Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Am I panting? Yes, I’m panting just from watching him walk toward me. It’s slow and deliberate, packed with a ton of BDE.
He stops before me and brushes his fingers across my cheek. I can’t help looking up into his eyes. I see so much there, but I force myself to look away.
I remind myself that I can’t trust my instincts with him. I’m most likely projecting all the things I want from Gio. It would be so easy to fall into the same pattern. These two are all I’ve known all my life.
“Nyla,” he says my name. The sound courses through my veins. I try to ignore it and the hum Jace is sending through my body with his touch.
“Gio.”
“Why did it take so long for you to come to me?”
Jace groans behind me. I look up at him as he flexes his fingers on my hip. I turn back to Gio and glare at him. He takes me in with a heated stare.
“I still haven’t come to you. I came to bring you what you wanted.”
“I want you. If you didn’t come to bring me what’s mine, then what have you brought me?” he says in Italian.
“You now have ten. You need two more and your collection is complete. I’ve done my part. Send for me when it’s time for me to kill that bastard.”
I turn to leave, but the back of my neck is grasped, and I’m spun to face Gio once again. This time he crushes my lips with his and devours me.
I whimper into his mouth as I melt into him. He palms my ass and tugs me into his growing erection and heat. I’m completely thrown.
I can feel all eyes are on us. He’s never shown me this type of PDA. When he releases me, he speaks against my lips.
“We have a lot to discuss. Every moment we’re away from each other is another moment lost. Stop making me chase you.”
I scoff. “When have you chased me?”
“Can we not do this?” Jace growls.
“Sure, we don’t have to do this,” I say with a sugary sweet smile.
Gio cracks his knuckles. “We can do this at home, where we should have done this three days ago.”
Three days ago. Nah, we should have done this years ago. The only conversation I need to have with Gio is when and where I’ll be allowed to end Riccardo’s life once and for all. Instead of snarling that out loud, I grin.
“I’m enjoying my time with my family. Lizzy and I have been taking time to bond. That’s where I’m going back to tonight. When you have my next assignment, you can call me.”
“You have never learned when to recognize when you’ve already won,” Gio bites out.
“Justice, this is Gio.” I lift a hand for her to come forward. He doesn’t even look away from me as he nods. “Smoke, Philly, meet the doll collector.”
I turn to my right. “These three are Blu, Coco, and Cat.”
Gio works his jaw as he glares at me. He nods and takes a step back. He turns before he calls over his shoulder.
“I’ll meet everyone at the training facility. Have a good night, ladies.”
“Fuck,” Jace hisses. “Ny, come on.”
“I’m back to do my part. I never said I’d do anything more.”
He narrows his eyes at me. I hope this man knows I’m onto him. He’s as big a puppet master as the other one.
I shrug. I’m here for what I was promised, nothing more. Call me stubborn, cautious, or whatever you want, but I’m not the same Nyla who’s going to wait to live.
I toss him his key to his bike. “Thanks, by the way. Good night, Jace. Call me with my next orders.”
He grabs my hand, places the key back in my palm, and kisses my forehead. “We want to give you a new car. Keep the bike until we do.”
With that, I head out the way I came, ignoring the ache in my body and heart. Each step feels weighted, like I’m leaving something behind, but my feelings matter. I deserve to be allowed to heal.
Chapter 20
Not On Me
Jace
I glare at Gio as he walks into the kitchen after his workout. He’s shirtless with a towel draped around his neck and gray sweats on. I’ve already showered and dressed for the day. I went for a run earlier this morning to clear my head. I slept for shit last night.
Gio sighs. “You’re going to have an attitude for the rest of the day, so just say whatever it is before I shoot you for getting on my damn nerves. It’s too early for this shit and I didn’t sleep more than five minutes as it is.”
“She was right in front of you. We had her right in our grasp. What happened?” I snap.