Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“It’s done. He agreed to eighty percent of what we asked for at the price I quoted.”
Dante nodded. “That’s better than I expected.”
“You took eighty percent?” Rafe asked.
Dante frowned. “It’s a steal.”
“I just don’t like you giving in to that bastard. I don’t think we should be working with him at all.”
Neither did I, but I wasn’t given that choice. “I’d prefer to wipe him off the face of the Earth, but he does have the best equipment, and he’s willing to give it to us for a price I’m willing to pay.”
Dante studied me for a moment. “Something else happened tonight. Why did you stay longer than you meant to?”
“Dimitri was busy. There were lots of other guests. I had to wait for a chance to get him alone.”
Rafe shook his head. “He was fucking salivating to talk to you about this sale. It’s the only reason he invited you. He would’ve made himself available. Tell us what else happened.”
Every time I convinced myself Rafe was as dumb as he acted, he showed me he was much more perceptive than I realized. I wished he’d use that side of his brain more often instead of only listening to his dick. “There’s nothing to tell. I went to the party, suffered through talking to the asshole guests, cornered Dimitri, and cut a deal.”
“Where’s your tie?” Dante asked.
I barely stopped myself from reaching up a hand to feel for it. It was on the floor of Nikolai’s room. In my haste to get dressed, I’d never put it back on. I never made mistakes like that. Had Dimitri noticed my tie was gone? Probably, but he likely thought I’d taken one of the female guests up to a room like I’d suggested to his brother. “I didn’t wear one.”
“That is a lie,” Rafe said. “You’re always perfectly dressed, especially when you think it might give you an advantage over other people. You buy into Remington’s idea that good style is the ultimate sign of power.”
Seriously, why couldn’t he be this smart when it came to business? “Fine. I had a little fun at the party, and I forgot my tie when I was done.”
Rafe grinned. “That’s more like it. Tell us all about it.”
Dante frowned. “Do not do that. I don’t need details.”
“At least tell me who it was,” Rafe said.
I tried to keep my face neutral. I was normally damn good at it, but I was rattled, and my brothers knew me too well.
“Ooh. I think we’re about to hear something juicy,” Rafe said.
Dante glared at me. “What happened?”
“I don’t have to tell you every move I made. You know what’s up with Dimitri. We’ll get our weapons within three days. I’m going to bed.”
Dante grabbed my arm as I headed for the stairs. I snarled as I turned around. “Let me go. I’ve had a long night.”
“I could’ve had a long night too,” Rafe said. “But I was sitting here, bored off my ass, waiting on you to get home. Now I find out you’ve been fucking some hot guy in Dimitri’s house, and I want to know who it was.”
Dante rolled his eyes. “You’re such a kid. That’s not what he’s hiding. I don’t give a damn if he fucked some guy at a party. I don’t have time to keep up with either one of you in that area.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t be so damn critical if you were getting enough yourself.”
I’d had it. “Both of you shut up and get out.”
“No,” Dante said. “Something happened, something that’s got you worried. I want to know what the fuck it is.”
I sighed and sank down onto one of the stairs.
“Shit,” Rafe said. “Are you all right?” He sat down on one of the lower steps. Dante remained leaning against the banister.
“I fucked Niko, Dimitri’s son.”
“Oh my God, what were you thinking?” Dante yelled as Rafe slapped my thigh and said, “Damn, go you.”
Dante growled. “Rafe, shut up. This is not something to celebrate. If Dimitri finds out—”
“We’ll have to kill him,” Rafe said. “Would that be so bad?”
Suddenly, he was an idiot again. “Have we taught you nothing?”
He rolled his eyes. “I know, I know, it could start a war. We could get hurt, and you think you have to be our protector.”
“Don’t,” I yelled. “I fucked up once. I won’t do it again. I lost my control tonight, but Dimitri won’t find out, and everything will be fine.”
“I want to hear a little more,” Dante said.
“I thought you didn’t want any details,” Rafe teased.
“I don’t mean about how good the sex was.”
“Was it good?” Rafe asked.
I glared at him, and he slumped against the wall.
“Dimitri pissed me off, and so did the others there. They have absolutely no standards, no concern for anyone. Dimitri is forcing Nikolai to make an alliance with the Ivanovs.”