Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
This was going to be a hell of a fight. I needed to be clearheaded and able to focus on the moment. Lorenzo was so good at that. He could close everything else out, but now, with Niko’s life at stake too, I wondered if he’d still have that ability. I was worried he’d make a move without thinking it through. And now I had Alex to think about instead of just my brothers. Couldn’t we have just been a regular family?
Then you wouldn’t have a PhD, and you wouldn’t be a professor, and you would never have met Alex.
For Alex, I supposed it was worth it.
20
ALEX
Iwas so shaken by the incident with Rafe that I wasn’t sure how I managed to follow the GPS back to the frat. When I parked my car, I was still shaky and nauseous. I didn’t want to sit in my car all night, but there was no way I could talk to any of the guys who were in there. I wasn’t going to be able to act normally.
A text came through, and my heart leapt when I saw Dante’s name flash on the screen in my car. I tapped it to hear what he wrote.
The AI voice said a series of numbers that confused me, but thankfully, a message followed. That’s the code to my door. Go wait at my house, and don’t leave for any reason. You’ll be safe there, and I’ll see you when I can. Feed the cat.
I couldn’t help but smile that he’d let the cat stay inside. When I let myself in, Adenine came running to me. I fed her and then remembered there was leftover chicken parm from the night before. Dante would be upset if I didn’t eat, especially if he knew I’d only had a piece of string cheese for lunch.
I heated my dinner up and sat down in front of his TV with Adenine beside me, begging for chicken. I wondered if eating on the couch—and giving treats to the cat—was allowed. I didn’t really care. He could always punish me for it when he got home if he didn’t like it.
I checked my phone every few minutes, hoping I’d missed a text or call from him, even though my phone was sitting right beside me. I hated this waiting. I didn’t know what he was doing except that it had to be something dangerous. How dangerous? Life-threatening? Probably. What was the chance he’d never come back? Would Rafael have warned me if that were a possibility?
No. He wanted me to leave. Of course Dante’s life was in danger. They were a fucking mafia family.
21
DANTE
Something felt off from the moment we arrived at Ivanov’s house. I wasn’t sure what it was, but my senses were on high alert. This mission was too risky. I had a bad feeling about it, but I got into position, ready to move into the house on Remington’s signal.
“Ivanov’s not at the door,” Remington’s voice came through my earpiece. “We can’t locate him.”
Apparently, my instincts had been right. Had Ivanov gotten word of our plan and fled, or was he just playing with us?
“I don’t like this,” Remington said. “Go ahead and move inside. Your primary mission is to find Ivanov.”
Rafe and I exchanged a signal to confirm I was going upstairs while he stayed down.
I started searching, opening doors, clearing rooms. An alarm went off, screeching through the house, and two men came running up the stairs. I shot the one in front. He fell backward into the other, and both of them tumbled down the stairs. Neither of them moved, so I continued my search of the upstairs.
A few moments later, I heard someone else racing up the stairs. I moved into an alcove, crouched, and waited.
When they were close, I leaned into the hallway, ready to take a shot, but they were faster.
The blast knocked me back. I slammed into the wall behind me, then crumpled to the ground. A few seconds passed before I felt any pain. When my arm began screaming in agony, I realized I had been hit. The man was still there, watching me. I didn’t move. I tried not to breathe. I needed him to be convinced I was dead or at least out of commission for now.
When I heard his footsteps retreating, I scooted myself toward the closest door and opened it with my good arm. I prayed no one was in the room, but I had to risk it. I was too vulnerable in the hall, so I needed a place to hide.
Blood poured down my arm as I dragged myself into the room, too dizzy to even think about standing. I was barely able to keep my eyes focused.
You can do this.
I crawled on my knees, using my good arm to move myself along. Thankfully, the room was empty. I closed the door behind me, fumbled with the lock, then reached for my phone. My eyes wouldn’t focus on the screen.