Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Where to, Pakhan?” the driver asks me.
I want to head back to the hotel and shower. Killing men might be a part of my role as pakhan, but it doesn’t excite me. It’s just another nail in my coffin as far as I’m concerned. I need a shower and a couple of Beluga vodkas to take the edge off. Not to mention to get the taste of blood out of my mouth.
Feliks leans over. “That other matter you wanted to take care of while you’re in town has taken an interesting turn.”
I look at my cousin sitting across from me in the limousine.
“Tell me all the details. And don’t leave anything out.”
5
BROOKE
I sleep fitfully because my dreams are marred by an unseen female telling me about her affair with Wilson. In my dream, he is standing beside her as she tells me about their hookups, and then they both laugh at how foolish I’ve been.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, in my next dream, I show up at the church naked only to be told by his best man, Chad, that Wilson won’t be coming because I eat too many egg rolls.
By the time dawn breaks over the city, I can’t wait any longer. The walls are closing in on me, and I need to get out of this apartment.
I check the flights to New York City, and there’s one leaving in a couple of hours. I cancel my flight to Las Vegas and book one to New York City. I follow it up with a reservation at the Waldorf Astoria, which will probably take me the next two years to pay off. But who cares? A little indulgence is in order.
After a quick shower, I pack a bag and sneak out of my room and into the living room, where Henry is snoring lightly on the sofa. I pop my head into the spare bedroom where Chloe and Samantha are sleeping. They both look exhausted, so I decide not to wake them up. I write them a note, telling them I love them, that I will be back in a couple of days, and not to worry about me. They have their own things going on. Chloe has her exams this week, and Samantha has some big work commitments. And I know them, they will put me first and invest all their energy in making me feel better about being stood up by my groom. It’s better for all of us if I leave town for a few days.
“Sneaking out?” Henry says, sitting up and looking tired.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” I whisper.
He gives me a sleepy smile. “Why are you leaving so early?”
I lean a hip against the back of the sofa. “I booked an early flight to New York City.”
He thinks for a moment and then nods. “That’s good. You need to get out of this fucking apartment and go drink some ridiculously expensive cocktails in some fancy cocktail den in Manhattan. Are you absolutely sure you don’t want one of us to come with you?”
“I’m sure. Its only for a few days. I’ll be back after the weekend.”
With mussed-up hair and looking crumpled from sleep, he leaves the sofa to come and wrap his arms around me. “Go and have some fun.”
“I will.”
He winks. “And it’s not a crime to get under someone to get over someone else, you know.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“No, you probably won’t. But it might just be what the doctor orders.”
“I don’t need a one-night stand. I need cocktails.”
He gives me a big, mischievous grin. “Why not both?”
“Not happening.” I kiss his cheek. “I’ll text you when I get there. Tell Samantha and Chloe I couldn’t wake them. They were up half the night checking in on me every half an hour. Let them sleep in.”
“Oh, thank God, I need some more shut-eye.” He slumps back down on the couch. “This time of the morning is just rude.”
“Bye, sleepy head,” I say, opening the front door.
He pulls the blanket up to his chin and closes his eyes. “Go get ‘em, tiger.”
I take a cab to the airport, and as we drive through the city, my stomach churns with an odd mix of excitement and sadness. It’s weird to be excited and sad at the same time. I wind down the back window and suck in a deep breath of fresh air. You’ve got this. Today, I don’t want to think about what happened yesterday. I want to leave it all behind, get excited for the unknown future, and not be afraid of it because Wilson decided he doesn’t want to be a part of it.
For the next few days, I’m not going to be Brooke who was left at the altar—I’m going to be whoever the hell I want to be.