Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
The heart monitor begins to beep loudly as her distress rises, and I know it won’t be long before a nurse enters with a sedative for my girl.
Three more days and I can take her home.
I frown at the thought.
But where is home?
I need to get Ana away from here. I need to take her somewhere we can do us, somewhere warm and comfortable and calm.
And I have just the place in mind.
The moment the nurse enters, I look my girl in the eye and make my vow. “You trust me, baby?”
Not a second of hesitation. Her answer is pleading, desperate. “Yes.”
Shit.
I don’t deserve this woman.
“When the doc says you’re good to go, I’m going to take care of you, and I’m going to do that somewhere far away from here. Okay?”
The nurse injects the sedative into Ana’s IV, just as she responds, “Okay.”
“You and me, babe,” I whisper, rubbing my thumb along hers.
The sedative kicks in and she loosens her grip on my hand as her lids flutter closed. Her tone dreamy, she mutters a soft, “You and me, babe. Love you.”
I know she can’t hear me any longer, but it doesn’t matter to me. I say it, because it needs to be said. “I love you, Ana.” And I fucking do. So much it hurts.
Crazy in love is a dangerous position for a sane man to be in.
The plans form in my head as I lay by my wife’s side and I plan to call to Lexi in the morning to give her time to prepare for our arrival.
“You disappeared on me. You know how I feel about that.”
Ethan Black is in a pissy mood, and I feel a mild sense of satisfaction in knowing that the longer he and his family are separated, the more irritated he gets. Maybe now he has some small understanding about how I feel.
It was a long night. I’m so fucking tired. I just want to sleep.
Agitation rattles me. I lift my head off the pillow of the cheap motel room bed, and grunt, “Fuck. I’m back, aren’t I?” With that, I throw my heavy head back down onto the thin pillow with a groan.
The quiet comes so quickly that I don’t question it. But when something is slapped down onto the bed beside me, I open my eyes to find a large yellow envelope there and Black, dressed in a suit and tie, standing with his arms crossed over his chest, looking down at me. He jerks his chin to the envelope.
I sit up, open it, and peer inside. My mouth parts in silent shock. I look over at Black before reaching inside and pulling out the passport, birth certificate, and current driver’s license. My brows furrow in confusion. “What is this?”
Black pins me with a stare. “I don’t know where you were last night or who you were with, but we got a tip off that led to Claudio Conti’s arrest sometime after 2:00 a.m.”
“No shit,” I mutter without implication.
Damn.
MacDiarmid works fast.
“Yeah. No shit.” Black’s not impressed. He blinks, watching me closely. “About an hour ago, a couple of NYPD cops discovered the body of Maxim Nikulin in a dumpster behind a club called The White Rabbit, along with the body of Gio Gambino.”
I feign ignorance. “Who?”
Black sniffs a laugh, shaking his head. He’s onto me. He’s also not amused. “Where were you last night, Twitch?”
I don’t want to lie, so I improvise. “Wasn’t anywhere near The White Rabbit, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Black places his hands on his hips and sighs loudly before dropping his hands to his sides and meeting my eyes. “Antonio Falco, you are no longer under any obligation to the FBI. By one means or another, you’ve fulfilled your end of our bargain, and you’re free to go.”
A steady flow of shock numbs me from the toes up.
When Black lifts his duffle over his shoulder and moves toward the door, it’s clear there will be no heartfelt good-byes.
Thank fuck.
Before he exits the room, he pauses in the doorway and turns back to me. “Not many people get a second chance like this, Falco.” His brows rise. “Try not to screw it up.”
“Not a chance,” escapes me, and I mean it.
Black nods slowly in understanding. I worked hard for this moment. I wasn’t about to fuck up anytime soon. He takes a moment, then utters a quiet, “Cherish every moment with him. You only get a few short years of them begging to be around you.” A sad smile forms on his lips when he shrugs. “Before you know it, he’ll be sixteen, and you’ll be begging him to spend time with you.”
It’s good advice. I don’t take it lightly. “Will do.”
A moment of thoughtful silence passes.
“Good-bye, Twitch. I hope to never see you again.” Black grins. “And I mean that in the best way possible.” He lifts his hand in a lazy wave then lets himself out, shutting the door behind him.