Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 279(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)
I feel my pulse speed up, a chill that is something like worry settling over my shoulders. I want to kneel beside her, take her hands, demand to know what’s wrong. Don’t be dramatic—I scold myself—just wait and see. I’ve never had trouble keeping quiet before when the situation calls for it. Now I’m spending more time forcing my questions back than I am listening.
With a sigh that makes her shoulders sag, she finally decides to tell me what’s bothering her.
“I got a note in my box today, you know the one we have to keep our aprons and crap.”
Serena removes one hand from beneath her thigh to bring out a yellow square sticky note. I take it and scan the words.
“Paid in full,” I read aloud, waiting for her to tell me what the problem is.
“Did you, do it?”
“Did I pay off your father’s debt?” I ask, repeating her question, making up my mind rapidly. “No. I’ve been against you having any responsibility for his debts pretty much all along, remember? Why would I go and make it easier on him?”
“To help me,” she says, stating the obvious.
She doesn’t’ get that I wouldn’t need to lift a finger to have that debt forgiven, to make sure Philly never lends another cent to that fool. Maybe I’d have to make a phone call to ensure no one this side of the river will let him place a wager of any sort. I don’t need to worry about financing the losses of a small-time loser. The money she was so worried about is insignificant in an operation this size.
“I didn’t,” I say truthfully. “If I had, I’d make sure you know all about it so I could be your hero, right?”
“You’ve got the ego for it,” she says, her voice lighter. She looks relieved. Her shoulders and mouth are less tense all at once.
“You were worried I went behind your back,” I say. She gives a shy nod, a little embarrassed for doubting.
“Either Philly figured out that you did more than enough first aid to pay off the wager or he decided to clear it off the books in good faith because you’ve kept to a payment schedule.”
“That seems too warm and fuzzy for Philly,” she says dubiously.
“I won’t disagree, but when you factor in the help you gave his only son who’s about to be a father in his own right, that makes people sentimental. Chalk it up to gratitude.”
“What will I do now?” she says, her voice smaller than I expect it to be.
“Come on. We talked about this. I know you’re not asking my advice. You’re here because you’re tough and loyal and stubborn. You’re not a woman who needs my suggestions.”
“I’m not asking you to decide my fate or something. I can walk out of here tonight, free and clear. Is that what I’m going to do? Never look back?”
“I can offer you a job patching up my guys when they need it,” I say.
I realize I’m stalling. Because what can I offer her? She isn’t going to jump at the chance to be my mistress, have a nice apartment and time to study nursing. She won’t agree to be kept. She deserves a true response from me.
“I want you around, and you don’t have to dig out bullets,” I admit.
“If I’m not stitching up cuts, what’s my job description?” she says, and I’d think she was teasing me if I couldn’t tell she was a little breathless waiting for my answer.
“You don’t need a job in my organization, Serena. Your father’s debt is paid. You’re free.”
She nods slowly. “I’m free.”
“You are. You can go whenever you want.” She looks at me, a question burning in her eyes. “What is it you want?”
I don’t hesitate. “Not to let you go,” I tell her. “I want to wake up with you in my arms, make you say my name when you’re helpless and clinging to me—” I break off, my voice ragged. She puts her hand out, reaches for me. I take her fingers in mine. Even that small touch makes my body flare and harden. “I want you, Serena.”
“To keep me,” she says softly.
“To keep you,” I repeat.
I still hold her hand. She gets to her feet and steps in toward me, lets me gather her against my chest. I feel like a great crack opens down my sternum, the dread that she would refuse me and walk away had been so deep that it seems to have split me apart.
“Stay with me,” I say to her, raw and more afraid than I’d like to admit.
“Why can’t I walk away from you?” she answers in a soft voice, as if struck by the wonder of it.
“Probably the same reason I can’t walk away from you,” I say, taking her lips, tonguing every sweet curve of her mouth, leaving her gasping.