Total pages in book: 13
Estimated words: 12395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 62(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 12395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 62(@200wpm)___ 50(@250wpm)___ 41(@300wpm)
But a year separates us from that event. A year when I’ll have to keep my fingers to myself and ensure I don’t touch her or think about her inappropriately. I groan. I don’t want to take Tallulah now, but the threat I’ve just been told about leaves me no choice.
Exiting my office, I head downstairs while my personal guard shadows me. I get in the car, alone, except for the few guards accompanying me. I’m glad Saul won’t be joining me. I need to do this on my own, and I really don’t want him looking at Tallulah to piss me off. There’s been enough bloodshed for one night.
As the car starts toward the Palacio, I think about Jimenez’s demise. Saul was right. The prick had it coming - but that doesn’t change the fact that I need to be cool when it comes to Tallulah.
I can’t risk shooting everyone’s brains out just for mentioning her name. I can’t risk killing people like that, because word will get out of just how important she is to me, and that will put her in even more danger. And someone’s already out to get her, which only confirms my fears.
I already know I can’t let anyone know I have Tallulah. Anyone but Saul, whom I trust implicitly. My eyes wander over the men in the car with me, and I exhale slowly. I don’t know if I can let them live through tonight.
I hate killing my own men, but needs must. Luckily there’s only a couple of us here tonight, which will mean less bloodshed - thank fuck. I’m tired of killing.
The drive takes two hours, and we switch cars twice on the way. Can’t risk being followed. The location of the Palacio is still a relative mystery, and as much as I fucking hate them, I’m not about to put Tallulah’s parents and her kid sister in danger. I have a feeling she’d never forgive me if I did.
We pull up close to the Palacio. The last part of the journey will be on foot.
I join two of my guards, leaving the driver behind as we head to the house. The night is quiet and dark, with only a sliver of the moon lighting our way as we advance to the house. There are two guards already waiting for us when we arrive - men we pay to keep guard of Tallulah while working for Heath. I nod at them and wait while they give me the layout of the house. Tallulah’s bedroom is in the east wing, along with her little sister’s.
The guards get a ladder from me and prop it up on Tallulah’s window silently. I know I can’t scare her into leaving with me - surely she’d want to say goodbye to her parents. The only thing I can do is trick her into leaving her bed.
I gather a handful of small pebbles and start throwing them against her window after ordering the men to hide.
It takes six pebbles until I see movement in her window. She opens the French doors of her balcony and peeks outside. She’s wearing a white nightie that reaches her knees. It’s nearly see-through. Her pale skin looks pearly in the night. I stifle a groan.
“Xavier?” she whispers. “What are you doing here?”
I don’t miss the way her eyes light up when she sees me and I smirk, motioning for her to climb the ladder. She only hesitates for a split second before climbing down. I look away, unable to handle the sight of her in that white nightie.
“What are you doing here?” she asks softly, stopping a few steps away from me. “My birthday isn’t until tomorrow.”
“I know,” I mutter. “But it’s after midnight now, so you’re officially seventeen. And I wanted to give you a special surprise.”
“Oh?”
She smiles at me, the picture of innocence and beauty. I fight the urge to grab her and drag her away with me. Instead, I motion for her to come closer. Hesitantly, she does as she’s told, and I hand her a piece of black silk fabric.
“What’s this?” she asks softly, her hands shaking as she reaches for it.
“A blindfold,” I smile. “Put it on. We don’t want to ruin your surprise.”
Obediently, she places the fabric on her eyes and ties it in the back, waiting for further instructions. I motion for my guards to come out of hiding, two of mine and two that work at the Palacio. I let them accompany us to the waiting car, gently guiding Tallulah along the way. She doesn’t say a word, just follows me obediently. She’s such a good girl already.
“Get in the car,” I tell her softly, and her posture stiffens.
“I don’t want to leave,” she whispers. “What about my parents and Mathilda?”
“You’ll be back with them by morning,” I lie smoothly.