Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 60848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Riot nodded. “Got it covered.”
I ducked my head, shame washing over me in a hot wave. “This is my fault. I brought this down on everyone.”
“No.” Tiny’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “This is on him. No one else. This is exactly why Ms. Thompson sent you to us. Most of the time, intimidation works great. Occasionally someone like Andy comes along and we have to get a bit more… firm than we’d like, but we’re not squeamish about it either.”
Tiny moved closer, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked quietly. “Just over here.”
I nodded, glancing at the girls. “Stay with Violet,” I told them. “I’ll be right back.”
Tiny guided me a few steps away, just far enough that we couldn’t be overheard. He surprised me by dropping to one knee so our gazes were closer to eyelevel, his massive frame folding down to meet mine. The gesture struck me as deeply intimate, a man of his size making himself smaller, more accessible.
“Listen,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Haven isn’t safe anymore. Not until we get permanent eyes on this guy.”
I nodded, blinking back tears. “I know.”
“Come to the compound,” he said. “To Kiss of Death. We have space. There’s several three-bedroom apartments for you to choose from. Violet and Hannah can let you pick one you like. You’d be inside a locked compound in the middle of hard men who will defend you to the death. You’ll be safer there than you could possibly be anywhere else.” I stared at him, caught off guard by the directness of the offer. “Honestly, it’s not just about safety,” he continued, his eyes never leaving mine. “It’s about giving us time. Real time together. To figure out what this is between us without looking over our shoulders every minute.”
My heart pounded as relief washed over me at the possibility of true safety, but I hesitated, the old fears rising up. “The girls… surrounded by so many men they don’t know…”
“Mom?” Zelda’s voice came from behind me. I turned to find her standing a few feet away, her expression uncharacteristically vulnerable. She must have followed us, listening to our conversation.
“Zelda, honey, I told you to stay with Violet --”
“I don’t want to sleep here anymore, Mom.” Her voice was small but firm. “Neither does Kira. We want to be near Tiny.”
I stared at my daughter in disbelief. Zelda, my fierce protector, my suspicious, wary child who trusted no one, was asking to go with Tiny. The significance of it staggered me.
“You do?”
She nodded, her eyes flicking to Tiny before settling back on me. “He keeps his promises.” She stated it as if it were the simplest, most obvious truth in the world. She shrugged. “Also, Kira said Mr. Hoppers likes him, so…”
A surprised laugh escaped me, sounding almost like a sob. “Well, if Mr. Hoppers approves…”
I turned back to Tiny, who was watching Zelda with a mixture of surprise and something that looked suspiciously like pride. “You’re sure about this?” I asked him quietly. “About us?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he said simply.
I took a deep breath, feeling something shift inside me, my fear dissolving like mist. “OK,” I whispered. “We’ll come.”
His face broke into a smile that transformed his entire countenance, making him look younger, lighter. He rose to his feet and turned to Zelda. “Thank you for your trust,” he said with utter sincerity. “I won’t let you down.”
She lifted her chin, studying him closely. “You better not.” Tiny winked at her.
I reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “Let’s go tell your sister.” As we walked back to where Kira waited with Violet, I felt the weight of the decision settling over me -- not as a burden, but as a foundation. Something solid to build upon.
For the first time in years, we were moving toward something instead of running away. It terrified me and thrilled me in equal measure. But one glance at Tiny walking beside us, his presence both protective and patient, told me we were making the right choice. Whatever came next, we would face it together.
Chapter Eight
Penny
The Kiss of Death compound loomed before us, a series of massive warehouses forming a grid. My daughters pressed against me as we approached, Kira’s small fingers twisting into the hem of my jacket while Zelda looked around us with an odd mixture of wariness and wonder. Tiny gripped the steering wheel loosely as we drove through the gate. A chain-link fence seemed to surround the entire property. I knew it was at the lower end next to Haven, but really, the compound was really massive. The walkways between the buildings were covered with camo netting, and there were guys lounging next to buildings shooting the shit. Except when I looked closer, they were actually on pretty high alert. Made me wonder if the whole posture happened by design.