Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“So, what brings you back to town, anyway? Your mom never told me what you do for work.”
“That’s the thing. I’m taking a bit of a sabbatical. I was in security for a pretty large-scale operation, but I recently got a big promotion. It’s a lot to handle, and it was just time for a break from the pressure.”
“Considering how well you just handled those two guys, I wonder if your bosses will be alright without you.”
“They’ll survive. People like them always do.”
“Sounds kind of intriguing.”
I point out the window. “Yes, and it looks like we’re here so we’ll just have to delve into my work life some other time.”
“Is your mother expecting you? She didn’t say anything about it.”
“No. That’s another reason why I was walking. I wanted to surprise her. I’m thinking maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. It’s been so long that I don’t want to give her a heart attack. Maybe you should come in with me to soften the shock of it all.”
“If you think that’s alright, I’d like that. I don’t really feel like being alone just yet.”
“Then it’s settled. You’re coming with me.”
I take the old familiar walk up the brick pathway to the front porch but this time with Tess beside me. If she’d been here when I was younger, I might not have ever left town. I wouldn’t have risen from Shestyorka to Pakhan in the Russian mob.
I’m glad it didn’t happen that way. Without the money and power, I wouldn’t be the man I am today and I wouldn’t have as much to offer to a girl like her. No, now is the right time for me to meet this perfect angel. Once I win her heart, I can give her the kind of life a girl like her deserves.
I raise my hand to knock, but Tess just grabs the knob and opens the door.
“Marta, it’s Tess. I have someone here who wants to see you.”
“Tess?”
My mother enters the room. She’s smaller and more frail than I remember, but she looks good. She takes one look at me and begins to cry.
“My boy! Torin, my sweet boy!” She rushes across the room, and I catch her in my arms.
As we embrace, I look at Tess who’s beaming. Our eyes meet and I hold her gaze for several moments before she says, “Looks like you two have a lot to catch up on so I’m going to go.”
“Wait, you don’t have to,” I argue. “You said you didn’t want to be alone.”
“No, it’s alright. I feel better now. I’m coming by tomorrow to show your mother what I’ve been working on. See you then?”
“Yes, of course. Let me walk you to the car.”
“No, stay here. It’s alright. This is the better part of town.”
She leaves but I remain at the door, watching to make sure she gets into her car safely. My mother takes my hand and says, “You were always so protective of women. I’m glad to see that hasn’t changed over the years.”
“Yeah, well. She’s a pretty special girl, Mama.”
“She is. I absolutely adore her. I’m glad you two met. Now, let’s have some tea and you can tell me all about your life in the city. I’ve missed you so much.”
2
TESS
Marta isn’t expecting me until noon, but if I sit and stare at the clock for a second longer, I’ll probably lose my mind.
To say that I find Marta’s son intriguing is an understatement. I mean it can’t be a coincidence that he showed up just in time to save me, can it? Then there’s the fact that I’ve never seen a man like him before.
He’s a lot older than me but handsome and very well put together. It’s obvious that he takes care of himself since he so easily took down two men half his age, and he did it in a three-piece suit and wool overcoat. I bet that’s never happened in this sleepy, little town before.
It’s not just that he’s handsome and a sharp dresser. It’s the way I felt when I was with him. He doesn’t even know me, but I could tell he wanted to protect me. Even after he took care of those men, he still wanted to comfort me. After the initial shock of his massive size wore off, I felt completely safe with him. I’ve never trusted anyone enough to feel like that before.
I arrive at Marta’s place and, without thinking twice, open the door and step inside. I close the front door and hear a door down the hall open and close. Thinking Marta must have heard me come in, I step into the center of the living room and nearly drop to my knees.
Torin, naked except for the towel wrapped around his waist, steps out of the hallway and stands right in front of me. His wet, black hair drips water onto his massive pecs, and I can’t stop looking at them.