Once all the particulars are in order, I hang up and draw a deep breath. My gut is in knots, and not because of what I just ordered. Because I almost lost her.
Those thoughts are for later. Right now, I need her home. I don’t think after today I’ll ever let her out of my sight again. If she thought I was protective before, she’s going to think she’s the fucking president of the United States the way I’m going to be on her.
That’s fine with me. I’ll die a happy man spending every second of my life attached to her hip if necessary.
And right now, it feels necessary.
21
Ginger
By the next morning, the headache is almost gone, and I feel almost back to myself.
Daddy hasn’t left my side, not for a second. He takes me to the bathroom even. The first couple times I grouched at him but when I saw the determination in his eyes, I gave up the fight.
“Hungry, baby? Here, take another drink.” He holds the water bottle to my lips and tips the bottom upward before I can answer.
I take a draw and swallow on a moan. I wave my hand at him and he lowers the bottle.
“I’m going to float away.”
“You need to stay hydrated and the water will help flush any residual drug from your system. And the doctor will be here in ten minutes. He’s going to want you to give him a urine sample. And he’s going to take some blood, baby, but I’ll be right here holding your hand the entire time.”
A wave of nausea covers me. Both because of the morning sickness, but also because I hate needles.
“No, Daddy, please, no blood.” Tears start and he reaches over and cups my cheek.
“It’s for your safety and wellbeing, baby. I’m sorry, but that is my number one priority. You and the baby. You’ll be okay, I promise.”
With that there is a knock on the door and Contessa’s voice comes through. “Mr. Stas, sir. The doctor is here.”