Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
It’s obscene. It’s disgusting.
I love it so much I want to cry.
“Now, for the other pocket,” he says.
I clear my throat. “Right. Another surprise. As if this isn’t enough.”
He produces a black credit card. “This is yours.”
“Excuse me?”
He holds it out. “There’s no limit. Buy whatever you need.”
“Well, what the fuck!” Keely says, again getting shushed by Jamila.
I take the card. It’s thick, metal, and heavy. “This is ostentatious. And I’m pretty sure it’s a bribe.”
“You can call it whatever you want. It’s endless money. Enjoy.”
“Nothing is endless and everything comes with strings attached.” I narrow my gaze at him. “What’s the string, Carson?”
“No string. Only I want you home again tonight.” He gently touches my chin. “Wife.”
I hesitate, heart racing as I stare into his eyes. I flash back to the night before, to his softness in the shower, to stroking him off, to him fucking me, not once, but three times, and leaving the bruises to prove it.
He’s going to do all that to me again.
A thrill runs down my spine.
“Thank you,” I finally say. “Carson.”
He grunts, definitely unhappy I didn’t call him husband, but turns away. “I have business to take care of. Have a lovely day.” He pauses at the door and gives a little smirk and a wave to the girls. Keely practically faints.
Carson disappears outside.
“That asshole,” I say, staring at the ring and the credit card.
My two bribes.
Then I’m swamped. Keely, Jamila, and Bernie are all there, chattering at me, asking questions, looking at the objects my husband so lovingly shoved into my hands.
“I don’t even want to hear the depraved things you did to earn all this,” Keely says, shaking her head.
“Keel!” Jamila punches her arm. “I’m sorry, Ash, she’s just jealous.”
“I know, Jams, it’s okay.”
Keely grins at me, crossing her arms. “Let me know if he’s got a brother,” she says.
“He does,” I mutter, glaring back at the door.
“You’re rich now,” Bernie says as Keely and Jamila get back to work.
“Seems that way.” I heft the card up and down. “What’d they make this out of? Freaking iron?”
“Probably.” Bernie chews her lip. “I’m worried. This is happening really fast.”
“I know.” I slip the card into my pocket. “He’s buying me, that’s all. It won’t last.” I’m about to take the ring off—but think better of it.
Carson would flip out of he knew I removed it for even a second.
And besides, I like the way it looks.
Not necessarily what it represents, but hey, a girl can enjoy pretty things.
“You really think he’ll get tired of you?”
“I’m banking on it.” I stare at the door as I pitch my voice softer. “I can’t stay married to him forever, Bern. The second he’s not watching me like a hawk anymore, and all this dangerous crap with the Polish guys is done with, I’m out of this marriage. Whatever it takes.”
Bernie squeezes my arm. “I’m with you no matter what.”
“In the meantime…” I trail off, grinning at her. “I think the bar could use some upgrades. What do you think?”
“I think I haven’t seen a new glass in this place for like five years.”
I take her arm and we walk back to the bar together, scheming about the future.
Chapter 25
Carson
I stand on the sidewalk as my men carry boxes of Ash’s things into my townhouse. “That’s more or less the whole apartment,” Fitz says, standing at my elbow. “Should we do anything else?”
“What’s left behind?”
“The furniture.” His nose wrinkles. “I was thinking we could burn the lot of it.”
“Make it happen. She won’t be going back.”
“Consider it done.”
When he doesn’t move, I turn to him. “Something else?”
“Sir, the Polish lieutenant you questioned yesterday.” His face is neutral, as always. I’d never want to play poker with this guy. “He died this morning.”
I grunt, looking away. That’s not a bad thing and not surprising given what I had to do to the bastard. Even if he had managed to cling on to life, it would’ve been tough to do much with no fingers, no toes, and only one working eye.
“Make sure my brother and my father hear about that. They’ll be pleased.”
“Happy to pass it along.” He clears his throat. “Then there’s the matter of your second-in-command.”
I rub my face. “I’m not in the mood.”
“You need to name someone.”
“Iain might wake up.”
“And he might not. In the meantime, you need to keep the crew in line.”
I glare at him. “You want the job?”
“I’m your driver.”
“And a pain in my ass.” I hold up a hand before he can respond. “Brecken will do for now.”
“I’ll let him know.” Fitz turns and marches off. I watch him go with a sigh. That man’s a formidable bastard, a cross between my personal assistant, close advisor, and bodyguard. I need a man like him telling me the hard truth. Not many people in the Crowley organization know how important Fitz really is, which works in my favor. They tend to underestimate him.