Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Can we not do this? I mean, I’m just coming to grips with nearly getting killed and I really don’t need my relationship gossiped about.”
“I would never gossip.” She raises a hand and puts the other over her heart. “Except with Hellie and Isabel. We’re the Costa wives, we have to talk. You understand. But this is like a sacred sisterhood you’ve entered. The four of us are all we have, right?”
I groan, rubbing my face, and take a long drink from my glass. “Just go easy on me, okay?”
“You have my word. But seriously, you two are starting to like each other.”
“There are some fond feelings.”
“And lots of raunchy sex. Spanking? Dominance? Dirty talk? Oh, did he handcuff you?”
“Ah—”
“I bet he handcuffed you to the bed.” She sighs, leaning back with a wistful look on her face “Adler, for our first anniversary, he had these silk ropes—”
“Please do not tell me about your bondage escapades.”
“It was just a little light bondage! Nothing to be ashamed of. Although I’m pretty sure he got me pregnant that night. Whoops. Bondage baby.”
“Oh, god.”
“Hey, don’t worry! We were actually trying for baby two anyway.”
“That’s… good? Right? I have no clue how to feel about this.”
The waitress returns and we order. Once she’s gone, Casey talks all about her life as a Costa wife, being much more candid than I ever imagined she would. It’s honestly a bit raunchy and my ears are burning the whole time, right through until the waitress offers us dessert and we both politely decline.
As Casey finishes a story about changing diapers and sneaking quickies in during baby naps, her eyes widen as she stares at something over my shoulder. I frown and follow her gaze, and spot Jayson’s mother walking through the crowd, headed straight to our table. I feel speechless as she approaches and stops right next to me, looking down like a matriarch, her graying hair beautifully styled, wearing a lovely pink pantsuit as if she were the descendant of New England royalty.
“Fallon,” she says, and for a moment I think she’s about to tell me off for almost getting myself killed in her casino. Instead, she reaches down and takes my hand. “I’m happy you’re okay.”
Casey covers her mouth like she’s holding back a squeal of delight.
“Ah, erm, thank you, Mrs. Costa.”
“Call me Nessa. I’m so sorry you were nearly hurt on our watch. It’s shameful, and I will make sure my sons do not let it happen again.”
“It’s, um, it’s okay. Nessa.”
She nods once then does the impossible—she bends down and gives me a hug.
I hug her back, totally bewildered, as Casey stares on in complete shock.
Once the hug is done, Nessa Costa steps back, nods a hello to Casey, then walks away as if that was completely normal.
“Oh, my fucking god,” Casey says, leaning forward and staring at me like an alien just burst from my chest. “You are so lucky! It took me forever before she let me use her first freaking name. And here you are, pulling it off in like a week.”
“Only took one murder attempt,” I mumble, staring after Mrs. Costa, not sure how to feel about that.
It was… kind of nice. An awkward hug, but a warm one, and she seemed like she really was sorry it happened and is happy I’m not dead.
Strange. But nice.
After dinner, I find Jayson back in the condo. He’s in the living room, his sleeves rolled up, looking exhausted, but gets up and kisses me when I enter the room. It’s strange how quickly that affection’s been normalized. I linger under his touch, wanting more. A few days ago, I would’ve recoiled in shock. Now… I’m hungry for him.
“How was it?” he asks, directing me over to the coffee table. Papers and photographs are spread out all over.
“Good. Casey’s great. And your mother stopped by to say how sorry she was about everything.”
He rears back as if struck. “Wait. My mother?”
“Yeah, I know, right?” I lean forward, squinting at headshots of men. “What’s all this?”
“Forget that for a second. My mother. Nessa Costa. Came to see you? And said she was sorry? I don’t think I’ve ever heard her use the word sorry.”
“Asked me to call her by her first name too.”
Jayson’s hands go over his heart. “I think I’m having a stroke.”
“Call 9-1-1 then but don’t think I’ll take care of you.”
“Wow. This is incredible.”
“Imagine how I feel. Seriously, what is all this?”
He gathers himself before pushing a few photos my way. “Recognize any of these people?”
I point at one. “I know him. Part of the clan back home. O’Malley? I think? I recognize a few others, but they’re all soldiers. Guys I never really knew.”
“These are the nine still in the States. The guys your brother left behind. One’s dead but we have surveillance footage of the rest hanging around. They won’t get within two miles of the casino without us finding out about it now that their faces are in the software.”