Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 105089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 525(@200wpm)___ 420(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 525(@200wpm)___ 420(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
“What? But why would this Jimmy get Bert and Ernie to kidnap me? Do you think Leo had anything to do with it?”
“I don’t. Leo sounded furious. He has his men trying to find Jimmy.”
“Did he agree to stay with you rather than use Ruiz for his supply?” she asked.
“He did. But I had to offer a good discount on the next shipment.”
She was fast using up all her energy and didn’t feel like speaking much more, so she just nodded.
“I’ve also ordered you a bracelet with an emergency button that you can press if you’re ever in danger. It will immediately send an alert to my phone and to Nighthawk so we can have another way of tracking you.”
She was kind of surprised that he didn’t just insert a tracking device under her skin. Hmm, probably best not to suggest that.
Alejandro ran his fingers through her hair. “What happened in North Dakota can’t happen again, Pequeña.”
She knew that. From now on, she was going to be a good girl.
He raised an eyebrow, almost as though he could hear her thoughts. “I know you’ll try to do as you’re told, but I also know that you can be impulsive.”
Hey! That wasn’t true.
Well, actually . . . it kind of was.
Shoot.
“You don’t think through the consequences of your actions. And I cannot allow anything to happen to you. I wouldn’t be able to go on if I lost you.”
She knew how he felt.
Because she felt the same.
“So there’re two options. One is that you always stay in the house unless I’m with you.”
Um. Shitty option, dude.
“Yeah, I thought you’d love that idea,” he said dryly. “Option two is the one we’re going with, then. A new bodyguard.”
At the moment, she didn’t have an assigned bodyguard. She usually used whoever was free when she wanted to go out.
“I have someone in mind. I’ve known Rafael a long time, he was undercover for Dante. His cover has been blown and he’s been lying low, but it’s better for him to get out of Mexico.”
Why couldn’t she have The Scot? They’d have a lot of fun. Alejandro could replace him with this new guy.
“Scot.”
“Yeah, you’re not getting The Scot. Or any of my other men, for that matter. Rafael will not be swayed by big eyes and an adorable smile.”
Then he didn’t sound like anyone she wanted to know.
“He’s a hard man,” Alejandro said. “But he is loyal, and I know he’ll do whatever it takes to protect you. Besides, he needs a job where he won’t draw attention since he won’t be here legally.”
Cat shook her head, wincing as it throbbed. Alejandro reached over to grab the bottle of painkillers from the side table. Then he helped her sit up so he could give them to her. Followed by a few sips of water.
“I’m sorry, Pequeña, but I think Rafael is the best way to protect you and give you some freedom.” He looked pensive. “Do you regret being with me now?”
She threw her arms around him, ignoring the pain in her side and the way he scolded her for moving too quickly.
“Never,” she whispered. “I could never regret knowing or loving you.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
She knew he would and she didn’t want to cause him more stress. Sure, she liked to tease and test him, but she didn’t want him truly worried.
Maybe a bodyguard would be okay.
Right?
10
Cat had to hold in an evil cackle as she set the electric pump to feed air into the inflatable wall.
“Come on. Come on.”
She wanted to get in a few good runs before Alejandro came home.
Thankfully, the ceilings in this house were really tall and she’d made sure to place it under the massive staircase in the foyer.
After it was fully pumped up, Bernard turned off the air compressor and they stepped back to look at the bouncy wall with Velcro strips running down it.
“How much did this thing cost?” he asked.
“I only rented it for a few days.” But it was still a lot of money. She’d be surprised if Alejandro didn’t cut her off from her credit card after this.
“I’m going to go get into my outfit. This is going to be so much fun!” Thankfully, her ankle was fully mended after two weeks of rest and her bruises had healed too.
“And I’m going to disappear,” Bernard told her dryly. “I was never here.”
“You got it, Doomy Gloomy.” The nickname was more affectionate now. Not that he wasn’t still all doom and gloom. But they had an understanding now. She did her best to annoy him and he did his best not to poison her.
Fun times.
Cat pulled on the outfit that completely covered all of her, apart from her face. It had more Velcro strips along the front and back. Then she stood back by the elevator.