Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“To Pit?”
“Or Anthony.” He shrugs. “I’ve been watching. I know I have options. I like my original plan, but other arrangements can be made.”
“Why won’t you give it to Baba?”
“Um,” he grunts. “You want this life with the children, yes?”
“Yeah.”
“Then don’t ask me about your father. Just know you are a better man.”
“What about him? This is going to piss him off. I don’t need him causing problems.”
“Let him. Who cares? I will deal with Ulysses.”
“I’ll kill him if he takes this from me,” I seethe.
“Tzósoua, this cannot happen. You need to pick one or the other. You are in, or you are out. You can’t do things of our world from outside of our world. Do you understand this?”
I tighten my fists. Do I understand? I do, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. The last three years have awakened something in me.
I’ve allowed that darkness to roam free. However, for True and the girls, I’ll push it back down. They need me more.
“I understand.”
“If you change your mind for any reason, know that you are my first choice, but once you accept, there is no going back.” He pats my cheek and stands. “Take some time to clear your head. Think about what I am offering. Then go home. You have an assignment to finish.”
“Pappoús?”
“Tzósoua.”
I honestly can’t say I’m angry with him for not handing this over to me. I know him and I understand he’s asking me to work for my freedom. I can respect and honor that.
With every breath I have, I’ll do all I can to make sure those kids are safe and happy. If I have to fake a relationship, I will. I have no clue where to start but one thing I do know… we’re saving each other.
“I love you. Thanks.”
“You are welcome. Ki egó se agapó, Tzósoua.”
Chapter 36
Don’t Give Up
Kelex
“You’re packing?” Helios asks as he enters my room.
“Yeah, time to head back. You’re welcome to come with me, but that’s up to you. I’m not going into the family business.”
“I think I will still come with you. I like America. You have become an honorable man. I enjoy working for you. It doesn’t have to be in this business.” He holds a hand up and circles a finger in the air.
I shrug. “We leave in the morning.”
“Okay. I will be ready.”
I turn back to my packing. I can’t hide out here forever. It’s time I go home.
I have a lot I need to get in order. I’ve been trying to think of someone I could ask to pose as my girlfriend until I get the green light from my grandfather to walk away. I’d give them some cash. All they have to do is keep the act up until the deal is done.
Shawna comes to mind. She would have been perfect. If she weren’t dating that piece of shit, I would have asked.
“I still might,” I scoff to myself.
As I have the thought, my phone rings. I check the time and then I grin when I see it’s Jeff calling. This might be the universe telling me I’m on the right track.
“What’s up?” I answer the phone.
“Tonight was the first night. The meet and greet. He wasn’t there,” he replies.
“He’ll show up. I’m sure of it.”
“Why the interest in him? Marquis is the real connection.”
“This isn’t about connections. I want eyes on Clavier. I have a feeling I’m going to need to see him about a friend.”
I think of the deal I’ve made with Pappoús. I’m going to have to tread lightly if I do have to handle Clavier. Either way, I want to have eyes on him.
“Would that friend be Skittles?”
“No, what makes you ask that?”
“She asked to join my team.”
“And you’re just telling me this?” I seethe.
He sucks his teeth. “I called Pit to come get her, although I could have used her. This thing would have been a shoo-in.”
“I thought you had a team that could handle it.”
“They’re okay. What I really could use is my old buddy behind the wheel. What do you say, come back and drive with me? You and I could take this whole thing.”
I nearly burst into laughter. One, I never get behind the wheel. Two, Jeff is quite delusional about his driving skills. He’s never won a race against me and has never placed in a race with or without me driving as competition.
He actually kind of sucks. After a while, he started to come up with all kinds of excuses for his cars. Then it got to the point where he’d just walk off and disappear before the race would start like he did the night of the crash. It’s how I knew he wouldn’t be back before the flags were dropped.
“I’ll pass. Hey, you think you could set me up with someone?”