Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
“It’s because I sent out invitations to the wedding. Zubkov, Yeltsin, and Popov already RSVP’d. I’m still waiting for Sokolov to respond. The fucker is just as stubborn as Yegor was.”
“It’s because they were best friends. I’d be murderous if someone took you out. Honestly, I don’t think he’ll ever back down.”
“I know. I just wanted to show the other three I’m willing to sign a truce. If Sokolov refuses, it’s on him.”
Andrei lets out a sigh. “How are the wedding plans coming along?”
“Good. I employed Tamara’s services, so she’s arranging everything. My mom and aunt are home, so they’ll probably help.” I walk into the kitchen and grab a bottle of water from the fridge, and as I walk past the window, movement catches my eye. Seeing Artem and Anastasia, I stop dead in my tracks. “I have to go. Talk to you later.”
Ending the call, I rush to the back door but pause when neither of them runs away from each other. Artem’s standing near a flower bed, scratching his head and looking unsure, while Anastasia has her arms tightly wrapped around her, biting her bottom lip nervously.
Suddenly Artem holds his arms out and moves his thumb to touch each of his finger pads. “It helps me. Try it.”
Slowly, Anastasia moves, repeating the action. “Like this?” Her voice is so fucking soft and sweet, the way I remember it, and it grips my heart in a vice.
There’s no fear between the two, and as Artem inches closer to her, I’m surprised.
“Yes.” A shy smile tugs at my cousin’s mouth, then he points at the garden. “Also, I spend time with plants.” His shoulders curl forward. “They won’t hurt you.” He points at some of the bruises that are taking longer to heal on Anastasia’s legs. “Like that.”
He darts away from her and begins to name the different plants in the garden, and when she follows him, I step out of the kitchen. Keeping my distance from them, I watch to make sure their first encounter doesn’t end in disaster.
But my worry is for nothing, because Anastasia either senses that Artem is no threat to her at all or has taken an instant liking to his boyish innocence.
Just then my cousin notices me, and scratching his head again, he says, “I’m showing her the garden.”
Anastasia swings around, and when her features tighten again, I hate it.
“Did you tell her about the bugs you saw in Mauritius?”
“No!” Excitement lights up his face. “I brought one. I found it dead on the ground.” He digs a tissue out of his pocket and folds it open, then shoves it under Anastasia’s nose. “It looks like a stick.”
I’m in for another surprise when she lets out a chuckle, and taking hold of Artem’s wrist, she pulls his arm back so she can see better. My entire body tenses because Artem doesn’t like strangers touching him at all.
Instead of running away to hide, he moves even closer and points at the bug. “When they’re in shrubs, you have to look carefully or you’ll miss them. I found fourteen.” Another shy smile tugs at his mouth. “They couldn’t hide from me.”
“Wow, so you’re the best when it comes to finding bugs?”
His cheeks turn red, and looking down, he fidgets with the pocket of his jeans. “Yes.” Turning around, he hightails it around the corner of the house, leaving me alone with Anastasia.
“I’ve never seen Artem take to a person like that before. He’s very people-shy and suffers from severe anxiety,” I tell Anastasia, and as our eyes meet, I add, “But just like with me, you’ve made him fall in love with you in a split second.”
She glances away as she murmurs, “He’s sweet.”
The tension is back in her body and voice, and she folds her arms around her middle.
When I sent men to Yelena’s house in the country to get Anastasia’s belongings, they only returned with a security safe. Everything else was lost because the rogue group ransacked the place before setting it on fire.
At least the steel box contained all the important documents, including Anastasia’s British ID, passport, and birth certificate.
I sent Miss Zoya shopping for some clothes, and seeing Anastasia in a light green dress, her curves filling out again, there’s a strong pull of attraction in my chest, and my cock threatens to harden.
“You look beautiful. I’m glad you’re gaining back the weight you lost.”
Her eyes snap to mine, and for a second, she just stares at me. Then her gaze drops to the dress, and she nervously smooths her hands over her soft stomach. “You’re… glad?”
The disbelief in her voice hits me hard, and I hate what the assholes have done to her self-confidence. If it’s the last thing I do, I swear I will restore it to its former glory.