Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Harlow was talking a lot and Larissa knew it was because she was trying not to panic. Baby Rosa started to cry.
“I need to go and feed her.”
Larissa nodded.
Everything was a mess. She didn’t know where Big Dick was. What did he know?
She ran her hands down her thighs, and she felt sick.
Just as she was about to get to her feet, Carlos made his way toward her. He was still on crutches after the attack, and this was really the first time she had seen him since.
“Hello, Carlos,” she said, moving toward him.
“Larissa, I was hoping I would get the chance to bump into you.”
“You were?”
“Yes. Do you mind if we sit for a moment?”
It was then she realized he actually looked quite tired, and she quickly became concerned for him.
“Yes, yes, of course.”
She also realized that he might be using it as an excuse to make her sit down. Larissa knew she probably looked a sight. Carrying two babies was taking its toll on her, and it wasn’t a good thing. Big Dick kept worrying about her. She missed being able to work, but she didn’t want to do anything that would harm her babies.
Once she was off her feet, she did feel a whole lot better.
“Is everything okay?” Larissa asked.
“I never got the chance to apologize to you,” he said.
She sighed. “You don’t need to—”
“I do. And this is not because my wife has told me I have to. This is because I want to. When Big Dick and I made that bet, I had no intention of following it through. I just, I’d been watching the way he’d been watching you, and it had been happening for months. Even before you came to work for Smokey, I’d see the way he looked at you. He never approached you. Big Dick has been in love with you for a long time, and I don’t know what kept holding him back. The moment you walked into a room, it was like he was drawn to you.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because, the bet, for me, was made with the best of intentions. It was never meant to hurt you.”
“I was never meant to find out,” she said.
“True. I was expecting Big Dick to have his wake-up call, and it took him a little longer than I expected, but we’re all here now, and we’re figuring it out.” He smiled at her. “I just ... he loves you.”
“I know,” Larissa said.
“You know?”
She chuckled. “He told me.”
“Please forgive me.”
Larissa reached out and put a hand on his knee. “You’re forgiven, but don’t go making any other bets with my husband.”
Carlos laughed. “Wow, Big Dick as a husband, who would have thought it?”
It was still surreal to Larissa, but it was a good feeling. She couldn’t help but twirl the ring around her finger.
****
“Big Dick, what are you doing here? It has been a fucking lifetime, buddy,” Alan Lowe said, and went in with the intention of hugging him.
“Where is he?” Big Dick asked.
Alan frowned.
“Cut the crap, okay? Whenever Andrew was in any kind of trouble, he’d come to you to fix it.”
“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Your family is in there, Alan. You want me to give them a reason to miss you? I’m here out of courtesy to you. Tell me where Andrew is, and I’ll make sure your family is protected.”
He watched as Alan went pale.
“The men, this gang your brother is suddenly hanging around with. Did he happen to mention they are the same ones that nearly killed two women in the shoot-out in town? Larissa was hurt, and he ran like a little coward.” Big Dick was fast losing his patience.
Alan stepped out of his home and pulled the door closed. “Andrew came to me a couple of nights ago. He said he was in some bad shit. I don’t know what exactly. You know the drill, Big Dick. We’ve been there. The less we know and all that shit. I had no idea it had anything to do with you.”
“I don’t give a shit. That little fucker told them where my family lives,” Big Dick said, suddenly grabbing Alan and throwing him up against the brick wall next to his door. “Do you fucking understand me? Erick has been taken. I know he’s been beaten and they’re going to fucking kill him. Men were sent to my brother’s, to my sister, and then to me. Because your loudmouth brother can’t keep his mouth shut. Where is he?”
He was past being polite. He was past being nice. It was time for him to get some answers, and the longer he waited, the higher the risk was to Erick. He didn’t give a fuck that for most of his life, he had hated that little prick. Erick was still his brother, and there was no way anyone was going to kill him. He was not going to allow it.