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)
“I’m working on that,” Remington said.
“I need Dante downstairs.”
I could tell his patience was wearing thin. “I’ll send Rafe to Niko, then.”
Remington sighed. “It pains me to say this, but Lancelot convinced me we need Rafe too.”
Rafe gave Lance a thumbs-up.
Remington waved a hand toward his brother. “Go get Louis from out front and send him to Lorenzo’s balcony.”
I shook my head. “No.”
Remington’s glare almost had me backing down, but I held his gaze as I said, “I don’t know Louis, and neither does Nikolai.”
“And this is a problem, why?”
“Niko has been through a lot. He needs to be with someone familiar. I could have Dante bring him down here.”
The brief shock on Remington’s face before he covered it let me know I’d gone too far. I was losing it. I wasn’t even trying to hide how I felt about Niko.
“Absolutely not,” Remington growled. “This is family business.”
“Niko would rather fight for our family than his.”
“No. And why do you care how comfortable a prisoner is?”
Rafe cleared his throat. “Remington.” I tensed. What crazy thing was my brother going to say now? “Lorenzo has promised Niko his protection. He’s taking that vow very seriously.”
Remington huffed. “I hope that’s all you’re taking seriously. I told you to keep your hands off him.”
Rafe grinned. “Nikolai has to pay for his protection somehow.” How the fuck did Rafe know about that arrangement? “Right?” He winked at me, and I realized he was giving me an out.
Remington let out a long breath. “Maybe I should just kill all of you.”
“That wouldn’t solve your problem with Ivanov and Dimitri,” Rafe said.
I scowled at my brother. Now was not the time to anger Remington any further. We needed his help, and I needed him to work with me to keep Niko safe, because I would go against him if I had to, but it could be a death sentence for me.
“Very astute, Rafael. Do you have any other advice for me?”
“Well, I—”
“No,” I said. “He doesn’t.”
Lancelot, who’d been so much like Rafe at Rafe’s age, saved us by sending his pet monkey, Tony, over to Rafe. “Keep him company. I know all the plans, so I’ll go watch over Niko. Do you approve of that, Renzo?”
Lancelot was crazy, but I trusted him completely. “Yes. I’ll introduce you.” I turned to the stairs. Remington surprised me by letting me go without comment.
Lance had charmed Nikolai immediately, as I’d known the bastard would. If he weren’t so in love with Julian, I would have been worried, but I knew Niko was in danger with him.
When I returned, I joined Dante on the sofa across from Remington. Rafael was pacing with Tony on his shoulder. He wasn’t capable of sitting still for more than a few moments, and neither was the monkey.
“I promised Nikolai he will not be sent back to his father, no matter what happens.” I wanted that out in the open. It wasn’t something I would go back on, no matter what Remington said or did.
I’d let myself be tempted. I’d done something selfish and reckless, but this time I was going to make sure that everyone involved remained safe.
Remington’s face remained neutral as he held my gaze for several long seconds.
“Any man who would give his son to Ivanov doesn’t deserve to have a son,” he said. “We’ll make sure Nikolai can start his life over somewhere else.”
I nodded. That was as big a concession as I could expect. The fact that my insides were all twisted up at the thought of sending him away didn’t matter. Niko’s safety did. Dante glanced at me, but I deliberately looked away. If he knew what was good for him, he wouldn’t push the situation.
“Have you found out anything about Nikolai’s mother?”
“Nothing concrete. My best guess is she’s with Ivanov. He’d contacted her to see if she’d rat out Dimitri’s secrets.”
That wasn’t good. Ivanov wouldn’t keep her alive long.
“For now,” Remington said. “We’ll send Nikolai to a safe house.”
“With who?”
“With guards that I trust, and you should too. If I vouch for them, then they are certainly of a fine enough quality to take care of a Russian twink.”
I balled my fist at my side and started to stand. Dante used a hand on my shoulder to shove me back into my seat.
“You don’t like that description?” Remington asked. “Do you have another one you’d prefer?”
“Nikolai deserves respect and protection. He’s been abused, manipulated, and nearly handed over for Ivanov to destroy.”
“I know what Ivanov is. I wouldn’t risk Nikolai being put with him.”
“Then why are we working with him?” Rafe asked.
Remington snarled at me. “Keep your brother in line.”
“Rafe, keep your mouth closed and just listen.”
He glared at me, but he didn’t protest.
“As I said, Nikolai will go to a safe house. He’ll remain there until we have taken care of our problem with the Russians.”