Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“I should probably tell you that Horace Whimple’s body was found on my main property by the ocean. Close to your place,” I murmur.
“Excuse me?” Thorn asks.
I tell him the whole story. “It’s over about a mile from the house, cordoned off, still a police crime scene. I searched my house and the rest of the grounds and couldn’t find anything.”
“So some anonymous source called it in and buried the body on your land?”
Isn’t that convenient? “Yep.”
“Have they done an autopsy yet?”
“Today,” I say. Rain drips from the porch roof. I wipe my knee where it splattered and take a sip of coffee. “Of course, even if the killer planted evidence that links the death to me, it’ll be gone.” We have contacts in the coroner’s office.
I listen to the silence. This is Thorn trying to convince himself not to come home and take care of things.
“I’ve got this,” I tell him. “You need to trust me.”
“I do.”
The absolute truth in his voice warms me in a way most people will never understand. My condition leads to this as well as to pain. I guess there has to be some balance.
Thorn clears his throat. “Justice, take care of these problems, would you?”
I finish the coffee. “Of course. Enjoy your honeymoon.”
“Are you sure Ella’s the one?”
I chuckle. “I’m absolutely positive.”
“Good.” He sounds pleased. “Bye.”
The line clicks off. I text Kaz instructions to get all of our influencers moving and see if we can spark activity today on Malice Media. With the most advanced algorithm out there, we should at least give Alana somewhat of a challenge. I’d like to help my brother save face, even though he didn’t seem to care much about it.
Kaz doesn’t answer. That’s odd.
My phone buzzes again from a blocked number. I accept the call but don’t say anything.
“Are we at war?” Alexei Sokolov’s voice comes through calmly.
I sigh. “Because of Ella?”
He’s quiet. Quiet for two beats. “No. What’s wrong with Ella?”
“She’s mine. That’s concrete. So if we’re going to war because of our connections to TimeGem and Aquarius, let’s do it.” I wouldn’t mind a decent fight, to be honest, but I’d rather a bunch of good men didn’t get killed.
He sighs. “I’m not willing to go to war over that at this moment, considering I’m marrying your woman’s best friend. I thought we had a deal with the next generation.”
“We might. Especially if you have a daughter,” I say.
His slight growl tells me he doesn’t like that.
“The future is years away,” I note.
“Maybe,” he says. “But we’re at peace right now. Or at least I thought we were.”
I scrub a hand through my hair. “You’re going to have to be clearer than that, and don’t speak Russian.” I add a Gaelic insult on the end, just to have some fun.
“I don’t speak Gaelic,” Alexei snaps.
He’s been cranky since somebody tried to blow up his homestead.
“What’s going on, Alexei?” I ask, keeping my temper.
“I’ve got you and one of your men on video close to my place when the rocket was launched.”
I rock back. “Bullshit. That can be faked.”
“Doesn’t look fake,” he returns. “Was it you?”
Is he messing with me? “You know it wasn’t.”
“I don’t know that.”
I don’t have time for this. “Fair enough. What do you want from me?”
“You come show me how this is fake and I’ll let it go. If not, expect a bomb coming your way, and I’m talking the entire Malice Media infrastructure.”
I wince. I really don’t want Malice Media blown up while Thorn’s on his honeymoon. “Fine. If your computer gurus can’t figure it out, mine can. Meet at my corporate headquarters.”
“Oh no. Mine,” he retorts. “You come to Hologrid Hub.”
“My computer guy is the best, and he works from Malice. He knows the system. I give you my word that you’ll be safe.”
Lightning zaps close to the tree line. “Fine, but I’m bringing firepower,” Alexei says. “I’ll be there in an hour.” He clicks off.
God. Russians are cranky.
The door opens and I hear movement as Ella steps outside, wrapped in the comforter. I glance up. She’s beautiful in the morning light, her eyes the color of sapphires, her hair wild and mussed around her shoulders. She looks more pixie than ever, and I’m hit by the raw need to protect her, to keep her safe.
She hesitates, then walks over and flops into my lap. I catch her and hold her close.
“Good morning.” I kiss her, going deep.
She kisses me back, sinking into my chest. “All right, now you need to talk,” she murmurs, sleepy.
I’m not much of a talker. Even so, her voice smooths over my skin like a balm.
“Tell me about your mom,” she says.
I automatically lapse into Gaelic, then catch myself. “Sorry. She was beautiful, kind, smart, and fun.” I tighten my arms around Ella. “You would’ve liked her. She treated Thorn like he was hers too, and he loved her as much as I did. She created the best games for us all to play.”