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)
I watch as a ruthless mask wipes the worry from his face. We walk back to the front where a nurse is telling some of the men to leave because they can’t all wait inside the hospital.
When it looks like they’re going to put up a fight, Rodian calls out, “Get back to work. Sergei will send updates.”
The men don’t argue, and as they file out of the hospital, Atanas and Constantin come toward us.
“How is Andrei?” Atanas asks.
“We don’t know. They just took him to the back,” Rodian replies, then shakes his head. “He was shot a few times, and they cut him up pretty badly.”
I’ll never get the image of those men slicing through Andrei’s eye out of my mind.
God, the pain he must’ve felt.
My heart weeps for what he’s been through and the long road of recovery ahead, and I make a promise to do everything I can to be there for him.
Constantin’s phone rings, and he steps to the side to answer, then turning back to us, he says, “Rosie’s trying to get a hold of you on your phone.”
Rodian looks at me, which has me saying, “I left it in the car. I’ll go get it quickly.”
Just as I take a step, he grabs hold of my arm. “No, Sergei will get it while he parks the car. It can’t stand out front.”
While Sergei jogs out of the hospital, Rodian pulls me tightly to his side and keeps me pinned to him with an arm around my shoulders.
He takes Constantin’s phone to talk to Rosie. “I’m here. We don’t know… Find every fucker involved. I want to know where they eat, where they shit, and who they fuck. Also get me what you can on Sokolov Junior.”
Chills ripple down my spine from the rage darkening his tone.
“No, I haven’t heard from Tim. I’m sure the kid is fine,” he mutters before hanging up and returning the phone to Constantin.
“What’s the plan of action?” Atanas asks.
“As soon as the names start coming through from Rosie, I’m going on a killing spree. It’s the only thing I can do while I wait to hear what the doctors say.”
“We’ve each brought a few men. We’ll join you, and Devran should be here in the next hour or so,” Constantin informs us. “Last I heard, Ryo was in Poland for a meeting, so he might –”
“I’m here,” a Japanese man I haven’t met yet says as he comes in. He’s younger than the others but doesn’t look any less lethal.
“How did everyone know to come to the hospital?” I muse more to myself than anyone else.
“Rosie told us,” Atanas answers.
Damn, Rosie is badass.
Looking at Rodian, I notice how pale his skin tone is. Spotting a vending machine, I leave his side to get a Coke, hoping the sugar will help.
When I turn away from the machine, Rodian’s eyes are on me, not leaving me as I cross the room toward him.
“Have some.” I hand the can to him and watch as he pulls the tab off and drinks half before giving me the rest.
The instant Sergei comes back with the phone and car keys, Rodian takes them and orders, “Stay here with Anastasia and call me if you get any news on Andrei’s condition.”
My eyebrow lifts as I ask, “Where are you going?”
“To work. Waiting here will drive me insane.”
To work, aka to kill those responsible.
“Please be careful,” I plead with him, lifting on my toes when he bends down to give me a quick kiss. Then, thinking of something, I mention, “We’re not related to Andrei. The staff won’t tell us anything.”
Rodian shakes his head. “Sergei, Andrei, and I are all emergency contacts for each other, so don’t worry.”
He gives me another quick kiss before leaving with Atanas and the others.
“Katya is coming,” Sergei mentions. “I thought you could use a friend right now.”
Giving him a thankful nod, I stare out the windows until I lose sight of Rodian.
“How are you holding up after everything?” Sergei asks.
I lower my eyes to the gleaming floor, and my shoulders sag. “I don’t even know where to start processing today.” My chin quivers as I’m bombarded with flashes of Andrei being tortured. “What they did to him...” I glance up at my guard. “Why did it happen?”
“Revenge for Sokolov. The bastards don’t know you’re the most important person to Rodian, as everyone is under the impression it was just an arranged marriage, so they went after Andrei.”
I let out a worried sigh as I glance at the reception area. “Do you think it would be too soon to ask how he’s doing?”
“Yes. With all the injuries, he’ll be in surgery for a while. I’m sure they’ll give us an update as soon as they can.”
Please let Andrei survive this.
Rodian
The second my phone vibrates, I stop to check it, and seeing a message from Rosie, I quickly open it.