Custom Built (Fast & Fury #1) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,33

them back, too. And I did the new parts order and sent that off, and I finished sorting all the receipts for the accountant,” I add.

“How did we run this place without you?” he asks.

“I have no idea,” I admit, and then blurt out, “Why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

So much for being patient and waiting until it just happened.

His eyes widen. “I was waiting for the right time.”

“Oh.”

“I had no idea you were waiting for it.” Crow chuckles, moving closer to me. After looking up at him through my lashes, I drop my gaze to his soft, very kissable lips.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say no” is my eloquent reply, before he lowers himself to his knees, cups my face with his hands and presses his lips against mine. Cam and Abbie walk in and start cheering and catcalling, but the sound of them is just background noise. All my senses are on Crow, his scent, the taste of his lips. The sensation of his thumb rubbing across my cheek.

When he pulls back, I feel dizzy, the butterflies in my stomach are out of this world, and I’m lost in those blue eyes.

“You have been through a lot, and I was just waiting until the timing was right,” he says against my lips, kissing me again.

“Anytime is the right time,” I say when I find my words.

It was the best kiss I’ve ever had in my life.

The kiss.

And boy, was it worth the wait.

I grab Crow’s face and pull him back down to me. He’s not getting away that easily.

Another long, deep kiss, our tongues working magic, my legs pressing together of their own accord, unable to contain the way he turns me on.

“Get a room!” I hear Cam call out, along with Abbie saying, “We’re still here, guys.”

I don’t care who sees.

Crow ends the kiss once more, a wolfish grin on his handsome face. “Bronte, fuck. You were so worth the wait.”

He took the words right out of my mouth.

Chapter Eleven

I can’t stop smiling on the way to Nadia’s, to the point where my cheeks actually start hurting, but I can’t help it. My first kiss with Crow was more than I ever imagined.

Nadia is busy with work when I arrive, surrounded by paperwork. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she says, lifting her head up. “So, I’ve got some good news, and some bad news.”

“Hit me with the good news first,” I tell her, sitting down.

“Well, I’ve done some research and I’ve started a suspect list just going by other drug dealers in the city and those in nearby turfs who might have wanted your dad and uncle out of the picture.”

“Okay, that does sound promising. What’s the bad news?” I press.

“There’s not much information I can find about them. None, even. And there’s nothing on your dad or uncle either. On paper, neither man has ever done anything illegal—your dad worked a normal construction job and Neville has several legitimate businesses he hides behind, one being a farm. I guess this is good news, really, because their tracks are so well covered no one is ever going to find out what they’ve been up to,” she continues, going through a notebook in front of her, her curly hair covering her face like a curtain. “But bad news for us because it gives us nothing to go on. I’m not sure how we are going to figure this out. I’ve tried your dad’s finances, and I’m going through the phone records now. We need to speak to your uncle, though. He’s the only one who can help, by giving us inside information.”

“I think you might be right,” I say, sighing.

I haven’t spoken to him since the day I left his house, and I know he’s not going to want to willingly give me any information. One, because it’s likely going to get me into trouble, and two, because it means letting me into this double life they’ve both been living. I know he doesn’t want me to have any kind of involvement with that. Without letting me see this other side of him, though, I’m not going to be able to find out who really killed my dad. And I know my uncle wants that, too. I need him to let me in, but that also means I need to let go of any judgment, because that’s not fair otherwise.

And I know that’s why he’s not telling me, because he doesn’t want my judgment, but the time for pretense is over. “I’ll speak