Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Xander’s phone buzzes, interrupting the moment. “We’ve got movement outside, two SUV’s, blacked out,” he says, reading from the screen, then shoves off the chair. His eyes darkening as he adjusts his suit. “It’s showtime, boys.”
I nod and unglue myself from Dove. I place my hand in hers and pull her to a standing position. I’m nervous as hell about this, but I know Dove can handle it. She’s strong, and plus, I’m only a few feet away. Matteo won’t even have a chance to touch her.
“I love you,” she whispers, wrapping her arms around my middle, “everything is going to be fine. This ends today.” When she pulls away, I feel like I’m letting go of a piece of my heart.
Everything is going to be okay… I tell myself as I move into place. Xander and Damon take their spots closest to the door, and I hide in the kitchen. Dove remains standing in the center of the living room. She gives me a reassuring smile, but I won’t trust that she’s okay until Matteo is dead at my feet.
Silence blankets the room. I pull my gun, preparing to shoot if needs be. The plan is for Dove to lure Matteo into the living room. We’ll deal with his men, but the person we want most is him. My heart beats into my throat. There’s a knock at the door. Loud and booming.
My gaze flashes between the door and Dove.
God, please… I’ve never prayed for everything to go right in my life, but I’m praying to whatever god there is above right now that this goes just as planned.
Dove walks to the door, places her hand on the brass knob, but doesn’t turn yet. “Who is it?” she asks.
“It’s your father. Open up. We need to talk,” he demands, his gruff voice filters through the thick wood. “Open up before I kick the door in.”
“Are you here to hurt me?”
“Hurt you? I’ve never been prouder. You killed one of my most feared men, escaped my men as well as Christian’s. You impressed me, Dove. You are truly my daughter. Now, open up so we can talk about your future like civilized people.”
I know he is full of shit, but that’s all part of the plan. Dove turns the doorknob and pulls the door open. She backs up into the room, and Matteo steps in, gun in hand.
“You stupid fucking bitch,” he growls, pointing his gun at her chest.
Everything happens so fast. I lunge at Dove while Xander and Damon lunge at Matteo, taking him by surprise. A gun goes off, the deafening sound echoes through the small apartment, and my heart comes to a dead standstill.
The next moment, my body crashes into Dove’s much smaller one. I tackle her down to the ground, protecting her with my body and hoping that she wasn’t hit. Another gunshot goes off, and my ears ring from the sound.
I tilt my head to look at Xander and Damon to find them pushing off the ground while Matteo’s body remains motionless on the floor.
“Is she okay?” Xander asks. I shift my weight off Dove to get a look at her. She turns her head and opens her eyes, glancing around with a franticness that matches my own.
“I’m okay. Is he…?”
“Yes, he is dead,” Damon confirms. “We need to get out of here before more of his men show up. We just declared war with another family.”
“And I’d do it again to protect my family.” Xander smiles. I look down at Matteo’s lifeless body. It’s not how I wanted him to die, but at least he’s dead. I wanted to draw things out, make him feel every ounce of pain he made me feel.
“You okay?” Dove’s voice pulls me out of the rabbit hole I’m headed down.
“I’m fine. Just glad he’s gone.”
“Me too,” she whispers. I walk us out of her apartment, thankful that the only person that died today was the person who we intended to kill.
26
After dinner, we retreat upstairs to our room. Zane is quiet, as am I. Once we’re alone, the door, closed and locked behind us, he’s on me. His lips find mine in a punishing kiss, it’s teeth and biting, and his fingers sink into my hair, tugging, needing me closer, needing to become one with me. I fist his T-shirt in my hands, feeling the same intense heat forming between our bodies. There are too many pieces of fabric between us.
We’re both panting, our chests rising and falling rapidly. I know he’s not done with me yet, not by a long shot. Pulling away, I stare deeply into a pair of brown eyes that are my world. I wish I knew what he was thinking.
Loving Zane is like watching your heart beat outside your body. It’s dangerous, consuming, and frightening. It’s knowing that at any moment, the one thing you hold dearest could be taken from you. I’ve endured so much; we’ve endured so much.