Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“This isn’t a vacation. You were shot and run over,” I drew out.
She flapped her good hand, waving that away. “Whatever you call it, I’m going back to Harlow tomorrow.”
“No.”
Genny cocked her head, looking at me like I slipped into another language. “What was that?”
“I said no. You’re not leaving. All we know about this guy is we don’t know anything about him— Scratch that. We know he’s recruiting hit men and everyone else in the city who wants the Merchants dead. You’re not going. It’s too dangerous.”
Don’t get me wrong, Liam and Genny already looked alike, but when Genevieve had that smirk on her lips, she was his twin. “How do you plan to stop me?”
“I’ll pop your tires.”
Genny barked a laugh. “Touché.”
“I’m serious, Genny. Since the bullet didn’t convince you, I’ll say it. You’re not made of steel.”
“Ugh, you sound like Fuller. I may not be made of steel, but I’m also not a three-year-old. Your baby is over there,” she said, pointing to Laurel. “She’s not lying in this bed with you. Give your orders to someone else.”
Irritation heated my skin. Oh yes, Liam and Genny were twins no matter what their years apart said. “Those aren’t orders, you deeply vexing woman. It’s called concern. It’s been a very hard decade. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you.”
“Huh.” Genny eyed me over her beer. “So you’re falling for me too. Knocking my brothers down one by one, and you decided to add FGH to the conquest list.”
I flung myself on the sheets. “I give up.”
“So easily?” Damned if she wasn’t enjoying herself. “Gonna have to work harder than that if you want me.”
“I thought the threesome was already booked.”
We laughed. Genny sobered first.
“Seriously, I’ll be fine. I’ve got a new place and I’ve increased security around Barbarella’s. No one is getting that close again.”
“How do you know this new place is any safer? You don’t know how they found your last one.”
She raised her shoulders. “I was tailed by someone good. I’ll be more vigilant from here on.”
“Where is it?”
Winking, she tapped her nose. “Nice try.”
“That wasn’t a test. Tell me where you’ll be, so next time we can send the rescue crew to you instead of you crashing into it.”
“Rescue crew, my ass. Anyone comes busting in like I’m some damsel in distress will get their asses kicked too.”
“Genevieve!”
“Whoops. Now you are starting to sound like Fuller.” Genny rolled off the bed onto her seat. “I’m gone, but come up tonight with some of Shonda’s cooking and we’ll hang out. Last night before I leave, bring up more booze too. Hendrix doesn’t want me drinking while I’m on pain meds.”
“Ah, okay. So I won’t be bringing booze.”
She rolled her eyes like I was being difficult. “You can still come, but don’t forget the food. If Shonda makes her green chile ribs, take the whole pan while she’s not looking.”
Thankfully, Shonda didn’t make her green chile ribs, so I didn’t have to face the consequences of running off with her cooking. I brought up three plates of roasted pork sandwiches, my sister, and my baby. The four of us stretched out on the couch watching movies while Laurel climbed on us, and I took my shot during the lulls to convince Genny to stay. Even backed up by Sienna, we couldn’t get through that stubborn wall of badass confidence.
“How about this?” Genny broke in. “I will consider it. Genuinely consider it... for a beer.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. “That’s evil.”
She grinned wider than a kookaburra. “Isn’t it, though? I’m so naughty. So what’s it going to be, Feisty? If I leave and something happens to me, you’ll regret that you didn’t do everything you could to stop me.”
“Sienna, what does the future say about me killing her myself?”
They were both laughing at me. “It’s looking likely.”
Huffing, I handed Laurel off to Sienna and went to get the manipulative menace a nonalcoholic beer. I didn’t care if I had to go to the corner store.
I rushed out and collided into a hard chest.
“Oops—”
“Sorry—”
“I didn’t—”
“Are you okay?”
Bane and I untangled ourselves from each other.
“Sorry,” I said.
“Don’t have to apologize.” Bane straightened, stretching his tight white tee across his pecs. It hurt how handsome he was. An easy smile hung on his lips, sticking even as awkward silence came in, threatening to kill us.
He gestured. “I’m just here to see Genny. She wants to outfit her crew with some new, upgraded firepower.”
“She wants me to circumvent doctor’s orders and get her drunk.”
Bane chuckled. “Sounds like her. All right, see you.”
He made to sidestep me, but I moved with him. “Bane, what’s going on? You’ve been weird since we left New York.”
Pushing out his lips, he shook his head. “I haven’t been weird. Why would you say that?”
“Because we haven’t talked. We didn’t talk this morning at the house while we ate and got ready to leave. We barely spoke on the plane, and when we got home, you just said ‘get some rest’ and went up to your place. Now you’re shaking me off after barely a conversation.”