Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
And as A.J.’s body shuddered, she lifted her head heavenward and laughed openly.
One thing was for sure. This woman was scary. And A.J. was afraid of her.
She didn’t act like a mummy should. She didn’t act like his mummy did. She did everything different, wrong. She was unpredictable, and that made A.J. feel helpless. He never knew what she’d do next.
When she stopped laughing and lowered her face to his, she watched him a short while and her smile began to wane. “I get it,” she started. “You don’t love me, not yet. But I need you to know that I love you. I love you very much.” The rest of her smile fell away, as she said, “So I’m going to lock you into your room tonight, my love.” She reached out to smooth his messy hair. “Before either of us does something silly.”
Suddenly, A.J. didn’t feel so good. The words he spoke were nothing but hushed. “I’m sorry, Mummy.”
She smiled then, and the knot in his stomach loosened. “It’s okay, baby.” The woman stood and held her hand out to him. Without hesitation, A.J. took her hand and she hugged him to her side, rubbing his shoulder. “Are you okay? I know that was a little scary.”
He nodded. His nose hurt, but he was okay.
“My strong boy.” She chuckled proudly as she guided him into the kitchen. “It’s been a long day. Let’s have some hot chocolate and go on to bed. Okay?”
“Okay,” he whispered, and they sat in silence, drinking their hot chocolate, looking at each other all the while.
A.J. didn’t know much, but he knew one thing.
He needed to get his hands on that gun again.
Because if they weren’t coming for him, A.J. was going to save himself.
Chapter
Forty-Two
Thiago
Dressed in black, merging with the shadows surrounding us, I looked across the lot to my sisters and gave a sharp nod.
Fernanda moved first, gracefully, like a ballet dancer. Luna went next, with a casual air only she could pull off.
The first two buildings were a bust. They were abandoned. Empty. On the verge of demolishment. Normally, this would have made for a decent place to stash a child. Unfortunately, from what I knew about Ling, she was the ballsy kind. Cocky. She liked to put on a show. And although we hadn’t done a full sweep of the building yet, I knew she was in there somewhere.
In the fully occupied apartment building.
It made it harder for us to do what we needed to, but it didn’t mean shit, because we were the notorious Vegas. We could get any job done for the right price. Alone, we weren’t worth much, but as a family, we were priceless.
Each of us brought something different to the fold; each of us brought something important and necessary. Together, my sisters and I were invincible. Regrettably, that meant we often had targets on our heads. This was why we chose to stay underground for the most part.
This was also why Luka banished us.
I wasn’t a stupid man by any means. Being banished only did two things to our business. One, it raised our fee to astronomical proportions. And two, it kept Fernanda safe. And safe was how Luka liked his woman.
Yeah, he was pissed at her, but Luka Pavlovic adored my sister. He adored her so much that even though it likely killed him inside, he sent her to live half a world away from him.
And with that decision, he had my respect.
What can I say?
I definitely preferred my sisters safe than dead.
A number of minutes passed before a hushed voice sounded within my ear.
“I’m in place,” said Fernanda.
“So am I,” uttered Luna.
My eyes scanned the darkness surrounding me. I walked the parking lot, taking in every car I passed. “Find her,” I told my sisters, and they had my complete faith. I trusted them like no one else. They were clever and accomplished and talented, my sisters.
I trusted them with my life, which was lucky because oftentimes, during the jobs we pulled, it was crucial.
My feet moved silently along the cement flooring as I went from one floor to the next, surveying car after car.
“Uh, guys?” Luna whispered. “I think I’ve got a visual.”
“What?” Fernanda sputtered in disbelief. “How?”
Luna chuckled. “Eat shit, Fern. I got here first.”
“Where are you?” Fernanda never did like coming in second.
“Scaling the building,” Luna said so matter-of-factly that I smiled.
My sisters were nuts.
“Where are you, Luna?” I asked quietly as I continued to walk the lot.
“It’s hard to say,” she uttered softly. “I think it’s the tenth floor. I don’t know. Waiting to confirm visual.”
“Waiting for confirmation,” Fern moped, trying to sound professional.
I kept walking as I smiled. They were the only two women in the world who could make me laugh. Shit. They were the only people in the world who could make me smile. I loved them dearly, my little sisters. And I wouldn’t let anything happen to them.