Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“You can take it any way you like, but you’re three months behind on your mortgage, and I’m about to own your home.”
My heart stutters. I can’t lose that house. I have seven elderly men to care for. “I don’t appreciate the threat.” I glance across the bar to where my friends are watching me. “If I need money, I can get it and you know that.”
He releases my hand and follows my gaze before looking back at me. “That’s true. Although I believe you have too much pride to ask those silly heiresses for help.”
I normally would, but when it comes to taking care of my boarders, pride can get lost. I just lift my chin and glare at him.
He shrugs. “Very well. Perhaps I can’t take your house, but I know how much you care about Merlin and Felix and Percy. Shall I name all of them?”
Fire finally lances through me, and I keep my hand in place on the table, leaning closer to him. “Try me, Hendrix. You don’t want me for an enemy. Trust me.” With that, I stand, turn, wobble only slightly on the heels and stomp my way across the bar.
“What was that about?” Ella asks as I slide back into the booth.
“It was a bribe and a threat,” I say.
Alana glances back at Hendrix who’s now watching us. “I don’t really like violence, but if you want––”
“No,” I say before she can finish a thought. “I don’t need Thorn Beathach to do my dirty work. I can handle myself.” I wave to the waitress for one more drink.
Ella cocks her head. “Are you working tomorrow, Rosalie?”
“I am. I have a hearing at nine in the morning,” I say.
“Oh.” Alana waves at the bartender. “Then we only have about a half an hour to do a couple of shots.”
For some reason, that sounds like an excellent plan to me. Just how drunk do I want to be when I return to my bedroom tonight?
SEVENTEEN
Alexei
At the Amethyst bar, I sit on a bar stool with a shot of vodka that I raise to the assembled men in the room. “To our future,” I say, tipping it back. They repeat my phrase and all drink. There are only eight men here. I recognize most of them, and it looks like we’ve gotten a few new recruits—fresh from Russia. They are not happy with Hendrix.
In the crowd that ranges in age from sixteen to seventy, there are two torpedoes who serve as hitmen and hired muscle, several Boyeviks, foot soldiers, and even a couple of Vor v Zakones who are high-ranking and highly respected members. I’m surprised to even have one Obshchak Keeper, who’s a keeper of communal funds. Hendrix will have them all killed if he discovers this meeting.
“What else has gone wrong?” I ask. They’ve already gone into some length about Hendrix playing with daughters and promising marriage and then backing out after using them.
Vsevolod Nikiforov kicks back in his chair. “Are you serious about no trafficking?”
“Absolutely,” I say, meaning it. “I want nothing to do with trafficking people. Why? What do you know?”
He flushes. “I know that Hendrix is well involved in it and is making a lot of money.”
Anger flows through me. Our father may not have been the kindest of men, but he had set rules, and that was one of them. We don’t mess with women, and we don’t mess with kids. I don’t see myself as any sort of hero, but I do believe in karma and protecting the most vulnerable.
Yet I know how to explain my position to these men. “Trafficking is unacceptable. The authorities are finally cracking down on organizations, and I want to be free of exposure. If anybody feels differently, you can leave now.” I’ll probably kill them later, and they should know me well enough to understand that fact.
Nobody moves. “Good. Plus, I do believe in karma.” I cross my arms and look toward Garik. “I’m retaking the organization, and I value your loyalty. Garik is my second in command, and that decision is final.”
A couple of men frown, and an older one, a former assassin named Jac, shakes his head. “He’s not from a main family.”
“He’s my family,” I state calmly.
Garik doesn’t move and reveals no expression. Good.
“Any more discussion?” I ask softly.
Several heads shake. I clear my throat and glance at Garik. “Do we have anybody with computer expertise?”
He shakes his head. “No. Anybody with computer skills is paid well by Hendrix. They’ll be loyal to him for now.” He cocks his head. “However, your lawyer has a good friend who’s one of the best.”
“Ella?” I ask, my eyebrows rising. I do remember hearing something about her being a phenomenal hacker. She even trained in the motherland briefly.
“Do you want me to take her?” Garik asks.