Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Roe
I woke up disoriented.
A migraine was jackhammering behind my eyes. My temple and jaw were screaming in pain And my mouth felt weirdly cottony.
There was just a moment or two of misery before it all came rushing back.
Work, the attack, the questioning, beating, escape, Milo taking care of me, then waking up from a bad dream to him pulling me tighter and reassuring me I was safe.
I was in a hotel with him, hiding out.
Except I wasn’t with Milo anymore.
The spot next to me in bed was empty and cold to the touch. He’d been up for a while.
And judging by how bright the sun was streaming in through the windows, I could see why.
How long had I been out?
But then I remembered the two pills Remo had shaken out of a bottle with his brother’s name on it and into my hand.
That explained the deep sleep.
And the weird feeling in my mouth.
I climbed off the bed, feeling various other aches and pains in my legs and back from being partially trampled on the Boardwalk outside of the casino.
In the bathroom, I inspected the damage, seeing how deep the blue and purple bruises had gotten overnight. My eye was bloodshot, too. And my lip was still pretty fat, even after all the ice.
I used the extra toothbrush Milo had set up for me, did my best to tame my hair, then made my way out of the bathroom.
“Mi—” I started, only to have him step in front of me, his finger pressed to his lips.
Panic shot through my veins, thinking something had gone horribly wrong.
But then he held out a hand, gesturing toward one of the barrel chairs in the living room.
In it, Remo was sitting upright, his head tipped back, out cold.
The poor guy had looked awful the night before. Clearly, his system had been crying out for rest only to keep getting denied.
No matter who you were, though, sleep debt was going to catch up to you eventually.
Milo reached for my wrist, gently leading me into the kitchenette, but still talking in a hushed voice. “How are you feeling?”
“Hurting, but better than the alternative. Did they find the other woman? My cat? Dom?”
I felt like so much was going on, and I was somehow emotionally invested in all of it.
Milo handed me two more pills and some water as he answered.
“No word on Dom. But the pit boss is in a safe house. Alley is at Remo’s place. He said she has chosen his second youngest brother as her person. She keeps slamming against his legs and begging for pets.”
“What? The traitor. She never wants me touching her.”
“I guess she’s more a fan of men.”
“Meanwhile, I literally saved her life. The ingrate,” I said, but there was no real malice in it. If anything, I was just curious if she would be as affectionate with Milo. If he liked cats. If there would be room in his life for me, for her, for us.
“What’s that look?” Milo asked, reaching out to tuck some of my hair behind my ear.
“I was, um, just wondering if Alley would like you. Or if you like cats.”
“I do like cats. And even if she doesn’t like me, I won’t hold it against her.”
“So, you, uh, want to meet her?”
“It would be hard not to meet her if she’s living with us.”
Oh, my heart.
“Really?” I asked.
“I mean, if that’s what you want,” he added, looking suddenly very vulnerable.
“I do,” I said, giving him a smile. “I know things are new, but I feel—”
There was a knock at the door that had Milo sighing. He paused to press a quick kiss to my good temple. “We’ll get back to this later,” he promised as he moved past me.
He slid the lock.
Pulled open the door.
And a shocked yelp escaped me.
Because there he was.
Dom.
A little bruised and bloody.
But alive.
There.
“Fuck!” Milo said, going in for one of those one-armed hugs with lots of shoulder slaps. “What the fuck?”
“Dom?” another voice called, making all of us turn to find Remo awake and standing but frozen in place in the living room.
“Remo,” Dom said, giving the other man a nod.
Then Remo was closing the distance, grabbing Dom in a quick bear hug.
“Where the fuck have you been?” he asked.
“What the fuck happened to her?” Dom asked when his gaze finally landed on me. “Who was it? Where is he?”
His hands curled into fists, looking ready to turn right around and head back out to bash some heads together.
“Long story,” Remo said.
I swear he looked suddenly five years younger.
“What happened to you?” Remo asked.
“Long story too. I need a shower. And food. And a drink. Then maybe we can talk about it.”
Milo went to grab some clothes for his cousin to change into while Remo melted into one of the dining chairs, his hand draped over his eyes.