Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
I smile to myself and wonder if she’s ever talked to a woman that fucked a psycho serial killer next to a sniper rifle aimed at a high-ranking Bratva member’s skull. Probably not. But maybe.
My office is cold and quiet. Finn and Leo are in some meeting about the fake food delivery service with potential local investors. “Do they know we’re really selling drugs?” I ask as the two men head into the conference room.
Leo only shrugs and grins. “Who fucking cares?”
I wonder if I’m the only person who still does.
My conversation with Kate keeps running through my head. I have a thousand tasks ahead of me, but I can’t concentrate on any of them. Ever since my little date with Cormac and the sniper rifle, I’ve been thinking about who I am and what I want. I’ve been worried about the kind of person I’m becoming.
How can I love a monster? And still be a decent person?
There’s a knock at my door. I look up and my husband’s there. He smiles slightly at me as I wave him over and tilt my chin up for a little kiss before he settles into a chair.
“You summoned and I came running,” he says, stretching slightly.
I take a moment to admire his muscular body. “It’s almost as if you were lurking outside.”
“I’m always lurking somewhere.”
“That’s your best trait, if you ask me.”
“Please, darling wife, we both know your favorite thing about me.”
“If that’s a sexual reference, please get your head out of the gutter.”
He feigns shock. “Never. I’m a saint.”
“No, I’m the saint, remember?” I grin at him and he laughs back. I’ve been dreading this conversation ever since I texted him and told him to meet me here, but now it almost feels easy.
That’s the thing with Cormac. I can tell myself he’s a scary beast all I want, but when we’re in a room together?
It’s so easy.
Everything is simple.
Being with him feels good.
"What was so urgent you needed me here instantly?”
My heart stutters a bit and I struggle to keep myself calm. “I’ve been thinking about our date the other night.”
“My gift?” His eyebrows raise. “Interested in another?”
I quickly shake my head. “Actually… the opposite.” I clear my throat, awkwardly trying to figure out how I’m going to word this right.
“You can tell me anything, feather,” he says softly, leaning forward. “I mean it. To me, you’re perfect. You truly can’t do wrong in my eyes.”
A little piece of my anxiety slips away. Because that’s true, isn’t it? He’s so deeply obsessed with me that I’m pretty sure I could rip out his eyes and he’d just ask for a pair of dark sunglasses.
“I want you to stop killing Russians.”
His eyebrows raise as he sits back. “Do you now?”
“At least, I want you to stop killing them because of me,” I say quickly, trying to clarify. “I know what you are and I understand what you do. I’m not saying you can’t kill at all, although if you could, I’d be happy—” I take a breath to settle myself. “I’m only asking that you stop killing on account of me.”
He doesn’t seem upset. That’s a good thing. I expected him to get angry, like I’m asking him to be weak or something, and there’s not a single soft bone in my husband’s rough body. But he only smiles at me, tilting his head to the side.
“You only get more perfect, you know that?”
My cheeks flush red. “I’m being serious.”
“And I am too. You know, there’s a reason I call you my feather.”
“I’m your lightness,” I whisper.
He gets up and comes around my desk. I stand and let him pull me against him, his strong arms tugging hard against my hips. He’s warm and strong, and my heart’s racing wildly.
“That’s exactly right. I worship you, Bianca, because you try to be better than the world around you. That isn’t easy.”
“Sometimes it’s really, really hard.”
“But you do it anyway. And I love you for that. I’ll love you no matter what.”
“I just can’t have these deaths on my conscience.”
“I know, feather, and I’ll do my best to keep them on mine.” He grazes a thumb down my cheek. “You’re light and I’m dark. I’ll kill so you never have to worry about hurting. You’ll do good, and I’ll do bad. Let me carry all that weight.”
I bite back tears. It’s strange how much I want him. This man’s a monster, and he’s basically telling me that he’s going to do terrible things no matter what, so that I don’t have to worry about doing them myself.
And somehow it makes me feel better.
“I love you, Cormac,” I whisper, tears rolling down my cheeks. I get up on my toes and kiss him lightly. “I know it’s all so messed up, but I love you.”