Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
"You sure like asking people to make promises."
A grumbling Kayra is also as cute as fuck, but since we're a little pressed for time, I can't afford to tease her as I want.
"I'm serious, darling. Can you?"
"I don't want to," she mutters, "but I will."
"Good." And since my old friends from the bureau are about to close in, I have to lower my head and whisper the rest into her ear. "Just promise me this: don't try to be anything but yourself."
The look on her face is priceless. Kayra looks like she's about to throw up at the sheer cheesiness of it, and she turns even greener when I curve an arm around her waist.
"Let go," she says between clenched teeth.
"Sorry, did you ask me to pull you close?" I draw her to my side with a grin, and she glares up at me as she tries (but fails) to free herself.
"Drake, my man, what's up?"
"Been so long, dude!"
Not all FBI agents are stoic or surly like they're often portrayed in movies or books. With every new class that gets recruited, there's always a small number of guys who are more dorky than scary...and one would be hard pressed to find agents that are any dorkier than these two.
I shake hands with them before gesturing to Kayra. "Gentlemen, may I introduce my girlfriend, Kayra Petinos?"
They're just about to grin when it dawns on them who Kayra is, and the two men end up gaping at her in comical horror.
"Darling, these are my friends and former colleagues Greg McLeary and Corey Jones."
I've been doing my best to keep a straight face for some time now, but when I see how giving their full names to someone like Kayra makes them look as if they're about to cry like little boys—-
"I'm just fucking with you," I say with a grin. "This isn't actually Kayra Petinos, my girlfriend—-"
Greg and Corey's laughter is tinged with relief. "Not cool, man—-"
"But Kayra Petinos, my future wife."
It's rather impressive how quickly their faces start losing color, and I can no longer keep myself from smirking when Kayra even joins in as she puts her hand out.
"Hello, Greg McLeary and Corey Jones."
They're about to shake hands when her phone starts ringing, and my friends look as if they're about to wilt in relief when Kayra's forced to excuse herself instead as she takes the call.
Greg and Corey hurriedly flank me on each side as soon as she's gone.
"Are you out of your mind?" Greg freaks out under his breath. "I know you've been to war and shit, but that's the Sandy Point killer!"
"The case hasn't been officially closed," I remind him.
"Because she's impossibly good at hiding the evidence, and that's even scarier." Corey looks at me like he can't understand why I've committed to marrying the female version of Jack the Ripper. "She kills men with her bare hands, dude!"
As much fun as it is to mess with them, I think now's as good a time as any to get serious. "You two have known me for years. We've worked on assignments where you had to trust me with your lives. Do you really think I'm the kind of person to change just because I'm a civilian now?"
The two shake their heads.
"Then trust me when I say this: Kayra...only pays attention to bad guys."
Understanding dawns, and my friends visibly relax. While I'll never be stupid enough to describe my future wife as a killer on record, I also know my pals are smart enough to read between the lines. I'm trusting them indirectly with the truth, and since these two have always looked up to me...
Greg and Corey are hilariously earnest in their efforts to open up to Kayra when she returns to my side, and their hard work eventually pays off.
"Do you have any hobbies?" Corey asks Kayra.
"Swimming for one, and killing people."
"That's cool—-wait, fuck, what?"
Greg and Corey tense up as Kayra slowly leans forward to say...
"I'm joking."
My friends' laughter is tinged with relief, and the sound has everyone looking at Greg and Corey like they've lost their minds. I've already seen a handful of familiar faces since coming here, but most of them have steered clear when they saw who I'm with...and that's exactly how I want it.
We all have our reasons for loving another person, and this is it for me.
I will always want my future wife to be the kind that strikes terror in the hearts of grown men.
Kayra is my endgame because I know she'll keep her promise.
No matter what happens, she'll live for me.
Even if it means having to break other people's limbs instead, she'll never break my heart by dying, and for someone like me who's already lost one special girl...I can't ask anything more than that, can I?
"What are you looking at me like that for?"