Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
“Ummm ...” I thought about our last conversation in the car. “The Jack the Ripper tour. He mentioned wanting to do that while we were here.”
“Okay. That might work.”
“Be careful.”
“I will, but I’m starting to realize why Benny was always able to stay several steps ahead of us.”
“How?”
“Your mother.”
I sighed. “Explain.”
“When we went to Italy months ago, to check on that old gun, did you call her?”
Rage filled me.
“Yes.” I shook my head. “Yes, I freaking called to say hello to my nieces and nephews. I didn’t say where I was at, but I sat on the phone for twenty minutes at least.”
“Enough time to allow Benny to track the signal.”
“Probably.”
“Definitely. She also has Sherman doing any and everything for her. How up to date with our situation in the past months did Troy keep Sherman?”
“Sherman is the only one that Troy tells everything to.”
“Then Benny’s spy equipment was people. Your mother kept him advised whenever she heard anything and probably let him track us.”
I blew out a long breath. “Now I know how Vivian feels. Here I thought I knew my mother well. Gold-digger and neglectful mom, sure. Behind-the-scenes-mastermind? No.”
“Your mother is about to be out of the game.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not going to kill her, tesoro. But her schedule will be tied up for a few days.”
I gulped in fear. “Okay. Chase, please just—”
“No.”
“You didn’t even hear what I was going to say.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m running this now.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, really.” And then, raw anger laced his next words. “You left me.”
My body stilled. “You know why.”
“But you left me.”
“Chase?”
“When I see you, I’m going to teach you to never do that again. Trust, tesoro. Trust in the fact that I will hurt Benny for keeping us separated for these few miserable days. Trust, tesoro, that your mother’s games end today. Trust that Benny’s friends will be writing up a eulogy for their great friend by the end of the week. Trust that you’ll be safe. Trust it all, but most of all—”
“Chase—”
“No. I’m not done talking. Most of all, trust that when I see you, your body will know your sins.”
“Oh God.”
“And God won’t be able to save you.”
“Do you ever have an ego break?”
“Our love is worth everybody’s death. Remember that.”
“It’s not true.”
“Remember that. It’s you and me forever. They can die all around us for all I care.”
And then a boom sounded in the wine cellar. The phone clicked off before I could respond. I wasn’t sure if I did it or him. That didn’t matter. Vivian had dropped the dumb waiter.
Vivian’s signal. Fuck!
I jumped up and knocked my leg into the door as I tried to button my pants, grab the flashlight, hurry out of the cellar, and follow the red buttons to everyone’s nightmare.
Benny is here. Shit!
Chapter 19
Chase
Jasmine’s phone call had come right on time. We’d just landed. I’d rushed into the bathroom as everyone else left the plane and had kept her on the phone as long as possible. The phone call required a serious clean up afterwards. My pants were ruined, and my cock tired, yet still unsatisfied.
When I finally get her in bed, I hope I don’t hurt her.
I’d just come back from the bathroom, when I spotted Sophia waiting for me in the aisle. “You’re still here?”
“I thought I would wait on you. How was your phone call?” She glanced down at my pants. Wet spots covered the front. I’d planned on changing in the small bedroom in the back.
How much had she heard?
I leaned down and stared out the windows. A dark, wet sky hovered above London and hid the moon. Sherman would arrive in an hour and be guided to a hotel room far away from his mother and me.
If that’s not a sign that God approves of our love, then what is?
The smile never left my face. “Okay. Let’s go.”
“Was that my daughter on the phone?” she asked.
“What do you think?”
“I think, if it wasn’t you would have a lot of explaining to do.”
I’ll change at the hotel. I don’t care. I can’t be on this plane with this woman anymore. She creeps me out.
I walked past her and headed to the exit. “Are you a religious person, Sophia?”
“No.” She strolled behind me. “Are you?”
I didn’t like her at my back without the guards around. “No, but I’m damned sure thinking about putting some God in my life.”
“You shouldn’t curse when mentioning him. I had a lover that was a mean son of a bitch, but always hated when you used the Lord’s name in vain. I mean this was a killer.”
“Maybe he had a special relationship with God.”
“No, just with his counterpart.”
“The devil? How has that worked out for him?”
“Not bad.”
When we arrived at the opening of the plane, she paused and stared out. I continued forward, glancing back at her every few steps.