Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“Tova.” Marks sighs loudly.
“I know it sounds lame, but it’s true.” Tova glances around. “We’ll ah, talk about that later.”
“How are we going to talk when the warden took your phone?”
“I got a new one.” Tova pulls it out like she is going to show it to her.
“Little mouse,” I say gently to her.
“Oh right, how did you know Warren was at the strip club?” I snap the band again.
“I told you I went poking around after I found out you were marrying Warren Marino.”
“But how long have you known about the Marino family? I never said that name to you before.” Good girl, she was protecting us before she was one of us. Marks is quiet for a long moment, knowing my little mouse has caught her.
“I’ve known from almost the start,” she finally admits.
“Almost the start?” Tova repeats.
“I’m nosy, you know that.” Tova nods her head. “So once we started talking all the time, I looked into you to make sure you weren’t a weirdo. Once I saw your location, the rest came together.” The line goes quiet again. “Tova?”
“I’m here.” Tova shifts on her feet. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“What was I going to say? Hey, I know you live on the Marino compound when you never say that name?”
“It’s a farm.”
“Fine, a farm.” I didn’t know you could hear an eye roll till now. “I didn't snoop until you told me you were marrying Warren. There isn't a ton online about him, and…” She pauses.
"You're welcome." Z smirks at a job well done by him.
"I was worried. Everything seemed to be happening so fast.”
"You tried to talk her out of marrying me," I cut in.
"Yeah, I did, dickhead. Chilling at the strip club while Tova over here has been crushing on you for years!"
"Marks!" Tova hisses.
"Sorry, I'm mad. He's a douche canoe, and then he took your phone. Oh, and let's not forget how he is now trying to find me. Good luck, dipshit."
"Told you. Ball buster."
"Who is that?" Marks asks. “One of the brothers?” Tova looks at me, and I nod.
“Yes,” Tova answers her. “See, we were friends first, and Marks only peeked into you out of concern for me. That’s why she was going to help me run if I needed to.”
Peeked?
“But she wouldn't run because you’re holding her parents over her head.” I can’t deny that.
“Warren isn’t great with talking things out. He wouldn't hurt my parents.” Tova gives me a hard stare while nodding, indicating that I should verbally agree. I cannot.
“He'll kill your parents if they try to take you from him. Might as well get that straight.”
“Warren?” Tova's expression changes, becoming harder to read, so I tread lightly.
“I told you never to put anyone between us.” Tova’s brows lift. I gave her that warning very clearly. “But I would not have killed your parents if you refused to marry me.”
“Nah, War doesn’t need a marriage license. He’ll just keep you.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I bark at my brother.
"Is that true?" Tova's lips pull up on one side.
"You're mine, and you're not going anywhere." That's as much as I'm going to say. My wife and I are in a good place. I don't need anyone fucking that up.
"As long as she wants to be there, I can't make her leave. That said, if I were you, I'd mind my p's and q's because if she does want to run, I will help her. So it would behoove you to be a very good boy."
"Good boy!" Z bursts into laughter. Tova covers her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her giggles as well.
I'm not sure what to make of this. Her friend is loyal, which is a good thing, but could she help my wife leave me? I'm not so sure about that.
"I'm not going anywhere." Tova rubs circles with her hand on my chest, trying to soothe me. It might be working.
Chapter Twenty-Three
TOVA
Ican’t keep the smile off my face knowing Marks proved to them that she wasn’t some plant and is really my friend. Warren might not be super happy about all of this, but I am, knowing I get to keep Marks. He, Z, and she went around and around about the logistics and computer stuff and other things I don’t fully understand. All I know is the end result is that my phone is now deemed safe to speak with Marks.
"It's female intuition," I tell my husband. "I knew Marks was really my friend, just like I knew you were always stealing glances at me." I thought I made that up in my mind, but nope. "You were more than stealing glances, you little stalker."
"Little stalker?"
"Okay." I wave my hands around him. "Big stalker." Warren isn't fully convinced, but I think he gave in for me. I could also tell from Z's reactions to everything that he was shocked with what Warren was letting me get away with, or I suppose talking him into.