Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Czar had told stories to all of his charges when they were feeling the most despair, tales his father had told him of how wolves survived by working together. By protecting one another. By forming a pack so strong nothing could break them. He thought like an alpha wolf when he planned to bring down his enemies. Every member, no matter how young, had served the pack, and they’d been triumphant in their hunts, relying on one another.
Keys was the bait. The one “seen” by the enemy. The one the enemy would focus on. Orlov had no idea two other members of the pack were stalking him.
“Rumors, but our ranks have been slowly thinned. A trickle at first. Men rescuing a woman we’d been using to teach a lesson to her husband. A mother and daughter rescued. Another one. A couple of our men disappearing with no trail to be found. Then more of our people. There has been a steady leak for some time. Who could best us? No one.”
“Yet you say they have,” Declan declared.
Keys smelled fear. Sweat beaded on the ex-billionaire’s forehead and trickled down his face.
“He can’t pay you,” Master said. “His money has been confiscated. Every account is drained. Even if you were to succeed in keeping him alive, you would receive nothing.”
Orlov spun around, looking for the owner of the voice.
“First thing to do, Orlov, did you forget?” Maestro asked. “You remove their ability to pay for anything.”
I’ve got him, Master said. Get it done.
Keys leaned down, whispering into Declan’s ear. “You should have left her alone.”
“Who?” Declan’s voice squeaked. His eyes were wild, searching the room for his savior.
“No money, I’ll walk away,” Orlov said.
“Too late,” Master answered, already directly behind him. He didn’t bother with a gun or knife. He used his signature move, breaking Orlov’s neck, something much harder to do than it was ever portrayed in movies, but he’d learned the technique as a child.
“Lyric. My Lyric. We took your money and every one of your friends. All dead. You can join them in hell.”
Keys meant every word. He cut the man’s throat and shoved him onto the floor, not wanting his last moments to be comfortable. Declan was very lucky they were running against the clock.
Let’s get back to the party. Player has to be worn-out by now. The illusion can’t crash until we’re back, Lana warned. Let’s move.
Twenty
Keys knew it wasn’t going to be easy. His woman wore her stubborn expression, arms crossed over her chest, her vivid green eyes daring him to give her another order.
“I’m not going to the compound unless you tell me what you’re going to do and where you’re going to be.”
Bog, but he loved it when she challenged him. He liked that in moments like this, Lyric didn’t fear opposing him.
“I told you there would be times I would have to leave on club business. I also told you that there would be times it would be safer for you to be at the compound, where those not going on a mission could better protect you. You won’t be the only wife there.”
Her chin went up. “But I’m not your wife. I’m a girlfriend. I’m already figuring out girlfriends don’t have quite the same status as wives. Which means they don’t have to be protected.”
He waved that ridiculous argument aside. She knew it was silly as soon as she said it aloud. “This is a matter of your safety, so you aren’t going to win.”
“It isn’t about winning.”
“What is really upsetting you, Lyric?” He glanced at his watch. He shouldn’t have indulged himself by making slow, thorough love to her when he was expected to bring her to the compound before first light. He needed to find a way to reassure her, but he hadn’t left himself a lot of time.
“Yesterday. My grand opening.”
He caught up her small backpack and stomped to the bathroom to collect her toothbrush and the other items she used every morning and night. From there, he went to the closet to collect underwear, jeans, a top and pajamas she might need. He stuffed those into her backpack, caught her hand and led her out to the truck.
The last thing he wanted to do was talk about what had taken place during the opening of her salon. Czar had carefully put together the plan to pull off the deception of the century. Having law enforcement as their alibi was brilliant. Photographs for the papers had been taken. They were on all the businesses’ cameras on the street. They were seen by everyone. The plan had been brilliant from start to finish. Not to mention, they were eliminating Ghosts at an astonishing rate. So much so that the head of that corporation was going to have to start worrying about losing so many of his trained assassins.