Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
She’d slept in those clothes. Or passed out in those clothes.
I blinked, pretending I didn’t see them, and sailed past her to the kitchen. After grabbing my coffee, I went back out and stepped to her. “I gotta go, Mom. Love you. Let me know when you want me to bring dinner, yeah?”
She didn’t say a word but moved in when I kissed her on the cheek.
I moved back, going for the door. “Love you again.”
The door closed behind me, and I took a breath, one, before resolving that I needed to get those steps fixed.
CHAPTER TEN
TRACE
Uncle Steph was the head of our family’s business, and when Uncle Steph called to have you come by, you did what he said. I’d put the call through to my assistant to have all my meetings rescheduled for the day, and instead of heading toward my office on Wall Street, I was being driven back to Red Hook.
We were halfway there when my phone began buzzing.
Ashton calling.
I hit accept. “Hey.”
“You’re heading to your uncle?”
I had texted him earlier. “Yeah.”
“You want me to come?”
“No. Uncle Steph only calls for a few reasons, and I’m guessing this has something to do with my father.”
“Let me know when you’re done.”
“I will.”
Ashton’s family and my family worked together at times and at other times were very separate. I had a feeling this meeting was a very separate thing, but I’d have to see. We were pulling up to my uncle’s house when I got a text.
Blocked Number: Here’s more information on her. Check out the mom situation.
I sighed but put my phone away. I’d have to look into that after the meeting. We pulled into the driveway and went to the back, and there were some of our family’s men waiting for me.
They were dressed in sweatsuits, white shirts under, and gold chains peeking out from under their jackets. All my uncle’s men were heavier, from either fat or muscle. All big. All imposing. Some was just for the intimidation factor, but I knew most of my uncle’s men were violent and had to be for him. That was the business they were in.
My car door was opened for me.
Bobby gave a nod. “Tristian.”
Bobby. Barrel. Buddha. They were the three main security guys around my uncle.
I didn’t care for any of them, but my uncle had his ways. I considered them to be in the “old” way, but it was what it was. I gave each a nod, noting none of them used my nickname, which was how it was supposed to be. Trace was used for those I liked.
I headed for the house as a door was opened by one of my uncle’s men.
I stepped in, seeing my uncle at the stovetop. A warm smile spread over his face. “Nephew Trace. Come here.” He put down his teapot and moved my way, his arms up and held out.
I stepped in, giving my uncle a hug. He held me tight a second before pounding my back one last time, then stepped away, but his hands remained on my shoulders. He was looking me over, a proud smile on his face. But he was always proud of me. He never kept that a secret. He shook me slightly. “My boy. My nephew. A big Wall Street guy. You’re doing well. Making our family proud. That’s what you’re doing.”
My throat swelled for a beat.
Dominic West was my father, but in so many ways, my real father was the man in front of me. They were brothers; my father was the eldest, but he was a screwup, and I meant that in a respectful manner, but it was what it was. He was a screwup. My uncle had stepped up to the plate and taken over the family business, and he’d been running it ever since he was twenty-two. It’d taken its toll with three divorces and one son who was dead from a drug overdose and another son who refused to acknowledge his father. My cousin wasn’t exiled by my uncle, but there was an unspoken understanding that no one brought up his name unless Uncle Steph did.
“How’s your sister?” He patted my shoulders one last time before moving back to the teapot and turning on the burner. He motioned to the table. “You want some tea? It’s a new thing my doctor turned me on to, and I have to say, I’m a fan. Once I had the Bengal spice tea, I was a goner. Also doesn’t hurt that my doc is a beautiful woman. I’ll do anything she says.”
I snorted because it was guaranteed she was sleeping with my uncle, but I moved to the table and slid into one of the chairs. The water must’ve been boiling when I first came in because he got two cups ready, dropping the teabags in, and brought them over to me. He grabbed a plate of bread and oil for dipping and also a small bowl of prunes.