Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Except I once used to call him…
My stepdad.
“Ve por ella, Esteban,” I ordered, “Go get her, Esteban.”
The sound of my voice echoed through the large, damp, concrete basement of the building I lived in. Esteban and I stood in the dead center of the open space, with my men waiting in the surrounding corners.
His intense, heated glare went from me, to the man who was knocked the fuck out in front of us. He was showcasing all my handy work, beaten within an inch of his life. Silver duct tape sealed his mouth and eyes shut, blood dripped down his bruised, mangled face. His arms tied behind his back, and his legs strapped to the steel chair he was sitting on. A plastic visqueen lined the area beneath him. His head was draped over like he was dead, but the motherfucker was still alive.
“Are you sure you want to do this? She’s sound asleep in her bed,” he responded, not moving an inch.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Are you questioning my authority? Because I strongly suggest you fucking listen, and go get my niece. Unless you want to end up like this fucker.” I kicked the chair, causing the man to stir.
It was Briggs’ fifteenth birthday at midnight, and I had brought her a little something to celebrate. She was the guest of honor, and the show couldn’t start without her.
After years, I finally got the motherfucker.
A few nights prior to today’s events, I came home late from a business trip, not bothering to let Daisy know I had returned, I never did. I headed straight to my office to tie up some loose ends since I’d been away a few days. I shut the door behind me and switched on the video feed from the cameras I had all over the penthouse. Wanting to make sure things were continuing to run as smooth as always during my absence. It wasn’t much of a surprise to see Esteban and Daisy on the couch, watching a movie together. He was ordered to never let her out of his sight, so he was around her all the time as her bodyguard.
Just her goddamn bodyguard.
I wasn’t a fucking idiot. I knew Daisy had a crush on him, but I couldn’t control that. What I could control was what Esteban did about it. My niece was gorgeous. She had long brown hair and bright green eyes, exactly like her mother. Looking, and acting, more and more like Amari as the years went on. There were times where I couldn’t even tell the difference, she had the snarky little mouth too. I found myself almost calling her by her mother’s name on several occasions, but catching myself before it left my mouth. Esteban was young, but he was still older than Daisy. I knew if he touched her or gave her a thread of hope, the crush would have turned into love somewhere along the way.
Then I would have no choice but to cut off his cock and put a fucking bullet in his head.
Not thinking twice about it.
Daisy had been with me for almost nine years. I knew she had a hard time at school, and with life in general. Everyone knew who I was, what I did. Kids treated her like shit because their parents feared me and hated what I stood for, leaving me no choice but to have her move schools several times.
I owned New York City.
Everyone loathed her because of it, reminding me of my childhood. She hated it as much as I did. I saw a lot of my youth in her, it was hard not to. Except, she didn’t have any friends. Parents told their kids to stay away from the Mitchell girl. I, on the other hand, had more than I ever cared for, but not for the right reasons.
Leo was the only true friend I had growing up. To this day, he is the only person I could trust.
My confidant.
So, I gave him a job as my financial manager. Responsible for making sure I stayed rich as fuck. Daisy’s so called friends consisted of the characters in the books she was constantly reading. Always had her damn nose in a book, while most kids would be out playing and having fun together. I always made sure she had the books she wanted. Who was I to complain, it kept her out of my hair at least for a little while.
I may not have been involved in her life directly, but there was never anything that Briggs ever wanted, that I didn’t get her.
Including revenge.
She admitted to Esteban how she felt responsible for her parent’s death, but not going into much detail on why she felt that way to begin with.
He sighed. “This won’t change—”
“Dime, Esteban,” I demanded. “Tell me.” Cocking my head to the side, narrowing my eyes at him. “You are aware she’s a child, right? Esto puede cambiar todo,” I added, “This can change everything.”