Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 180438 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 902(@200wpm)___ 722(@250wpm)___ 601(@300wpm)
“I don’t let my daughter do shit. Mancini, what’s the holdup?”
Mancini took out his phone and went online. “Damn, I’m gonna need popcorn for this.” He always has so much pride in his voice when he speaks about that little girl.
“What did she do?” Lyon grumbled.
“I’ll read it to you. ‘How did the F-list celebrity wanna be afford to send his delusional daughter to that fancy private school when he was broke for more than half her life?’
“Damn, that’s vicious even for her,” Lyon smirked.
I waited for the rest, but there was nothing forthcoming. “Well, how did she say he did it?” Funny, I never questioned that before.
“She’s not going to say,” Lyon answered.
“Why not? What kind of sense does that make?”
“She’s sending your fans on a feeding frenzy. Now that she’s put it out there, it’s going to start the conversation, people are gonna go looking, and most likely, they’ll find the breadcrumbs she no doubt has left for them to follow. Diabolical little shit.”
That’s not only diabolical; that’s a genius mind. I think I’m just a little bit afraid of that kid. “There’s something I don’t understand. Your daughter is the one doing all this. What are the other nieces doing?”
“One is a computer freak who likes breaking into people’s shit for fun, and the other one is a professional serial killer in the making.”
“That’s not fair, Lyon. They’re all professional killers in the making. Haven’t you seen the way they train?”
That was cause for another round of rants which I was coming to appreciate more and more for the comic relief I needed to offset the dark shit that was going on in my life. To have someone so positively indulgent in my life would’ve been a great asset when I was younger; then, I wouldn’t be in the hell that I was now.
He’s right, though; just look ahead, do better, and fix what I can of the past. Starting with Elena.
There was no question that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her if she’d let me. But even if she was going to take it easy on me, I won’t be so lenient with myself. I’ll pay her back for every wrong done to her by me or because of me, and I’ll give her all the love she deserves while doing it.
Having my mind made up on that score went a long way to easing some of the angst and worry I’ve been carrying around with me for days, weeks, maybe even years. I can do this. I might not end up as strong and self-confident as Lyon and the rest of these guys, but I’m sure going to give it my best shot.
***
She was standing at the balcony rails looking out at the night when I walked into the bedroom. I got that hitch in my heart at the sight of her and butterflies in my stomach the way I used to when we were young and new before all the drama started. Come to think of it, those butterflies never went away; they were always there. I just stopped noticing. Something else I’d lost in the shuffle.
She seemed to sense me since I didn’t make a sound and turned around. And just then, with the moonlight framing her from behind, her dark tresses flowing down to her back, she looked fresh and young, carefree, just the way I like to see her. And then she smiled, and I felt it in my gut. That smile, oh, how I’d missed it.
“Rye, you’re back.” I was so excited by that welcome that it took me a second to realize what she’d called me. It had been too long since I heard her call me that. It reminded me of the night in the clinic when she called out for me in her sleep.
“What did you call me?” She looked away shyly as I walked closer.
“Say it again. Look at me.” I raised her eyes to mine with a finger under her chin.
“Rye!” My smile, I was sure, was brighter than the moon outside. Her eyes fell to the blanket I still had thrown around my shoulders, and it was my turn to blush.
“Ryder, you were at the clinic.”
“Yes, every day until it was time for you to leave.” She threw her arms around my neck, and I closed my eyes in bliss as I wrapped mine around her in return. As hard up as I was to see her after just a few hours apart, it’s a wonder I made it all those years without this. Her hugs remind me of everything good about my teens. The times we had together when we were young and starry-eyed. The way I used to look at her in awe and wonder, that I got to spend every day with her for as long as I live.