Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“I understand,” Stone replied calmly, with no hint of a temper. Though I assumed he had one. You didn’t become a crime boss by being mild mannered or kind. I’d do well to remember that.
“You live a busy life, Piper,” he continued. “You work very hard, take care of others, are constantly on the move. I understand that doesn’t give you the time for the consideration that my proposal requires.”
My lungs seized.
“I may have a bit of a shitty memory, but I’d remember a proposal.” I remembered the flowers, the gifts, the letters. But no proposal.
“Uh,” he grunted. “Not exactly romantic, I’ll admit, but it is not a reflection on how the rest of your life will be.”
“The rest of my life?” My heartbeat was a hummingbird, and an anvil settled in my throat.
“It’ll be a good life, I assure you.” I heard tapping, like he was working on the computer while ruining my life. “You won’t have to work. You’ll be able to move out of that apartment of yours, and I’ll ensure you have the best of everything.”
“I have a good life.” My mouth tasted sour. “I like my life. And I apologize for the obvious sting it is to your ego, but I want my life to be lived without your … attention.” I tried for yet another one of my gentle but crystal-clear rebukes I’d been giving since it became obvious Stone wanted me.
It was a complex dance to have to do, to reject a dangerous man. Well, to reject a man in general. All rejected men were dangerous in the right circumstances. Protect his ego, make it seem like you’re doing him a favor but don’t insult him. Otherwise, your life would be in danger.
“I know you think that now.” He didn’t sound even slightly perturbed. “But your time away will give you plenty of space to reconsider.”
“I won’t. Reconsider,” I replied firmly. I was still clutching on to the vague hope that he’d finally get the picture, take the rejection well and let me go back to my life, no hard feelings.
“You will,” he replied, just as firmly yet with no threat in his tone. He didn’t need it, did he? He had someone beside me doing all the threatening. “And we’ll watch over Daisy while you’re gone. I know how much she means to you.” He let silence fall between us so the heaviness of his words could crush my heart. Crush my hope.
My vision clouded with tears I would never let fall.
“Understand that we’ll never be far,” Stone continued. “I’ve taken the liberty of drafting an email and a text you can send to your friends and your employers about your sudden need to walk the Camino de Santiago. To go find yourself. Without the trappings of a phone or social media.”
Acid burned my stomach. He knew. I didn’t know how he knew, but he knew that I’d been planning to one day—when I had the time and the money and the courage—take a month off to walk across Spain.
I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. I understood exactly what he meant. Running would result in Daisy being hurt or maybe even killed. Talking to anyone, trying to get help, same deal.
In an instant, all my fight left me. My entire life had been dedicated to taking care of my sister. Keeping her safe. No way would I do anything to put her in harm’s way.
“Enjoy your trip, Piper,” Stone said, taking my silence for what it was: defeat. “I look forward to seeing you upon your return.”
Eyes still closed, throat searing with fury, I replied on instinct, as if he hadn’t just threatened my sister moments earlier. “I wish I could say the same.”
Instead of being mad about my words or the bite to my tone, he laughed again. As one might at a toddler talking back, trying to assert dominance, thinking they had some kind of agency when in reality they didn’t.
Well, maybe not a toddler since I’d worked with plenty to know they were mini dictators. The reality was I had less rights and control than a two-year-old right now.
I ended the call.
Steeling myself, I handed the phone back to the man beside me, my captor. When our fingers brushed, I didn’t miss his swift intake of breath from the simple contact.
Shouldn’t I be the one getting all weirded out by the causal touch of a stranger, one connected to the mob boss threatening to kill me?
Yet his cool skin, smooth as porcelain, didn’t make me want to jerk my hand away. Especially with his reaction. Some part of me stored this away for later. He didn’t like to be touched. Or it might’ve been just my touch in general. Still, something to keep, maybe use. Not that storing up information would get me anywhere. Even if I outsmarted this man—which a knowing part of me said would be highly unlikely—they’d just hurt Daisy.