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)
“What the hell are we going to do?” Alexei said. He shoved his hands into his hair as he walked around the long white marble island and toward the pale wood table and chairs on the other side of the kitchen. The light pouring down from the window in the ceiling was dimmer as the sun had already passed over the house and was now sinking steadily toward the horizon. Shadows were lengthening. Their second day in Amsterdam was nearly over, and they’d only learned that even more people were after this hard drive.
“We can’t make any decisions until we know what’s on the hard drive.”
Alexei’s head snapped up and he placed his hands on his hips as he faced off against Soren. “That’s going to take time, which we might not have. We’ve got the fucking CIA, SVR, and MI6 on our heels, trying to grab this thing. Right now, they’re all being pretty damn civil in the hopes that we quietly hand it over and then let them put bullets in our heads. The only ones being aggressive are the assassins.”
“I would never have guessed assassins would be so pushy.”
“Don’t,” Alexei snapped. “Don’t make jokes. Not now. We are so in over our heads. I-I don’t even know what to do right now.” Alexei’s voice cracked and he looked away from Soren, hating himself for being weak.
The other man surprised him by suddenly wrapping his arms around him. He hadn’t even heard him move. Fucking cat burglar. Too damn light on his feet. “Don’t hide from me, Angel. There’s no shame in being scared. I’m scared shitless right now.”
Alexei’s head popped up. “What? No—”
“Of course I’m scared. It’s the two of us facing an unknown number of teams who are likely better equipped than us. I’m tempted to grab that damn thing, march out the front door, and hand it to the first person who passes me. I’d do it if I thought that it meant you’d be safe.”
“You can’t. You don’t know what’s on that. If you’re giving some horrible weapon to someone who should never have the fucking thing—”
Soren sighed. “I know. I’d never be able to sleep at night wondering if I’d doomed all humanity.” He laid his cheek on the top of Alexei’s head. “Can you still love me as a thief even if I have a conscience?”
Something in Alexei gave a happy little wiggle even as his brain reminded the rest of him that Soren was making a joke. He wasn’t serious in the least. When he had himself under control, Alexei huffed softly. “If I must. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was money on the hard drive? Just a long list of bank account numbers.”
A happy-sounding hum escaped Soren. “After we took our cut—for expenses, of course—we could divide it up across charities around the world.”
Closing his eyes, Alexei warmed to the idea of all these noble causes waking up and finding their overnight donations had exploded. It was a very pretty idea.
But they couldn’t do that or anything good with that hard drive as things were right now. As Soren had pointed out, it was only the two of them against the world. They needed help.
“I’ve been thinking…” He paused and chewed on his bottom lip.
Soren loosened his hold on him and leaned back so he could look into his face. There was a deep sadness in his eyes, but his smile was tender. “It’s okay if you want us to go our separate ways. There’s no reason for you to stick by me through this. It’s my mess. I’ll clean it up.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Alexei exploded. He planted both hands in the middle of Soren’s chest and shoved as hard as he could, sending the man reeling. “Do you seriously think I’d leave you now? After everything? You’ll get yourself killed in the first five minutes.” He slapped his hand on his chest. “I’m the only reason you’re alive right now.”
“You do care,” Soren murmured with a look of such joy, it lit up his entire face.
Alexei stared at him, his mouth hanging open, utterly speechless. “You’re a fucking idiot!” he shouted when he could finally find the words. “An idiot. If you haven’t figured out—” he broke off, shaking his head as he paced away from Soren. When he turned toward him, frustration and anger were still tying up his tongue. “Do you think I’d risk my life for any old idiot off the street?”
Soren closed the distance between them in a few long strides. Alexei balled up his fist and took a swing at him, but it was halfhearted and easily blocked by Soren. The older man grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed their mouths together in a kiss that scorched every last one of Alexei’s working brain cells. He didn’t know why this kiss felt different, but it did. Alexei swore he’d been waiting his entire life for this kiss.