Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
"Is it a velvet-covered bachelor pad with a rotation circle bed?"
"That actually might make it more homey." Cosima says.
"It's not that bad." Eros sounds defensive.
"It's bare and sterile. Cold too."
"I'll turn the heat up," he counters. "Besides, it's a nice clean slate for Bonte to do with as she pleases. I don't care what's in it. It doesn't matter."
"Clearly, because nothing is in it." The two are bouncing back and forth.
"Is this an ongoing issue between you two?"
"Yes."
"No." They both speak at the same time.
"Yes, it is. I have tried to liven the place up."
"Mom, no one goes there. It's functional." Now I'm really curious to see this place.
“I want to see it,” I say. “I don’t even know where it is.”
“She should stay here while you revamp it.” They both keep going.
“The place is a year old. I had the whole thing done. It was a total gut.” Cosima narrows her eyes on Eros.
“He’s trying to steal you away and lock you up in his fancy warehouse.” I mean, that’s not shocking. Eros stealing me away is kind of our thing.
“Warehouse?” I didn’t know warehouses could be fancy.
“Yes.” Cosima jumps all over that. “Right next to the river. It has a smell, you know. Terrible, really.”
“There is no smell,” Eros tells me. Tears start to sting at my eyes.
“Yes, the smell will make you want to cry.” Cosima tucks a piece of hair behind her ear smugly. I really do adore her. The ways she goes about getting what she’s after are priceless and have taught Nix way too many tools to use.
“Mom!” Eros scolds. “Hey.” He grips my chin to turn my face toward his.
“It’s nothing,” I tell him with a sniffle.
“She’s not used to having people fight over her. She’ll get used to it.” Cosima stands from the table, dropping a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll be happy with whatever. As long as you are happy,” Cosima tells me.
“What about me?”
Cosima ignores Eros, but he really wasn’t asking a question.
“You’re always more than welcome here.”
“Thank you,” I tell her before she grabs her plate, heading into the kitchen.
“We really haven’t talked about what’s next.” Eros says.
“Whatever you want can be next.” I puff out a breath. That gives too many options, and it’s overwhelming.
“Yeah, I don’t know.”
“You like to draw and write.”
“I do.” I showed him a few of my things. “But I meant with life. I guess I will go back to school? What about my identity? Do I change my name now? Where will we actually live?” I drop back in my chair, overwhelmed by everything.
“And?” He prompts me to go on.
“And all the things. It’s a lot. What about you?” I eye him up teasingly. “Don’t you have a job or something?”
“I do. Is my job a problem?” I turn slightly in my chair, wanting to face him.
“You thought I would have a problem with it?”
“No, but I want you to know that you have a say in the way we live our lives.”
“That’s sweet, but only if you’re good with it. So am I. I kind of like that you’re in the family business. It really keeps everyone close.” The Marino family might not live by what others consider the moral or lawful way, but it doesn’t matter what outsiders think about them. They only care about what the others think. They are loyal to their core and truly take care of their own.
“The family business.” He lets out a low chuckle.
“I will say, I won’t be going into my family's business."
“If that’s what you want, but if you did, I would help.”
“Shut up.” I laugh, smacking him on the chest.
“We don’t have to figure anything out right now.”
“I like the idea.” Before, I wasn’t sure what I wanted, and I didn’t let myself plan for it. I was always worried that it could be ripped away from me, so it felt pointless. Things are different now. I can plan and think years in the future. “There is one area I do want to find resolution and what the future might be with them.”
Eros nods. “It is time you spoke with your father.”
I haven't pushed him much, and he has filled in details of the mess that was the two FBI agents and how they all came to be tangled together.
War says it’s all been cleaned up. He can’t erase The Collector from people’s minds, but there are options. Both Z and War laid them out, and my father will need to pick from them. I have been putting off speaking with him, scared of what his choice will be.
Eros heads upstairs with me to my father's room. I knock on the door.
“Come in,” he calls out. Eros gives my hand a squeeze before letting it go so I can enter alone.