Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“About the names…” I grasped the key in my hand. It felt much heavier than it really was. Maybe because of the past and futures it contained.
“I have a birthday request,” I whispered, nerves crawling up my throat, making it impossible to speak any louder.
“Anything.” Knox didn’t hesitate.
Though I was afraid, I didn’t drop eye contact. “I’d like yours,” I said quietly.
I didn’t think Knox could be shocked, but I’d managed it.
His mouth was no longer twitched upward; it was slightly open, his expression entirely blank.
“My name, my heritage is not something I’m proud of,” he replied in an even tone.
“I’m not asking for your name because of your past,” I whispered. “I want it because of our future.”
He didn’t say anything for a long time. Didn’t move. He stood as still as a statue, whereas I fidgeted with unease as I waited for his response, unable to ready any of his emotions.
“You want my name?” he repeated.
I nodded, trying to keep my composure. “I would like to be your wife.”
There it was. The thing I wanted more than anything.
“You’re my everything,” he growled. “You don’t need a ceremony and a contract for that. A contract steeped in traditions of trading women like livestock.”
I didn’t even try to hide my smile at Knox’s feminist argument against marriage.
I folded my arms in front of me. “Yet here I am, wanting to be yours. By law.”
“I don’t adhere to the laws of this country,” he reminded me harshly.
“So that’s a no?” I asked, trying to fight back the need to burst into tears.
He glared at me. “Of course, it’s not a fucking no.”
Then he kissed me. Hard.
And just like that, we were engaged.
Knox
“I thought I said I’d kill you if I ever saw you again,” I told the man who had joined me on the rooftop of Piper’s apartment building.
It wasn’t unusual for me to go up there without her. I regularly left her sleeping in the apartment I’d outfitted with top-of-the-line security. There were still weak spots, though. Neighbors. Shared elevator. Fire escape.
That was the only downside of living in her home—the lack of privacy and control over the environment. My penthouse encompassed an entire floor, meaning no one could access it unless they had access to the private elevator that was monitored at all times.
Giving it up was a concession, a big fucking concession, I’d made because Piper loved her home. I enjoyed being in her space immensely. Every corner of it was filled with her.
Though I felt as if I cast a shadow over those corners, unable to understand just how I’d fit into her life.
That was the reason I hadn’t killed Lukyan on sight and had agreed to the meeting when he’d reached out through untraceable means.
A chuckle sounded through the night. I was surprised to hear it come from him. “Unfortunately, just like me, Knox, love has made you … less trigger happy.”
I lifted the gun I was holding in his direction, hating that he understood my weakness. I should’ve killed him for that alone. “Sure about that?”
He stepped forward to join me, unfazed by the gun I was pointing at him, finger on the trigger. “I’m sure, since I promised you what I’d do if you pointed a gun at me again.”
Threat was clear in his tone, one that would have most grown men shitting themselves, knowing their time in this world was approaching its end.
Lukyan wouldn’t have come here to kill me, though. Not by coming announced anyway.
“What is this about?” I was not one for small talk.
“I am aware that you are not interested in keeping ties with the new leadership at Rosso.” The restaurant was the hub of the mob, the central heart. Whoever controlled Rosso controlled the organization.
I stared out into the city. “Considering they are a grudge holding lot who would kill me on sight if they knew about my involvement in Stone’s demise, and worse, Piper, no.” My throat constricted at the very thought. We had been extremely thorough in ensuring that everyone who knew about Piper’s connection to Stone was in the ground, but I couldn’t let myself lapse into a false sense of security.
Especially since I had the bad sense to keep Joey breathing. He was, apparently, out of the game and in love with Daisy, but that didn’t stop me from lying awake at night, thinking of him as the weak link who one day, when Daisy inevitably cast him aside, would be mad enough to want revenge. There were numerous times I’d gotten close to ignoring Piper’s wishes and my promise to her about sparing Joey’s life for her sister’s happiness. A broken promise was nothing compared to Piper’s life. But I’d stopped every time. Because it would hurt Piper. Wound her. That betrayal. And I couldn’t gather enough strength to do that.