Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75929 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“Sorry. This material is awful,” I confessed. “It has absolutely no give.”
“I prefer separates myself,” Teresa admitted. “They tend to be more comfortable during a long shift.”
“I don’t know how you do those heels all day.”
“Oh, you’d have to pry my heels off my cold, dead body,” Teresa admitted. “I heard that the young girls these days are wearing sneakers to the club. Can you imagine? Mr. Vale is in the conference room. Your attorney arrived just before you. Can I bring you coffee?”
“I don’t know if this dress will stretch enough to let me drink it, but please.”
I made my way toward the conference room, still annoyed by the dress.
Until I stepped into the doorway.
And Soren’s gaze cut to mine.
I became so aware of each inch of me that I suddenly felt naked as his eyes tracked down me, then slowly back up.
Slowly, he rose to his feet.
Then, when neither of the lawyers—and whoever the third guy was—moved to follow, he barked out a quick, “Stand.”
“No, no, it’s fine,” I said, holding up a hand. But it was too late. The men were already on their feet.
I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but it was kind of hot how he made them stand and show me a little respect. I was so used to fighting for that.
“Sorry I’m late,” I said, going toward the empty seat at the side of my attorney. Which thankfully put him between me and Soren.
Who’d managed, with just one look to undo all the ‘stress relief’ I’d gotten over the past three days from a fun alien sex book and a battery-operated boyfriend.
“You’re right on time,” Soren said as Teresa came in with a tray of coffees. “Ready to make this official?”
“Yes.” If nothing else, it would get Renzo off my back. Once things were all finalized, even if something went really sour with me and Soren, we were locked in. He would have nothing to worry about.
The next half an hour or so involved both lawyers going over the same paperwork we’d already discussed in length, then passing papers around for us to sign, initial, and date.
By the time it was done, the stacks looked like one of those thick romantasy books Renzo’s wife, Lore, was always reading.
“Congratulations,” Soren’s lawyer, Mitchell something-or-other, said. “You’re in business.”
“I will have my assistant get this scanned and copies printed out for you,” my attorney said, giving me a nod, then making his way out.
He was just some random guy Bass had picked out based on reviews online, since everyone agreed that linking a mafia lawyer to the legit business that we would be washing our money through was a bad idea. Especially if this new AUSA really was breathing down the family’s back like Renzo said.
“Mr. Vale,” Mitchell said, nodding a bit to his client. “Miss Amato.”
With that, he followed my attorney out.
“God, does your hand hurt too?” I asked, flexing mine.
“I’m used to it at this point,” he said. “Things are going to move fast from this point on,” he told me. “With the project,” he added, his lips quirking up.
“Of course with the project,” I said, chin lifting. “What else would you be talking about?”
He ignored that.
“I am going to have a few crews over at the building tomorrow.”
“Doing what?”
“Getting rid of the rats—and any other pests if they find them.”
“I better not hear you let anyone hurt any pigeons if they’re there.”
“You have a soft spot for pigeons?”
“We failed them.”
“Failed them?”
“We domesticated them. Brought them down from the rocky cliffs that they were native to to keep them in cages in cities. Then used them for their flying skills. And then when we didn’t need them anymore, we just… tossed them out like garbage. It’s not their fault that they hang around us. They rely on us, since they are no longer anywhere near their native area.”
“Do you have pet birds?”
“No. I mean, I would maybe take in a pigeon if I found one that needed a home. But no.”
“Then why the passion about them? Humans have been cruel to animals since the dawn of time.”
“I saw some asshole kick one once. Killed it.” I went ahead and left out the part where I’d almost killed him for it. “And I dunno. I was so upset about it that I started to look into why so many people hate pigeons. Read a few books. Watched a lot of videos. And that’s when I learned about what we did to them. I, uh, actually feed the pigeons in the park near my apartment.”
I hauled fifty-pound birdseed bags to my apartment every two weeks to always have on hand for those trips. It was the closest I got to a gym routine.
“With all the old ladies?” Soren asked, a smile warm enough to make his eyes look all gooey.