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)
“No. Most of what needs to be done involves computers and hacking. That’s not my skill set, so we have some time.”
37
DANTE
The next morning, I didn’t think I could bear to let Alex leave. I’d held him all night, but I wasn’t going to back out of the plan now.
Rafe picked Alex up down the street from my house and drove him to campus.
Alex swore he would stay within the main part of campus all day. He would go to his classes, including mine, and would spend the rest of his time in the student union or the library, always staying around plenty of people. Only tonight, when it was dark, would he go out alone. We planned for him to take a run along the path by the pond, the place he’d first seen me.
If we saw Ivanov following him during the day, then we could be almost certain he’d still be there at night.
Remington’s team had found a location out in the bayou, where they believed Mitch was being held. Our cousin Ambrose and several other men were on their way to extract him. They also had to be prepared to encounter Ivanov. Just like us, their plan was to take him alive if possible.
In the early afternoon, Alex came to my office to check in as we’d planned.
I couldn’t risk letting him close the door. I would give up this job for Alex, but if we caused a scandal today, it would ruin our plan.
I could wait. Alex was mine. One way or another. I’d figure out what to do about my job and what he wanted to do about his degree.
I did take the risk of reaching across the desk and laying my hand on his. ‘You’re still sure about this?”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Don’t say that here.”
He grinned. “Does it bother you?”
“I thought you were going to be good.”
“I figured, considering what I’m doing today, I can get away with a lot.”
I waved him away. “Get out of here. Don’t you have class soon?”
“I do, but I had to see you first. Have you heard anything from Remington?” He kept his voice to a whisper.
“Not yet.”
The day seemed to last forever. I didn’t think it would ever be dark. Around five, I got a call from Remington. They’d rescued Mitch. There were no other prisoners at the facility. They killed every guard who was there, but Ivanov was not among them. My cousin Ambrose, his twin, Dax, and Rafe had managed to take one of Ivanov’s top lieutenants. He was in a cell, waiting to be questioned later.
I called Alex as soon as I finished talking to Remington. He answered immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
I hated hearing such fear in his voice. “Nothing. I called to tell you Mitch is safe. They have him at Remington’s father’s house. Nikolai is with him.”
“So Ivanov did take him?”
“Yes, or his associates did.”
“How badly did they hurt him?”
“I don’t know all the details, but he’s okay physically, and Ivanov ordered his men not to touch Mitch. They were to save him for Ivanov himself.”
“Thank God we got to him when we did.”
“Yes. I’m sure it will take him a while to recover emotionally, but Remington says Nikolai is already helping with that, and Remington’s parents will take good care of him.
“Can I talk to him?”
“Not yet. Wait until we’re done tonight, then I’ll take you there, and you can see him.”
“Unless we—”
“We are both going to be alive and well when this is over.”
“Yes, Professor.”
I let out a long breath. I wanted to order him to come see me. I wanted to take him back to my house. I didn’t want to do this. “Is he still following you?”
“Yes. I didn’t see him for a while, but I’m at the library now pretending to study, and he’s been in, seen me, and left.”
“Fuck, I hate this.”
“I know. Me too.”
“It’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”
“I trust you,” he said.
“I… I’ve got you.”
“Bye, Professor.”
I ended the call.
38
ALEX
I’ve seen the man who might be Ivanov following me several times throughout the day. I didn’t know if I hoped it was him or not. The thought of him being that close scared the fuck out of me, but he needed to be caught and put where he couldn’t hurt anyone else, though I didn’t think the Theriots would let him live long.
After spending some time in the library, I stuck to a very public path and took the bus back to the frat. I saw the man watching me when I left the library. He followed me part of the way to the bus stop but stayed a good ways behind me. He didn’t get on the bus with me, which was good. I didn’t want to be that close to him, even though I knew that later tonight, if things went as they should, I’d be intentionally luring him toward me. I might even be captured by him.