Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“It is. Insurance should be able to help me get my money back after the robbery, and I have a consultation in Manchester for which I might go back. Maybe rest up in London for a bit. If you’ll have me again, I’d love to work on the next project.”
“Yes!” She claps her hands together, hopefully. “We’re letting insurance do its thing, but in a few months, we’d like to have you back. Well, if you’re willing to come back.”
“Of course.” I smile. “I’m very grateful to you and Rya, Honey. You’ve really welcomed me, and I appreciate everyone here. So thank you.”
Tears spring in her eyes. “Don’t make me cry; you know I’m hormonal.” She laughs through her tears. “Oh, this is from me and Rya. We were going to give it to you when the store opened, but, well, close enough.” She hands me a light blue bag from Tiffany’s. “Just a thank you for all your work, your friendship, and everything you’ve done.”
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” I say, touched.
“Of course I did.”
I open the gift to find a custom Tiffany necklace inside. I love it.
“It’s so perfect. I’m never going to take it off,” I gush, leaning in and giving her a hug. It’s nice, and also bittersweet, to know I’ll be going soon. It’s been a while since I’ve felt so at home somewhere. That I’ve actually allowed myself this comfort. Besides with Maria, of course. Who I’m excited to see again. Preferably without her knowing about me and her brother. Maybe I’ll wait a week or so before I tell her I’m back in town when I return to London.
“I was going to ask if you wanted to come to my baby shower, but I don’t want to intrude or make you feel like you have to since I know you’re flying back to London.” Her hand goes to her stomach.
“When is it?” I ask, admiring the beautiful necklace.
“In a month.”
“I may be able to make it work. I may have to change a few plans around, but I would love to if you would have me.” Another swirl of nausea hits me, and I all but throw the necklace at her as I race back to the toilet and throw up the two bites of bagel I ate.
“Are you sure you’re okay after the fire?” she asks, coming to my side and patting me on the back. I’m dry heaving, trying to hide my face. She hands me a towel and I use it to wipe my mouth.
“Thank you.” My voice is hoarse. My throat feels like hell from the fire, and add to it the vomiting; it’s definitely not my idea of a fun time. When I look at her, she’s staring at me warily. I wipe my face again. Do I have vomit on my face? How embarrassing.
She crouches, then gently asks, “Alina, you’re not pregnant, are you?”
I scoff. “That’s not possible. I have an IUD, and I got my period like two wee—”
The words die off. Wait, did I get my period? I’d been so busy with the shop and distracted by Will that I can’t remember when my last period was. I laugh. “No. I… No.”
No?
No.
CHAPTER 50
Will
“You fumbled that one,” Anya lectures in her Russian accent when I walk into her and Rivers’ home after visiting Alina in the hospital. I wanted to make sure Alek cleaned up Jack Percy’s body as promised. And as much as I enjoy pushing his buttons, barging into his apartment was never an option, so I did the next best thing. I barged into his sisters instead.
“What?” I ask, confused, as their two dogs race up to greet me.
“Alina. She’s returning to London,” she says matter-of-factly.
“I already know that. And since when do you care about my personal affairs?” Anya hates me, and rightly so, because her husband loves me more.
“I don’t. But I don’t like it when you get messy because my husband seems rather fond of you. Getting messy makes you a liability.” She raises a brow at me, then adds, “Alek disposed of the body.”
“You can’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same,” I retort.
“Well, of course.” She waves a hand in the air as River enters from the kitchen.
“Is she okay?” River asks, approaching in a loose pair of pants. He kisses Anya on the cheek, then focuses back on me. “Are you okay?”
Anya snorts. “Does he look okay? He looks like a lovestruck puppy.”
I sigh, exhausted.
“My beautiful wife, you’re as subtle as a rhino,” River jokes half-heartedly. I just don’t have the fight in me today. “You’re going to let her return to London just like that?” River asks more gently.
“I’m sure you’d have no trouble tracking her,” Anya declares as if that’s the problem.
“If you go after her again, that would be considered serious,” River says, eyeing me. He’s right. If I did, it would be.