Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Pain began aching through my shoulder from the impact of our reckless movements, but I didn’t care.
Her coming long and hard was my undoing.
She was my undoing.
Another growl escaped from deep within my chest as I came so hard I could barely see straight. We lay there for I don’t know how long, both of us trying to catch our breaths. While she was in the bathroom, I took more meds, and she helped me change my dressing since it was bleeding again.
Dr. Reyes left some sleeping pills on the nightstand, saying I needed to get some rest, and I knew he was right. The pain would probably keep me up anyway, so I downed two and waited for Sloan to come to bed.
Once she was lying in my arms, I asked, “If tonight hadn’t happened, would you have still told me your name?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to know your name is Sloan.”
“I figured it was the least I could do.” She looked up at me. “I haven’t thanked you for saving my life.”
I smiled. “You telling me your name was the only thanks I needed.”
“It’s still not good enough. You could have died to save someone you barely know. I’ll never forget that. I hope you know that. I owe you, and I don’t take that lightly.”
“Promise me you’ll be here when this is all over.”
“I—”
My cell phone rang, cutting her off. “Sorry, darlin’. I need to take this.”
She grabbed my cell phone off the nightstand so I wouldn’t have to move, and I answered, “You better have some fuckin’ answers for me.”
Felipe laughed. “Is that any way to talk to the man who holds the key to door number one?”
“Enough with the bullshit,” I ordered.
“Enough with the tone, but I guess I’d be pissed too if my playground was shot up.”
“Motherfucker, if I find out you’re behind—”
“I wouldn’t be calling you if I was.”
“Then who the hell is it?”
“That I don’t know. What I do know is I got you into the party.”
“Keep talkin’.”
Sloan mouthed, “I’m going to take a quick shower.”
“You alone?” Felipe questioned.
I waited until she shut the door behind her.
“Talk and make it quick.”
“I think you fail to see that you’re not the one in control, so how about a little fucking respect when you speak to me.”
“How about you suck my dick?”
He scoffed out a chuckle, “It’s a masquerade theme. Cover up as much as you can so no one will know it’s you. Come alone and don’t tell anyone. You can’t start trouble, but you’ll be able to sniff around and see if you get any leads. This event isn’t child’s play, Jameson. The men at this party won’t hesitate to put a bullet between your eyes if they think for one second you’re there for anything other than drugs, booze, or pussy. You fuck around, and you’ll find out really fucking quickly, and let me assure you, you won’t win. Do you understand me? This isn’t the time or place to start a war.”
“I understand.”
“Good. The event is in Venezuela this time. It jumps around from place to place to remain secretive, and only men who have been initiated can attend, but I can get you in. Same vibe as my party that you so rudely crashed times ten.”
“When?”
“Friday night. I’ll send you all the information via mail. I don’t want this traced back to me, which is why I’m calling you from a burner phone.”
“You’re not the one I’m after.”
“Doesn’t mean I won’t get caught in the crossfire.”
“Like I said, I’ll owe you one.”
“Oh, Luke Jameson, you’ll owe me a lot more than one.” He hung up, and I threw my phone on the bed.
By the time Sloan came back to bed, the sleeping pills kicked in with a vengeance, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open even though I wanted to. My body surrendered to sleep when I felt her get into bed and into my arms.
“Luke…”
“Mmm…”
“Thank you for saving my life. No one has ever protected me like that.”
“Mm-hmm…”
“You know it’s why I started kickboxing. I never had anyone look out for me like that.”
“Hmm…”
“And Luke…”
Everything went black, but I swear I faintly heard her say, “I think I’m in love with you.”
I woke up the following morning like I’d been hit by a fucking train. I reached for Sloan, surprised she wasn’t in my arms. Her side of the bed was cold, and my eyes immediately opened, searching for her, but she was nowhere to be found.
“Sloan?” I called out, thinking she was maybe in the bathroom.
Slowly sliding off the bed, my feet touched the floor as I grabbed my cell phone to see what time it was. It read three in the afternoon. I couldn’t believe I slept that long. I told my men to give us some privacy and not bother me unless they had news.