Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Alexei stood frozen, but his face was getting redder by the second. “You know what? Fuck you!” he suddenly exploded. “You’re on your own. I tried to help you, but you don’t want my help.”
“Of course I want your help—”
“Bullshit! You don’t think I can help you. You’re like my grandfather. You take one look at me and just see some stupid, weak-ass twink who can’t take care of himself. Because I’m not six feet, two hundred pounds of muscle, I’m worthless.” Alexei turned away sharply, his hands visibly shaking in his anger and pain.
When he turned back toward Soren, he was pointing a gun. It was like he’d pulled it out of thin air. Soren was a god at sleight of hand, and he had no idea where Alexei had grabbed the weapon from. His breath became caught in his chest. He’d been in the middle of moving across the bed to approach him, but every muscle froze. His heart was screaming that Alexei wouldn’t shoot him, but his brain wasn’t entirely convinced yet. They were only a few hours away from his decision not to kill him. Plenty of time to change his mind.
“That’s not true. I’ve seen you in action. You’ve saved me twice. You came out of yesterday’s fight with barely a scratch on you.”
Alexei shook his head. “You don’t get it. I’ve already failed. By bailing on this contract, by protecting you, I’ve destroyed the reputation I’ve been building over the past two years. My grandfather would be laughing right now, crowing about how he was right. Too weak to do this. Shaming the family name. My uncle…I don’t even know what my uncle would say. I’m destroying everything for you.”
Very slowly, Soren climbed out of the bed and closed the distance between them. He pushed the gun to the side and carefully took it from Alexei’s fingers. To his great relief, the safety was still on. He tossed the gun onto the bed and gathered the smaller man tightly in his arms. He brushed a kiss across his temple and down his jaw.
“Angel, you’ve got to do what lets you sleep at night. Forget this asshole grandfather. If he doesn’t see what an amazing, strong, capable person you are, then he’s got shit for brains and isn’t worth your time. Same for this uncle if he doesn’t support you.”
Alexei’s head immediately popped up, his eyes wide. “No! My uncle, he’s amazing. I love him. He’s done so much for me, always supported me in everything. He didn’t want me to follow in his footsteps because he wanted me to be safe. Not because he didn’t think I could do it.”
His uncle was an assassin. Of course he was.
A little knot of fear twisted in his stomach at the thought of meeting this loving, supporting uncle and immediately being shot in the head for touching his sweet nephew.
“Does this uncle happen to know you’re gay?”
Alexei snorted. “Of course. Anyone who looks at me immediately thinks I love cock. Why?”
“Because I’d rather not meet this assassin uncle of yours and have him discover that this crazy old thief is growing quite fond of your amazing cock.”
Alexei’s eyes widened to the point of nearly falling out of his head. “I have two uncles who are assassins. Yeah, you’re not meeting them.”
Soren’s mouth went completely dry, and his arms reflexively tightened around Alexei’s slender form. He was trying to steal the greatest treasure straight from the dragon’s lair. Holy shit, he was going to get roasted.
He looked at Alexei’s flushed face. Lines of worry still cut across his brow, and those beautiful lips were pulled into a frown. Worth it. He was so worth getting burned alive by a pair of overprotective assassin uncles if he even had a chance of keeping Alexei.
“Angel,” he whispered, moving his mouth along Alexei’s cheek. His bottom lip still hurt, but holding Alexei, kissing, made that pain a distant thing. “You gotta do what you need for you. Though if I get a vote, I would very much like to stay alive. Don’t let all these people have power over your decisions or feelings of self-worth. Particularly this grandfather.”
Alexei sighed and dropped his forehead to rest on his shoulder. “I know,” he mumbled. “Just old baggage.”
Soren’s arms tightened around him, and he rubbed his cheek against the side of Alexei’s head. He shouldn’t feel this kind of contentment at simply holding him, but he really wanted to stand there for the rest of the night with Alexei in his arms. “Don’t worry. We’ve all got it.”
“What am I going to do?”
“We, Angel,” he corrected. “I’m not going anywhere, and I dare anyone to try to force me to leave. It’s not happening. From here on out, we’re protecting each other through this mess.”