Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 122242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 611(@200wpm)___ 489(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
I glance from him to the box, smiling at the stack of textbooks inside.
"So you can study for your GED," January explains. "All the subjects are in there. I can help you study if you need me to." She's a teacher, but she's been off work since Kaleo shot her.
"Thank you," I whisper, hugging her as tears of gratitude well in my eyes. Octavio set me up to take the test in a couple of months so I'll have time to study first. I'm nervous about it. I really don't want to fail. "I'd love your help."
She beams at me.
"I'll help with the English portions," Mila offers. "Not the math though. I hate math."
January's nose wrinkles at the mention of math. "Everyone hates math," she mutters.
"I don't hate math," Kincaid protests.
"That's because you're basically a genius." She smiles like she's proud of him.
"You're ruining my street cred here, baby girl."
She smirks at him, rolling her eyes.
"Thank you, Kincaid."
He narrows his eyes on me. "You call me Michael, sweetheart, remember?"
"Forgot," I mumble. Octavio and Roman always call him Kincaid. I'm still trying to remember that he likes for me to call him Michael. I don't think he likes for me or January or Mila to see the side of him that Roman and Octavio see…the dangerous man who is more than capable of killing to protect his family.
He shakes his head, smiling at me.
Another car pulls up outside. I jump up and run to the windows again, pulling the curtains back to look out. Octavio and Roman are both climbing out of Roman's truck. They both look so handsome in their formal dress uniforms, but I can't take my eyes off Octavio. He's so damn hot. He looks toward the house like he knows I'm watching him. His sepia eyes meet mine through the window, but I can't get a read on his expression.
Worry whispers through me. If they fired him, I'm going to be so upset for him.
"Sup, fuckers?" Kincaid asks, holding the front door open for them as they jog up the steps.
Roman flips him off, but Octavio ignores him, coming straight to my side. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. I lay my head against his chest and breathe him in, not even caring when a piece of my hair gets caught in the name bar on his chest.
"Te extrañé," he murmurs, his voice gruff.
"I missed you too." I pull back to look up at him, too worried to wait any longer for news. "How did it go? They didn't fire you, did they?"
"No." He strokes his knuckles down my cheek. "I think it went well, angel. Jessup was a dick, but Chief was more understanding, especially with Finn and Roman there to testify that you were being released from protective custody before I brought you home with me. Your statement to Finn helped."
"It did?"
He nods, smiling gently. "It did. I'll probably be suspended for a little while for failing to disclose our relationship, but I don't think they're going to fire me."
"They better fucking not," Roman growls. "You helped bring down several of Tarasova's people and a dirty cop. They should be kissing your ass for that."
"It is what it is," Octavio says with a shrug, not taking his eyes off me. "I'll live with whatever punishment they decide to dole out so long as it means I have you."
"You do have me."
He leans forward to press his lips to my forehead. I cuddle up against him for a moment, just enjoying the release of stress and worry. I don't think I realized how much it's been weighing on me until today. But if he thinks everything will be okay, I believe him.
"What are you two doing here?" Roman asks Kincaid and January.
"I have news," Kincaid announces.
Octavio's body goes rigid before he sighs and reluctantly pulls back. He doesn't let me get too far away from him. Instead, he wraps an arm around my waist, tucking me against his big body. Roman and Kincaid are both holding their women the same way, making me smile. The three of them are so different, but they're so much alike in all the ways that count.
"Tarasova agreed to most of your terms."
"Most?" Octavio arches a brow.
"He can't free his sister."
"Why the hell not?"
"She's missing," Kincaid mutters, pushing his hair back from his forehead and shooting a look of genuine bafflement around the room. "Tarasova says she's been gone for over a week."
"He's telling the truth?" Octavio asks.
Kincaid nods. "I thought he was lying too, but I checked into it. She's MIA. No one knows where she went."
"Oh no," I whisper, clutching my throat. All eyes turn in my direction. "Ivan and Victor knew how obsessive Nikolai was about keeping her safe. If they betrayed him by coming after me, they probably went after her too." Poor Sienna. If they got their hands on her, they probably killed her.