Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 57121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“I think it grazed you,” I say.
“It’s fine,” he grunt.
“We need to keep the pressure on,” I tell him. “And I’ll need a first-aid kit.”
He turns to me with a smirk on his face.
“What are you smiling at?” I demand.
“It’s good, Lia,” he says, his voice breathy as if he might pass out from blood loss.
“Nothing is good about this.”
“Being your patient again,” he tells me, with that same smile. “That’s good.”
I turn my face away so he can’t see me smiling too. “Now isn’t a good time to flirt.”
He keeps it together as I apply pressure with both hands. The driver hands back his shirt once mine is saturated, and I keep going. The car drives fast, away from the city.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“My estate,” he says. “My fortress. I can’t believe I let this happen.”
“Who are you?” Mom whispers from beside me. “What is this?”
I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment. “It’s complicated.”
CHAPTER 24
MAKSIM
Ilie on the guest bed – no use getting the four-poster messy – as Lia packs and bandages my wound. She works efficiently, humming under her breath. I think it’s a way to keep herself calm.
“I can talk to your mother for you, if you want,” I say.
She glances at the window. The estate sits outside the city, with thick, tall walls and guards around the clock. But hell, we had guards on Evelyn’s property, and this still happened. Was somebody following me? Did somebody tip them off? I vet all my men thoroughly, and I’ve never had any problems. I can’t think of someone who would fear Conrad Vale more than they fear me.
“Just worry about yourself right now,” she murmurs, securing the bandage.
I touch her hand. “Are you okay? This is more than you bargained for.”
She offers a shaky smile. “This whole thing has been more than I bargained for.”
I pull her to me, wrapping my arms around her. She lets herself rest her head against my chest for a few moments, then finishes the bandaging.
“You’ll need to call work and tell them you’re sick,” I say. “You can’t leave here until I’ve handled this.”
“What does handled mean?” she asks.
“Putting them in the dirt. Conrad and his goons will have retreated now. But I’ll find them. I’ll find them and make them pay.”
She swallows, stepping away, arms folded.
“Are you going to tell me not to do it?” I ask in disbelief.
“No,” she replies. “I’m just shocked by how badly I want you to do it. They could’ve killed you, could’ve killed Mom, and for what? Because you dared to visit us for tea? Is that how this world works? Is that fair? If you’ve told me the truth—”
“I have,” I say fiercely.
“Then you have a code. You have rules, at least. Where are the rules in this?”
“Vale is getting desperate. He must want our business badly. But he’s made a fatal mistake. He thinks he can pretend he’s a Bratva man too. But he’s not. He’s just a rich asshole who knows how to pay the right muscle.”
The door burst open, and Nikolai rushes in, his face pale, tears in his eyes. I’ve never seen my little brother so devastated. He kneels at my side and grips one of my hands in both of his.
“God,” he whispers, squeezing my hand tightly. “Brother, I thought you were gone. These dogs. Who do they think they are? We need to ride out tonight. We need to burn every goddamn Vale property to the ground. We need to kill them all.”
I squeeze his hand, then pat him on the arm. “Chin up, brother,” I tell him. “We’ll get our revenge, but we can’t be hasty. We need a controlled attack.”
Nikolai stands, turning to Lia. My heart warms when he asks, “Are you okay?”
She nods. “I think so. A little shaken up.”
“That’s understandable. I’m sorry you have to be part of this. I wish things could be different.”
I think about a different world, where this could simply be a heartwarming scene between my brother and my girlfriend. Well, my kind of girlfriend, my almost girlfriend.
But there’s too much at stake.
“Lia,” I say gently. “I need to speak with my men.”
“Okay, sure. I should go and talk to Mom. What should I tell her?”
“The truth,” I say immediately. Nikolai gives me a look. “She deserves it. And I’m not going to force Lia to lie to her mother.”
She walks over and kisses me on the cheek.
“Best nurse ever,” I whisper, and she kisses me again.
A minute later, Anton joins us.
“Were you followed, boss?” he asks. “No tracker on your vehicle. One of our men dead. Two of theirs. We’re talking to cops. They know to shut their mouths.”
“I don’t think I was followed,” I say. “But hell… I was distracted.”
Nikolai and Anton look at me in shock.