Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“To grab some things.”
“I’ll go with you when I get back.”
“It’s really—”
“Please.”
“Bet you never use that word.”
“Only with you. Only do a lot of things with you.” He leans down to kiss me. “I’ll try to be quick, but you’ll wait for me.”
“Okay,” I agree. He gives me another kiss before he’s dressed and out the door.
I pull myself from the bed, grabbing my robe. Bo has already gotten me a bunch of stuff. A pile of boxes showed up yesterday. I haven’t really gone through them because I haven’t needed clothes. But I can tell he spared no expense.
What I need is a Kindle or some books. I’ll have to watch TV. I head toward the living area to find the remote. Flipping on the TV has my whole world tilting on its axis.
I stare at a picture of my dad, sister, and me on the screen as the reporter speaks of my father’s crimes. The picture flips to one of me with Bo. We’re kissing on the casino floor.
Pure adrenaline pumps through my body. All I can think about is getting to my sister and dad and the danger they both might be in. I run back to the bedroom to find my purse. Then I remember Bo had taken my phone the first night thinking I still might try and get away from him.
Shit. I don’t even know how to reach him. They’re going to move us. Then I’ll never see him again. How does history always rewrite itself? My sister had to go through this. I don’t know if I can do it. Bo could keep me safe.
I make my way into his office. There has to be a phone in there I can use or at the very least mine. When I don’t spot one on his desk, I start opening drawers. I pause when I spot a file that says Ace on it. Unable to help myself, I take it out and open it.
“Oh my God.” Tears start to slip free as I go through it. It’s not just a folder on my current life but my old one too. He knows everything. How is that even possible? It hits me like a grenade. Bo told someone. All of this must be part of some plan he had. I almost can’t believe it. Should’ve known it was too good to be true. That there was some ulterior motive. The papers slip from my hands at the thought. I want to crumble onto the floor, but that’s not an option. I know I have to get out of here. Who knows what he might be planning next.
I swipe at the tears. How could I let this happen? I’m so stupid. To marry a man who I knew for such a short time. I bet that was all fake. A way to keep me here to do whatever it was he needed.
I need to get out of here and home. Heading back to the bedroom, I quickly find clothes. My eyes linger on the messy bed, the sight of it making my soul ache.
“So stupid.” Why hadn’t I listened to him? He told me from the very start he wasn’t a good man. He does what he has to so that he can get what he wants.
He got it. Not only my secrets but my heart too.
15
BOWEN
CRUNCH
The feel of Micky’s nose cracking under my fist isn't as satisfying as it should be. Probably because I’m so fucking pissed, and his bullshit pulled me out of bed with my wife. He screams out in pain. This won’t take long. I’ve only punched the dumb fuck a few times. His right eye is already swelling.
When I walked into the room, he pissed his pants. He had already been tied to a chair in the middle of an almost empty room with a concrete floor and a handle drain. It’s been a while since I’ve used it. A space tucked away in the deepest part of my casino.
Nick stands off to the side, his arms folded over his chest waiting for his turn. He’s been my head of security since I opened my first casino. We grew up together. I trust him with my life. He was the one that went to collect Micky.
“Knight. I swear I didn’t know she was yours.” Tears start to streak down his face, mixing with the blood.
“Who did you sell it to?” I repeat the question. I have no patience. Not with this. I’d been worried over the fact that a few casinos wanted my Ace because of her stealing from them, but this is bigger. Micky won’t be leaving this room alive. It’s too big of a threat for me to let him walk out of here with only a little beating. A clear message will be sent to the rest of this town and anyone else that’s looking to hurt my Ace before I leave this room. They’ll know without a doubt that anyone that comes for her will suffer the same fate as Micky.