Page 21 of Recklessly In Love With A Ruthless Savage

“Um, no I-I’m gonna go, " she said.

“Okay, see you tomorrow. Hey, if you see Tyra, can you send her in here please. Thanks.”

“Sure.”

I could hear some commotion out in the hall and knew Tyra was nearby. My girl was loud and a little hood but she was great at her job and the residents and families loved her.

“Yes, ma'am, how can I help you?” She grinned. “You were so busy with your boss I didn’t think you would have enough energy to do anything after his visit.” She laughed.

“Did you knock on my door earlier?” I asked. I could have sworn I heard someone at my door while Crew had me bent over fucking the shit out of me.

“No. Why?”

“Someone knocked on my door a while ago when I was with Crew. I thought it might have been you,” I told her, not telling her that they may or may not have heard Crew and I fucking.

“What did you guys talk about?”

“That’s why I needed to talk to you. He offered me a proposition.”

“Okay, now we’re talking. What did he propose?”

“That's just it . He asked me to marry him.”

“Bitch I know you fuckin lyin?” She gasped.

“No, I’m not. He wants me to marry him so he can look like a stable business man instead of a playboy. Would you think I’m crazy if I told you I was actually considering it?”

“Girl, hell no! That man is fine plus he’s got to be a millionaire or something. And by the way he had you walking on air this weekend the dick has to be mind blowing, she joked. You better jump back on that before someone else beats you to it. He clearly needs a wife so if you don’t agree then he’ll have to ask someone else.”

She was right, and thinking about him marrying someone else gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Yeah, you’re right but I’ll have to consider Timberly and how she may feel about it. She’s been asking me when I was going to get her a dad, so maybe she’ll be okay with all this.”

“Well there you go. Get my girl Timber a daddy and you too.” She smiled.

This was a big decision and I wasn’t going to make it without considering all the pros and cons.

Unknown: You think you can replace me?

Unknown: I'm going to make you beg for forgiveness.

Unknown: I’m coming for you.

The text messages were getting more frequent and any other time I would be packed up and running for the hills, but this time was different. Timberly and I are happy here. We’ve put down roots finally after all the years of running scared. I couldn’t let Kyle keep ruining our lives.

CHAPTER 10

Crew

It had been a month since I technically proposed to Nova. We meant via Zoom every day to train her on policy and procedures that would improve her skills as a director. It took all the discipline I possessed not to go back to the facility and fuck her all over her office everyday but I needed her to have a clear mind and really think about the proposition that I had presented. She seemed to be onboard but I understand that she needed to make sure her daughter would be okay with such a big change. The fact that she was such a good mother made me want her that much more. Anyone else would have been all over me just because of my name alone even without being told what they would get outside of being married to me.

I had had a few casual flings but nothing since Sabrina passed. The office was silent except for the steady tick of the clock on the wall that read 10:37 p.m. I sat at the head of the long mahogany table, alone under the dim recessed lights, the city of Timberline glittering coldly outside the windows. An untouched glass of bourbon sat by my elbow. The manila folder Janelle dropped on my desk hours ago sat open in front of me.

Before me was everything my contacts in Brookview had been able to gather on Nova’s ex. Kyle Harris. On paper, hewas clean, polished, educated and respected. But underneath was a different story. An associate of mine had loaned me his securities expert and he and his brother were able to dig up domestic violence reports buried with payoffs. Women paid to disappear. Deals cut in secret courtrooms.

I leaned back in the chair, closing my eyes for a second too long. And there she was. Sabrina, sitting across from me in the passenger seat of my old black Charger, laughing, messy hair blowing in the night wind.

"One day, Crew," she said, grinning at me like she could see a future I couldn't yet. “You’re gonna find someone you’re scared to lose. And when you do... don't waste time. Don’t wait for perfection. Just claim her."

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