Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
What was he doing?
I squeezed tighter.
He twisted his hips to break free from my hold.
I held tight, relishing the feel of his pulse against my forearm. “Go to sleep. Go. To. Sleep …”
“Stop it!” A vase crashed over my head. I looked up to see if Jordyn had done it, but to my surprise, my daughter—the child from my very own kingly loins—hit me?
Anatoly had said the same thing. Man, now I knew how he felt. Betrayal by blood …
I climbed to my feet. “I should—I should—”
“You were always afraid to whoop me, and I’m too old now,” Natasha retorted.
Jordyn flew onto the ground next to Jamie, hugging him close.
I stared at the silly display. Shook my head. Some women liked to be slapped around. Used too. What could you do?
“Listen, Pop.” Sighing, Natasha stepped in front of me, her hand soft along my jaw. And I melted. She was my little girl. My only little girl. “I got it all wrong. Jamie was a victim, along with Jordyn when they were kids. Jordyn told me how he finally saved her while we ran downstairs to stop what shouldn’t have started.”
I pointed the finger at my brother’s ugly face.
“Snitch,” Simeon muttered.
Yeah, well, your face looks like a dog. A heavyweight champ like me had no problem badmouthing someone. Blood be damned. However, I’d stopped saying that aloud once I found out that Simeon was actually my half brother instead of my cousin. Felt sorry for the guy. Anatoly was his uncle and father. Which was why Simeon always told me he was “a Resnov more Resnov than anyone” with an acerbic chuckle. I thought he was being arrogant until I learned the truth. Who wouldn’t be sorry for someone connected to that?
Eh, maybe I stopped telling Simeon that his face looked like a dog’s rear on account that my wife told me we looked alike. Did I believe Zariah?
Nyet.
As I hugged my daughter, Jordyn helped Jamie to his feet. She feathered a finger over his jaw, the way Zariah would—when my opponent actually touched me. It was a nice feeling. The soft touch of a woman.
Jordyn groaned. “Oh, baby. Look at your face. We’re supposed to be getting married today.”
Jamie stared at her.
“I figured out the celebration.” She smiled at him.
“Sounds good.” Simeon scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Will there be an open bar?”
“If there isn’t, the two of you can front the bill.” My daughter. Her attitude. So much like her mother.
I snorted. “Nyet. I’m not a piggybank. I will relinquish a case of Resnov Water, though. Depends on how many guests are at this wedding.” The family vodka sold very well. Hook Scots on vodka and not that piss of a whisky they drank. Take their money? Heh. Sounded good to me.
Jamie smiled down at Jordyn. “Are you sure, JorJor? There’s nothing I want more than to marry you today.”
“Do you have a dress?” Natasha asked.
Jordyn bit her lip. “Well, no.”
“You can wear my prom dress.”
Jordyn gasped. “The dress Adrian—”
“Not that dress,” Natasha bit off.
My eyes narrowed. Did my daughter want Jordyn to kill the conversation?
“I was smaller two years ago,” Natasha added, fidgeting with her fingers.
“Oh, baby,” I groaned. The chemo had her thinner than a rail. Wait. I wasn’t falling into that trap. “You didn’t wear that $7000 prom dress?”
“Of course.” The vulnerability on her face faded. “You took the photos, Pop!”
I glared at my daughter. “Cutie Pie …”
“Okay. I changed. Besides, what you bought was a wedding dress.” Natasha’s eyes cut to mine. “I can imagine a gushing bride—not me—gliding down the aisle in a dress just like that.”
I scratched the back of my neck. “It doesn’t …” It made her look pure, innocent. She was pure and innocent.
“Okay, thanks.” Jordyn nodded. She looked at Jamie. “Then it’s settled. We are getting married today, and I have a $7000 dress. Eeekk!”
“You better listen to her,” I suggested, reaching down for my gun. “She sounds like my—”
My phone vibrated in my pocket. “Everyone quiet!” I ordered. Rubbing the side of my knuckle in my eye, I answered Zariah. “Honey, you’re snorkeling today, right?” I pinched the bridge of my nose while Simeon answered his phone too. Anastasiya. Had to be. They liked to double-team us when they went on vacation. Then, they’d share notes from the call. It was what happened when you marry an attorney, and your brother marries a woman that fits the role of Tsarina to a T. Our wives were beautiful. Trouble. Worth the trouble.
Simeon walked away as Zariah gushed in awe. “Yes. The coral reefs. The colorful fish. So amazing, Vassili. I wish you enjoyed going on vacations. Anastasiya and I just returned to the resort and showered. Now we’re headed to dinner. Did you all go to church and drop off the Christmas gifts nobody helped me wrap?”