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 know,” I snap, sitting up, wincing as the bullet wound tugs and flares in pain. “This doesn’t leave this room, but I was thinking about Lia, about meeting her mother. I might not have been as vigilant as I should have.”
Anton nods. “Happens, boss. No one will know.”
“Nikolai, you should check on Rachael and her son.”
His face goes pale, his eyes widen. He looks like a little boy suddenly, wearing a kimono one size too big with an anxious smile on his face. Will you teach me, big brother? Can I be strong like you?
“Why?” He asks tightly.
“Listen,” I tell him. “I’m pretty sure Rachael is the woman who’s been giving you trouble. I think you did more than save her and her boy. I think you’ve fallen for her, and hell, there’s nothing wrong with that. But it’s time we were honest. If you have fallen for her – and if they somehow find out – she could be at risk too.”
“She’s in New York,” Nikolai says uncomfortably.
“Yeah, a four-hour drive,” I grunt.
He massages his forehead. “I’ll call her.” He looks at me with hard eyes. “If Vale hurt Rachael or Mikey, I won’t be able to stop myself. I’ll burn it all down.”
“I get that,” I say. “You did a good thing, saving them. Make sure it all wasn’t for nothing.”
Nikolai leaves the room. Anton stands at the window, then turns, frowning.
“What?” I ask.
He moves closer, lowering his voice. “I have to say.”
“Say it, then.”
“He’s been acting… strange,” Anton says. “He can always know where you are—”
I dart my hand out and drag Anton toward me. It’s not often this hard, grizzled man is afraid. But he is now. My blood is boiling. My vision red.
“Nikolai has saved my life multiple times,” I snarl. “Nikolai has never betrayed me, never even come close. He's the only family I have left. Do you understand me? Do you fucking understand me?”
“Yes.” Anton gasps, wheezing out a breath. “I know. Boss. Sorry.”
I shove him away, shaking my head in disgust.
I can’t believe he’d even say some twisted shit like that.
“Find Vale,” I snap. “And get ready for war. That’s all you need to worry about.”
He bows at the hip. “Boss.”
Once he’s gone, I grab my phone and make a flurry of calls. My men will now scour the city. Crack skulls. Kick down doors. Until we find this bastard with half a key and less than half a heart.
A text comes through from Lia.
Lia: Mom isn’t mad. I thought she was going to be furious because I lied to her. But she just hugged me and said she was sorry. She said she feels terrible because I didn’t feel comfortable telling her the truth. She says that if I chose you, then she trusts my judgment. I wasn’t expecting this reaction.
Despite everything – the attack, Anton’s absurd accusation – the message makes me feel lighter.
Maksim: I’m happy for you. She’s a good woman. She clearly cares about you. She just seems trapped. And I understand that. I’ve been trapped in one role for my entire life. Until I met you.
Lia: I think you’re just dizzy from the blood loss.
Maksim: No, Lia. I’m dizzy from being with you. I know this isn’t simple. I know when this is over, you might want to walk your own path. You might want to forget this ever happened. But I want you to know, I’ll never forget it.
Lia: I can’t make any decisions right now. But I know I’ll never forget this either.
For now, that has to be enough.
A minute later, my phone rings. I shake my head in disbelief.
“Vale,” I say, answering.
“Volkov,” he replies. “I hear you were involved in an unfortunate incident today.”
Shit-eating prick.
“I’m in the process of rectifying that,” I grunt.
“Is that so?”
“You’ll see soon enough.”
“Hmm.” He pauses. “I wanted to propose a business deal. Our programmers have been hard at work, but your code is solid. You wouldn’t happen to remember if you misplaced another phone someplace, would you?”
“All this for half a key,” I say, laughing at him. “All this just to fail. When you realize your end has come, when you look up at me and understand you’ll never see another sunrise, will you think this was all worth it?”
I hang up, grinding my teeth.
Steal from me, attack me, threaten me, that’s one thing.
But risk my light’s life?
He’s a dead man walking.
After a few moments, my paranoia gets the better of me. I call Anton. I give him instructions. “Just in case.”
He grunts. “Yes, boss. Good thinking.”
I feel sick.
CHAPTER 25
LIA
The next morning, the scene is unreal. Mom, Maksim, and I sit in the large living room, watching Friends. I sit next to Maksim, my head resting on his shoulder, and Mom looks over and smiles with a distant look. This is tough on her, but she’s rallying for my benefit. It’s the first time in years she’s putting me first.