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)
“Lancelot and I will be there in an hour to discuss how we’re going to handle the Russians. I want your brother there too.”
“Which one?” As usual, he’d started right in like we were in the middle of a conversation.
“Dante. Do you really think I want to deal with the shit Rafael is going to say?”
I ran my fingers through Niko’s hair, hoping to soothe him back to sleep. “What if I told you both of them were already here?”
“Fine, but if Rafael runs his mouth, he’s out. I’ll be there soon.”
Remington ended the call, and I leaned down to whisper to Niko. “I’ve got to shower and get dressed. Remington and Lancelot Theriot are coming for a visit.”
His eyes widened. “What will they do with me?”
“Nothing. We’re going to find the best plan to get you somewhere safe and take care of your father and Ivanov.”
He frowned. “Where will you send me?”
“I don’t know yet, but I won’t agree to any plan that would make you uncomfortable.” I wanted that to be true, but I had a feeling that he wouldn’t like any plan where I wasn’t with him, and neither would I.
He nodded. “Okay.”
“Try to get some more sleep.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost nine o’clock.”
He stretched, and I enjoyed the sight of my T-shirt moving against his body. “I shouldn’t still be sleeping.”
“You’re injured, and I kept you up much too late. Rest while I get ready and call my brothers. I’ll have someone bring breakfast up. The TV remote is on the nightstand if you can’t sleep.”
He nodded, but I could tell he was worried. I hated the idea of sending him away. Who could I trust to look after him other than my brothers?
The highly trained guards Remington would send to a safe house.
With anyone else, I wouldn’t question that was protection enough, but Niko was different.
And why is that?
Because I was the reason he was here.
And what would have happened if you hadn’t decided to go to his room? He’d be in Ivanov’s hands now.
I shuddered as nausea curled in my stomach. I couldn’t let myself think about what that man would have done to Niko.
Tell yourself the truth.
He was here because he was mine. I let the enormity of that sink in as I stepped into the shower. I’d let myself make a rash decision, and now I’d let myself want someone I would have changed my own rules for. Did I dare?
Once I was dressed in a clean button-down and dress pants, I stepped onto the balcony to make sure the guards were where they should be. The man stationed below looked up immediately when I slid the door open. “Everything quiet out here?” I asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Stay alert.”
“Yes, sir.”
I pulled out my phone and called Dante.
“I’ve got to leave for class in five minutes,” Dante said. “What’s up?”
“I need you here. Remington’s coming to discuss our next move.”
“Didn’t you hear me earlier? I told you I have to work today.”
Niko was far more important than his classes. “You’re going to have to get someone to cover for you.”
He sighed, and I knew he wasn’t going to argue anymore. “You fucking owe me.”
“I know.”
I called Rafe next. He answered with a groggy hello.
“Were you still asleep?”
“Fuck, yes, I was still asleep. Dante took the other bedroom, so I slept on the couch.”
“It’s a perfectly comfortable couch.”
“Not when it’s right under your room, where you’re staking your claim on your little Russian.”
“Fuck off.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Remington’s on his way to make plans. You need to clean yourself up, get dressed, and figure out how to remain calm while he’s here.”
“I’m the picture of calm.”
“Rafe.”
He snorted. “I’m getting dressed now. It’s going to be a hell of a day, isn’t it?”
“It sure is.”
I sent Dante to stay with Niko while Rafe and I greeted Remington. Lancelot had brought Tony, his pet monkey. They were basically inseparable. He headed right to the kitchen to get Tony some dried fruit to snack on.
“Where’s Dante?” Remington asked once I’d ushered him into the living room and offered him a drink.
“In my room, guarding Niko.”
He gave me a pointed look. “In your room?”
“Dimitri broke the window in the guest room.”
“One of your guest rooms. There are other options.” I held his gaze. If he thought he would intimidate me, he was wrong. “Dante doesn’t need to be with him. You have plenty of guards surrounding the house now.”
“I don’t want him out of our sight.”
“Do you think he’ll run?”
I stared at Remington for a moment, then realized he didn’t know Niko or anything about our situation other than the fact I’d fucked him for revenge.
Was that really the reason?
“No, I think his father will come back for him.”
Remington shook his head. “He’ll need longer to regroup after last night.”
“We can’t count on that. We need to get him to a more secure location.”