Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Remember, give them masculine names. You must prevent anyone from turning attention to what you have done,” the other siren warns.
“My mother’s name was Ann. Will Ray Ann, Charlie Ann, Taylor Ann, and Billy Ann work?” Ricci says as he smiles down at the child in his arms.
“Yes, but you will call them Ray, Charlie, Taylor, and Billy. That is a must.”
“And Candido?”
“Yes?” He looks up from the baby to the siren, looking like a lost puppy.
“You cannot raise them all together. Pick one. We will find a home for the others.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You cannot raise them together. They cannot know about each other. Not yet.”
“But… But I told my wife she was getting quadruplets. I can’t just take her one baby now. Do you know how hard it was to talk her into this?” he seethes.
“Pick one,” the siren says more firmly.
“Wait, can I at least allow my brother to raise one?”
The siren looks to the other and lifts a brow. They have a silent conversation. Ricci looks between the four babies as if he’s lost.
The one in his arms begins to cry, drawing his attention. He lifts her to his shoulder and begins to sing to her. She quiets for him instantly.
“We will allow this. You should take the two with the most potential,” the siren who’s been giving the orders says.
“Is she one?” he asks, pointing to the child in his arms.
“Yes, that she is.”
“I’ll take her. The firstborn. This is Ray Ann. She will come with me.”
Having what I need, I back out of his thoughts. I only wanted to know who had been meddling in our affairs. Enough has been hidden from us. I will not fail in my mission.
I will bring order and honor back to my lord and my kind. I turn to Ferg and nod for him to drop the sword. Then I release Ricci and drop him to the ground.
“You want to prosper. I will grant you that, but I need your daughters. You decide what’s more important to you, prosperity or those women.
“Take your money with you. I have no need for it. You are dismissed.”
The West Gate
“I can take her,” Bay says as I coo down at a stinky little Avionne. I’m trying to get a little bookkeeping done for the club in Ardan’s absence.
He and Billy have been gone for the last two months. For at least three weeks of that, we were on lockdown. Bay and Manisha were only allowed in because they were on their way to be a part of my court.
I still snort at that thought. A court for me. I get that Kendrick sees me as his queen, but it feels so strange to have others treat me as such.
“Thank you. I’m trying to get through all of this before Kendrick is done with his meeting.”
I smile at Bay, who’s the sweetest water fairy ever, and hand her Avionne. She takes her and leaves out of the office I’ve been using for my own. Turning my attention back to the books before me, I blink a few times and frown.
“I can take her,” Bay says as I coo down at a stinky little Avionne. I’m trying to get a little bookkeeping done for the club in Ardan’s absence.
“Thank you. I’m trying to get through all of this before Kendrick is done with his meeting.”
I smile at Bay, who’s the sweetest water fairy ever, and hand her Avionne. She takes her and leaves out of the office I’ve been using for my own.
“Ray,” Venus calls.
“Yes?”
“Something is awry.”
I go to ask her what she’s talking about, but Avionne’s little whimpers grab my attention. I look down at her and wrinkle my nose. Phew, she needs a change.
“You bombed the place, didn’t you, my little stinker,” I coo.
“I can take her,” Bay says.
“Ray, don’t hand her the baby. I think Avionne is looping time. This has happened at least three times already.”
“What? But she’s too young. She can’t be.”
“Okay, hand her over and watch.”
I frown and hand Avionne over. “Thank you. I’m trying to get through all of this before Kendrick is done with his meeting.”
I smile at Bay. She takes her and leaves out of the office. I then turn my attention back to the books before me.
“Well, shit,” I think to Venus as Avionne returns to my arms.
“I want to be with you,” Avionne communicates to me as I place my finger into her tiny palm.
“Wow, you can turn back time?” I say to her in awe.
She giggles in my head and blinks up at me. Bay stands from the seat she’s in to repeat the same thing we’ve done for I don’t know how long.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll change her. Thank you,” I say.
“Peewee,” Lee Ann says as she enters the room. “Give me that baby. I’ll change her. Don’t make no sense. Who gets that wrapped up in work?”