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)
He just laughed. “You’ll recover. Come on.”
We all got out, and Ambrose picked up Dimitri’s body and tossed it on the shore.
“Is this where Gerard comes up?” I asked Ambrose.
“Yes, it’s his favorite spot.” He motioned away from the water. “Everybody, move on back.” He turned to me. “Let’s get him out of the sheet. I’m sure that’s not good for Gerard.”
“Who’s Gerard?” Niko asked.
I glanced back at him, not sure how he was going to feel about our disposal plan. “Ambrose’s pet alligator.”
“Wait a minute,” Alina said. “What the fuck are you planning?”
“Gerard is going to help us with cleanup,” Ambrose said. “He likes a real good treat every now and then.”
“You’re going to feed my father to the alligator?” Niko asked.
I tensed. He hadn’t liked looking at the body, but he hadn’t seemed upset. Still, emotions had to be swirling in him. It had been hell the last few hours. “That’s the plan.”
After seeming to process that for a few seconds, Niko nodded. “I like it. It seems fitting.”
“Are you doing okay?” I asked him.
“Eventually, I will be. I’m a lot more worried about you. He hit you hard. You were unconscious.”
“Landry and I have hard heads. We’re going to make it.”
Ambrose whistled and began to call for his friend. A few seconds later, I noticed the bumpy back of an alligator above the surface. As he got closer, he stuck his head out of the water and looked right at Ambrose. “I’ve got you a treat, buddy. I’m going to push it in for you.”
I swear to God, the alligator nodded.
Niko backed up several more feet. “You’re sure this is safe?”
“We’re offering him food,” Ambrose said. “This body will more than fill him up, so he’s not going to be interested in the rest of us. He might even share it with some friends.”
“Alligators have friends?” Alina asked.
“Well, I’m his friend,” Ambrose said.
She nodded, looking at him like she thought maybe he’d been hit in the head a few too many times. That was nothing new—the whole family thought that constantly.
“All right, here goes.” Ambrose pushed the body into the water like he was launching a boat.
I put my arm around Niko, and he turned into me, burying his head against my neck. “I can’t watch.”
“You shouldn’t,” I said as the alligator found his snack and began to tear into it.
“I’m really glad Dimitri’s gone and no one will ever find him, but can we get out of here?” Alina asked.
Ambrose laughed. “Don’t want to see it through to the end, huh?”
“No, I don’t think we need that,” I said.
“All right, my cabin’s this way.” He motioned toward a narrow path. We followed him and all piled into the truck that sat in front of the cabin. He looked at Alina. “I hope your stomach’s settled now. It’s going to be a fun drive out.”
“How the hell do you drive from here?” Niko asked, looking all around. “I don’t see a road or even a path wide enough for a car.”
“That’s the fun of it,” Ambrose said.
I patted Niko’s shoulder. “Just buckle up.”
33
NIKOLAI
There were times—while tree branches slapped the car and we rattled over huge roots—that I wasn’t sure we would survive the drive. I did not want it to be Ambrose’s driving that killed us when we’d managed to kill my father and destroy Ivanov’s power.
We made it somehow. He took us to Remington’s family home out in Metairie. That’s where Dante was, and Remington had decided it would be the best place to meet and go over plans.
When we got there, I stayed back with Alina as Lorenzo raced inside to see his brother. Ambrose ushered all of us inside. Landry moved slowly. He was obviously still in pain, but he also seemed reluctant to join us.
“This is family business,” he said when Alina tried to help him up the steps. “I shouldn’t be here.”
“It’s medical business,” Alina said.
Ambrose rolled his eyes at the two of them as we stepped inside. The Theriots’ home was amazing. I felt like I was in a palace. It wasn’t like I’d grown up in a small house or without seeing luxury all around me, whether I was allowed to have it or not. But this home didn’t feel cold like my father’s house or other places I had been with family.
Remington came to greet us. He sent Ambrose and Landry in one direction so Landry could get examined.
“Lorenzo should be seen by the doctor too,” I said.
“I will see to that once we’ve talked. You two can wait in here.” He gestured toward a room designed as an old-fashioned home library with tall shelves, leather-bound volumes, and a rolling ladder.
It was a beautiful room, but I didn’t want to be stuck there while Remington talked to Lorenzo. I knew Lorenzo would tell me what happened in their meeting, but I wanted to hear it firsthand.