Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
"Never. We'll never tell her. I promise. Never," I hiss, kissing her forehead.
"Good. That's good," she whispers.
"Everything's going to be fine," I hiss.
"Promise?"
"I promise," I say, and I pray to God that's true.
I get out of the car, and the moment the door is closed, the world stops spinning.
"Fuck," I hiss, and my hands fist the air. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."
My life is a lie, and now, it's falling apart at the seams.
"Fuck," I hiss, slamming my palm against the window.
"Viper, what's wrong?" Iris asks, and the look on her face breaks me.
"Nothing. I just...nothing," I hiss. "Let's go. We've got work to do."
"Okay," she whispers, and as we walk toward the house, the air is thick with tension.
"Are you sure everything is okay?"
"Yes. Of course. Let's just get this done," I hiss, and the second the keys hit the lock, a million memories wash over me.
"You're sure? You're not mad at me?"
"Of course not. Now, come here," I hiss, and when she does, I hold her close. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the situation. But that's not your fault. This is all on me. All of it."
"Okay," she says.
"Good. Now, come on. Let's finish this," I hiss.
This house was a burden, and now, it's not.
I feel a weight lift off my shoulders.
Now, the deed is signed.
Iris is all mine.
And Allegra will never know.
We meet with the realtor inside.
Iris doesn't know the details of the Desire House, but this McMansion was Allegra's mother's childhood home.
It will be better served this way, as a place the dancers of the club can share.
They need a home, a safe place to call their own.
And now, they've got one.
"All done," Iris smiles, and she kisses me softly.
"Now, to the club," I hiss, and as we get in the car, my guilt vanishes
"Thank you, Viper," she whispers, and the smile on her face is enough to fill the empty spaces inside me.
"Of course. Anything you want," I whisper, and with that, we drive away.
I've spent so much time feeling guilty, but that ends now.
Iris is mine, and we'll make this work.
"Iris, we've got a lot of shit to sort out," I hiss, pulling into the driveway.
"I know. But, right now, all I want is you. Right here. Right now. Please, give me everything. Give me all of you. All of it. All of you. Forever," she begs, and the look in her eyes is enough to fill the empty spaces inside me.
"Fuck yes, baby. Fuck yes," I hiss, pulling her into my arms.
"Please. Please," she cries, and when my lips touch hers, the world is a beautiful place.
"You're mine, Iris. Mine. Forever. I'm never letting you go."
"Never. Never," she cries, and with that, we head inside.
I want to get past the bar as soon as possible, but Scarlett blocks my path, arms crossed.
I push Iris behind me.
"Heard your daughter's back in town," Scarlett says, and her words cut through me.
"What?" I hiss, and the world stops spinning.
"Allegra. She's here, right? Saw her yesterday, at the coffee shop," Scarlett says, and when I reach for her throat, Iris holds me back.
Scarlett is the worst of all the girls.
A troublemaker.
A pain in Iris' ass.
"Don't. Don't," she cries, but I don't listen.
I've got murder on my mind.
"If you've laid a finger on her..."
"Calm down, Viper," Scarlett hisses, her voice firm.
"No. Not until you tell me what the fuck you were doing around my daughter," I hiss.
"Chill, Viper. Jesus," Iris says, and the moment I turn, she's standing next to Iris, a look of shock on her face.
"Get away from her. Now," I hiss.
"Viper, don't," Iris whispers, but I won't let her near.
"Don't talk about my child in this establishment, Scarlett," I warn.
"Oh, relax. Allegra's an adult now, for fuck's sake. And, for your information, I was talking to her about her new school. I'm taking some classes in the fall. To become a bartender," Scarlett smiles, and the tension in the air dissipates.
"You are?" I ask, and the smile on her face makes her look younger than she is.
"Yeah. Got a lot of free time. Thought, you know, it's something that I'd enjoy," she shrugs.
"Well, that's great," I say, and the smile on my face is genuine.
"Thank you. I appreciate it. So, what's the story? Did the meeting go well? House all ours? Are you going to move into the new place, Viper?" Scarlett asks.
"No. He has his own place.," Iris says, and the smile on her face is contagious.
"Well, that's good," Scarlett nods. "I've got a lot of shit to learn. But it's good."
"You'll do great," I smile.
"Thanks. Oh, and Allegra's got some good stories from college. If you ever want to hear them," Scarlett adds.
"Thanks," I laugh.
"Yeah, you're welcome. Well, I'll get out of your hair," she smiles, walking away.
"Jesus Christ. I'm sorry, baby," I hiss.