Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
My stomach tightens. I look at the big man, at the massive mob captain. I worried this might be an issue—I’d heard the Crowley family sometimes asks for proof that their people are willing to do whatever it takes to bring strength to the organization. I didn’t think that would extend to their lawyer, but maybe I was wrong.
“I’m loyal so long as you treat me well,” I say, trying a disarming smile. “Which means, so long as you pay your bills.”
He laughs but shakes his head. “No, Kane, I need more than that. How about this. Since you’re such a mercenary, and you don’t give a shit about anything but yourself, how about you give me something of yours? More specifically, how about you share something of yours?” His eyes narrow into a smirk. “I want your wife, Kane. I want to fuck your pretty young wife tonight. If you let me do that, I’ll make sure my father hires you.”
Rage explodes in my chest. Rage so hot it threatens to overwhelm me. In that moment, I forget Carson is a massively dangerous gangster, I forget Fiona isn’t my real wife, I forget everything.
There’s only an overwhelming need to protect her.
To protect my wife. My girl.
“You won’t go anywhere near Fiona,” I snarl at him, teeth tight together. “I’ll cut your fucking throat if you touch her, you piece of shit.”
A wave swells a few feet behind us. It’s a big one, sucking everything back from the shore. Carson’s lips pull into a sneer—then into a grin.
“Good for you,” he says, paddling hard, and catches the wave.
I watch him go, anger still bubbling in my stomach.
What the fuck was that?
I stare at the big guy as he rides the wave. When he reaches the shallows, he stands and says something to Nolan, pointing back at me. Both brothers start howling with laughter.
I catch the next wave, paddling the last few feet. Nolan and Carson are doubled over, slapping each other on the back. I stare at them, not happy about being the butt of their fucking joke.
But my eyes drift to Fiona.
She’s kneeling on her towel, watching.
Beautiful fucking Fiona.
“He really thought—oh my god—that I wanted to sleep with his wife!” Carson doubles over with a howl. Nolan’s grinning at me, his laughter fading. “He thought I wanted to fuck his wife! Oh my god! He was so angry!”
Nolan shakes his head. “Sorry, Gareth. Carson’s got a sick sense of humor.”
“I see that.” I stare at the big guy, trying not to knee him in the face. “I can take a little abuse.”
“Ah, fuck,” Carson says, wiping tears from his eyes as his laughter dies down. “You’re okay, Gareth. Your wife really is fucking hot, but she’s not to my taste, so don’t worry about that.”
I take a step forward, hands curled into fists. Nolan’s expression changes, his tilted to the side, frowning at me. A hint of surprise in his eyes.
“Make jokes at my expense,” I say loud enough that they can just hear me over the waves breaking on the sand. “But don’t make jokes about my wife. I know who you two are. I know what you two do. I’ve worked for men like you all my life, and I know how to hurt you. Don’t talk about my wife again.”
Carson’s smirk fades. “I do believe I’ve hurt his feelings, brother.”
“Seems that way,” Nolan confirms, eyes narrowed into slits. “I don’t like being threatened. Do you?”
“I do not,” Carson says.
“Here’s your board back.” I shove it at Nolan and march past him.
Neither of them says anything. I head back to the towels. Fiona’s watching me, hand shading her eyes. Orin looks like he nodded off, while Molly’s busy reading a beat-up paperback.
“Come with me,” I say, standing in front of Fiona.
She’s on her knees, blinking at me.
God damn, that girl. That fucking girl.
“What happened?”
I hold out my hand. “Now.”
She hesitates. Chews her lip. But Molly only waves her off, not interested in anything but her book.
Fiona reaches out. I pull her up, my arm around her waist.
“What did they do?” she asks quietly. “Gareth. What did the brothers do?”
I steer her back toward the house. “I need you to get changed.”
Chapter 21
Fiona
Changed? Changed? “I’m sorry, didn’t we already establish that you don’t get to pick and choose what I wear?”
He drags me through the sand back to the path that winds up the bluff toward the house. My flip-flops slap at my feet. Water drips from his hair, drying on his perfectly muscular chest. Around us, tall dune grass bends in the breeze. He has a very attractive, very nice-looking chest, I’ll admit that, but god, I’m pissed at him.
Don’t get distracted. Focus.
“They were staring at you,” he says through his teeth. “That fucker Carson and his little twat brother, Nolan.”