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)
"It won't," I tell him, hoping like hell I don't live to regret those words. Losing Mila or their baby would kill Roman. His entire world revolves around them and his grown daughter, Tahani. I'll help him move heaven and hell to get Mila out of there safely if that's what it takes.
I grab my keys and hurry toward the door with Luke hot on my heels. "I'm on my way. So is Luke."
"Hurry." Roman's deep voice shakes with agonized emotion.
Luke and I race down the hall toward the back entrance. Luckily, no one stops us to ask fifty questions. Everyone is too busy working their own cases to worry about where we're off to in such a hurry.
"I'll drive," Luke says when we burst out into the parking lot. My Tahoe is still in the shop, so I'm in a pool car that's seen better days. He veers to the left, headed toward his SUV.
I change course in midstride, running after him. My heart pounds so hard I feel like it's trying to beat out of my chest. Roman said Faith was safe, but my fear for her is so thick I can taste it. She's necessary to me now, a vital part of my life. If something happens to her…Dios, if something happens to her, it's going to destroy me as surely as losing Mila would destroy Roman.
Luke roars out of the parking lot, hitting the control box to turn on his lights and sirens. "We have to beat Roman there," he mutters, his voice grim. "If we don't, he'll go in without us."
"I know." I'd do exactly the same thing. Pledger has already betrayed his badge and kidnapped and beat an innocent woman. God only knows how far he's willing to go.
I send up a prayer for Mila's safety.
The drive feels like it takes hours, even though Luke drives thirty over the speed limit the entire way. He narrowly avoids colliding with oncoming traffic three different times, not slowing long enough to give them time to get out of his way at red lights. Somehow, though, we make it without wrecking.
Roman's already there by the time we roar up. Finn, Michael Gunner, and two men I don't know are trying like hell to contain him, but he isn't making it easy. He's snarling like a beast, murder stamped across his face. My gaze bounces from him to the black truck in the driveway. Faith's seated inside.
I jump out of Luke's Durango before he even has it in park and hit the ground running.
"Octavio!" Faith cries when she sees me racing toward her. She struggles to get out of the truck. Before her feet touch the ground, she's in my arms. She flings hers around my neck, sobbing my name.
"Dios, Faith." I wrap one arm around her, securing her to me. The other goes into her hair, tilting her head back. My gaze runs over her, making sure she's unharmed, and then my lips are on hers.
I kiss her hard, unable to stop myself as relief rushes through me, shaking me to my soul. With her in my arms, I can't deny it any longer. I'm so fucking in love with this brave, terrified woman. I have been for weeks. And I don’t fucking care if it’s wrong.
Somehow, some way, I'll find a way to give her the freedom she craves while keeping her by my side. It's the only option because I can't lose her. I can't let her go. I fucking can't.
My tongue touches hers briefly before I force myself to back off. "Estás a salvo ahora," I whisper. "Estoy aquí, conejita. Estoy aquí."
She buries her face in my throat and sobs.
Chapter Twelve
Faith
"Angel," Octavio says, crouching down in front of where I'm sitting in the passenger side of Knox's truck. "I'm going to be here for a while. I want you to go ahead and go next door with Gunner."
I glance over his shoulder at Agent Gunner, who stands off to the side. He lifts his chin in a nod, offering me a half-smile.
"Can't I stay here?" I ask, chewing on my bottom lip.
"You can't," Octavio murmurs. "We're trying to keep you out of sight. I can't do that if every cop on their way here sees you."
I hesitate, not because I'm afraid of Agent Gunner, but because I don't want to leave without seeing Mila. Half an hour ago, Octavio, Roman, and everyone else stormed the house to bring her out safely. Remi Pledger shot himself in front of her when he heard them coming. Roman carried her out of the living room, but he hasn't come back out yet.
I'm still not even sure what happened. One minute, Mila and I were sitting on the couch, talking about my life with Nikolai and the Bratva. The next, we heard the back door sliding open. And then Remi was there.