Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“Don’t worry about those,” I say, waving her concern away.
“Are you sure? My understanding is a project like this can take years to get through committee.”
“Trust me, we’ll breeze through. I know some people.” I don’t tell her that my brother is the Don of an Italian Famiglia, my husband a high-ranking member of an Irish crime clan, and they’re allied with a powerful Russian Bratva. The little triumvirate of crime has been doing very well lately, and I suspect their combined weight will make sure we get anything we need.
“Then it seems like we’re in good shape.” Jessica laughs lightly, fixing her hair. “You know, when you first hired me, I thought this was going to take years before we actually opened. But here we are just a few months later, and we’re already touring physical space.”
“I know what you mean. But honestly, we can’t get this open soon enough.”
“By the way, did you land on a name yet? I know you were leaning toward Second Chances.”
I pause to brush my fingers down a support beam. I wonder how many women will stand right here in this spot in the years to come. How many lives we’ll help?
“I was thinking I’d call it Elena’s Second Chances. I know it’s a bit long, but it’s important to me.”
“Elena’s works.” Jessica jots the name down. She’s very familiar with her predecessor and what happened. The story in the media is that the car malfunctioned and catastrophically exploded. I’m not sure anyone really believes it. Jessica hasn’t asked.
We leave the building together. The realtor’s waiting out front, checking her phone, and she brightens when we approach. “What did you two think?”
“Make an offer,” I tell her. “Two percent below asking. But give them whatever they want.”
She laughs, tapping at her screen. “Sounds good to me. I’ll be in touch soon.”
We watch her stride off to her little fancy car. Jessica squints at the sky and checks her notes. “I should get going. Are you headed back to the office?”
There’s a black BMW with dark tinted windows parked nearby. I smile at it and shake my head toward Jessica. “No, I don’t think so. I’ll probably take a walk around the neighborhood and get a feel for it.”
“Are you sure? I can come with.”
“No, that’s okay. Take an early day for once. You’ve more than earned it.”
She nods sharply, tucking her clipboard under her arm. Then she pulls me into a quick hug, which is a surprise. Jessica’s normally so reserved.
“This is going to be good,” she says. “I’m really excited to build something great.”
Once she’s gone, I stroll over to the car. I lean against the driver’s door as the window rolls down.
“Fancy seeing you here,” I remark, eyebrows raised.
Cormac grins, casually leaning against the center console. “You spotted me right away.”
“You’re not subtle these days.”
“Maybe I wanted to be found.”
“How do you feel about a walk?”
He pushes the door open. I step back to let him out. “I feel good about it.”
I slip my arm through his. We head down the block together, going nice and slow. He asks about the building, about everything we’ll have to do, but mostly we stroll along in comfortable silence.
Nobody bothers us. They wouldn’t, not in this neighborhood. Some of the shop owners nearby recognize Cormac as we pass, and they nod respectfully. Most people have no clue the greatest killer of his generation is wandering among them with his loving, doting wife.
“I have a deadline for you,” I tell him once we’re on our way back to the car. The sun streams through the trees, and a couple of younger kids on bikes glide past.
“Really? I didn’t know we made those for each other.”
“Now we do.” I pat his arm softly. “I know you’ve been wanting kids.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Might be true. Who’s to say?”
“Again, not subtle.”
“You’re busy. We both know it’s not the right time.”
“But I’m trying to say… the right time’s coming.”
He watches me. The excitement in his eyes makes my stomach flip. God, I love this man so much, it kills me.
“When?” he asks, sounding eager.
“Once Elena’s is officially open. Then we’ll start having kids.”
“How many?”
“One at a time, I figure.”
“Funny, but I’m serious.”
“I’m maxing out at three and reserve the right to stop at two.”
“Any way I can negotiate you higher?”
“Not a chance.”