Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“And, any more information about your brother?”
“My father is tracking his movements. We’re going to have a conversation today regarding what to do about it.”
I must have given him a confused look because he elaborated. “Joran went missing over five years ago. He was a military arms consultant and was involved in a conflict on another planet while he was there to discuss a treaty. He was believed to be captured, but when the conflict ended, we were told he was missing. That’s the last we heard until a few days ago when you arrived and I rushed back finding a strange man on the roof, waving me in holding a weapon that had my brother’s company logo on it; he owned a weapons company, as well, which I had stakes in due to some technology. Anyway, it was obvious at first that he thought I was someone else. He was drugged with something and saying strange things to the authorities and with my report to Tithe Nova and what he was saying, Tithe called me in. We interviewed him together and he spoke to me as if I was his commander, calling me JZ. My brother’s name is Joran Zenith. My father is in charge of his wealth due to him going missing. He researched some things and found that my brother had emptied the arms warehouse and has been steadily accessing money. He hasn’t contacted my father or me.”
I bit my lip. “I’m so very sorry. You were close?”
“We’re twins.”
“So, of course you were.”
“We were, yes.”
“I’m so sorry. What are you gonna do?”
“Talk to my father and figure that out, I suppose.”
“Take the controls for a sec?” I asked. His hands immediately moved from my waist to the yoke. I spun half around enough to hug him and kiss him. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks, shortcake.”
I turned back around and took back over.
He showed me how to go a little higher and that was when we drove over the mountain range back to our little neighborhood, which I’d taken closer notice of and observed five other streets just like Zane’s. It was a sleepy area compared to the busy city we’d just traveled over, and I liked it a lot. It was a great place for a family. Beyond the six streets lined with what would likely be called McMansions by Earth standards, there was a lot of nature space, a pond that had a walking bridge over top, and a big park for children.
I still couldn’t wrap my mind around how colorful, clean, and vibrant everything was.
“What can I do for you, shortcake, so that you won’t be bored or lonely while I get some things done?” He’d asked me as we exited the car on his roof.
“I just drove a sky-car, ticking a bucket list item I didn’t even know I had. I’m not likely to get bored for a while.”
“Bucket list?”
“Some people make a list of things that they would like to do before they kick the bucket. A bucket list.”
“Kick the bucket?”
“Die.”
His expression dropped.
I shrugged. “There’s a movie about it. I’ve been meaning to watch it. Maybe we should watch it and it’ll make more sense. But, a list of things someone wants to do before they die.”
“Oh. Well, what else is on your list?”
“I…” I flushed pink. “I wanted to fall in love and get married to a wonderful man. A man who I could come out of my shell with. And I did that.”
He smiled big and then pinned me against the wall beside the elevator and bent, putting his lips to mine. I thrust my hands into his soft hair and slipped my tongue between his soft, pouty lips.
“What else?”
“Sex. Lots of it. If it was as good as it sounded in romance novels.”
“Is it?”
“It’s better.”
“What else?”
“I wanted to travel to exotic places.”
“Oh?” he laughed.
“Tick!” I exclaimed and drew an imaginary checkmark in the air.
“What else?”
“Publish books. And it looks like my new stepson will make sure that happens. I’m about to live out everything I ever dreamed of.”
“That’s what you wanted before you die?”
“And one more thing,” I told him.
“What?” he touched my face and looked deep into my eyes.
“I wanted to be a mother. And thanks to you, I get to be one.”
“Do you want more children?” he asked me.
I nodded slowly. “I want to give you a whole bunch of babies. Give Ollie a whack of siblings.”
He didn’t respond immediately, so I added, “If that’s what you want. If one child is enough for you, I’ll be more than hap---"
“I’d like it to be you, me and Ollie for a little while, but then I’m game for more babies,” he told me.
“Although… we might not have a choice in that matter,” I told him.
He tilted his head. “Why is that?”
“Because we’ve had unprotected sex.”