Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Any tension from earlier has eased, and I stand back and enjoy the beauty that she is while she’s a seething, venom-spitting she-devil.
“Fuck you. I did what I came here for,” she says as she begins walking away.
“Get in the car, Anya. I can drive you home. You can’t very well walk all the way there.”
A set of high-beam headlights silhouette her perfect figure, and I curse myself. I should’ve known her guards would be close, but I hadn’t even noticed them creeping up.
“Get in the car, Anya.”
“Bye, Lake. I hope you have a collision on your drive back home.” She flips me off.
I can’t help but smile as I place my hands in my pockets.
Under any other circumstances, I would’ve killed the closest person to me if a forty-million-dollar deal slipped through my fingers. But, somehow, I find far more value in watching Red walk away pissed off.
“Good night, Anya,” I call out.
She slams the door without so much as another word, and I find myself laughing.
When was the last time I’ve had this much fun?
Have I ever wanted anything this badly?
CHAPTER 19
Anya
Was it a date?
I mean, he did kiss me, just not on those lips.
So was it a date?
I shake my head. Am I out of my ever-fucking mind? I don’t do dates.
Not since I attempted my first one at sixteen, and when he tried to come into my home, Alek broke both of his legs with a bat. I didn’t tell Alek that I’d actually invited him over so I could explore my raging teenage hormones. Then I learned the value of sex. Not dates. Sex.
And that fucker marked me on my inner thigh. No one has ever marked me.
Then he so easily left me high and dry with no fucking care in the world. Why is it so hard to fuck this man? Anyone else would’ve caved in already. I would’ve gotten what I want, and this blackmail bullshit would be behind me.
I let out a frustrated breath, pick up a pen, and aim for the new blue china vase I had imported. I throw it as Vance walks in, and it lands right on target.
“An impressive shot as always, miss,” he says.
“Obviously,” I say as I spin myself on the chair to do a full circle. I’m sick of sitting at this desk. I’m tired of these new constraints. I’m most certainly going out of my fucking mind as I try to find Alek and understand River.
It’s filthy to think that I’m thinking of Alek and River almost equally as much.
“A package has arrived for you,” Vance says, and I come to a stop and clap my hands together once.
Oooh, I do like presents.
He places a red box before me and goes to walk out without a further word.
“Vance.” He stops and turns around.
“Yes, miss?”
“Any luck with the investigator?” I ask. He shakes his head. I do all that I can not to slump into my chair. Despite the shit show with Igor, he’d given me a lead. I’ve since asked my investigators to focus on Russia.
“Nothing so far,” he says.
I sigh. “Can you request some tea to be made?”
“Yes, miss,” he says, nodding and leaving as he closes the door behind him. Again, I’m empty and alone in this vast space. I narrow my gaze on the present, which is the only thing taking that loneliness away. Reaching for the package, I tear it open, revealing my favorite brand. Another Cartier jewel for the collection. I smile as I stare at the pretty red box, but then I remember I didn’t order anything. Lifting the box’s lid, I find a card.
The way this snake will wrap around your wrist is how you wrap around my fucking willpower.
X
River
I fight the smile that attempts to curve my lips. No, I’m not giving that motherfucker forgiveness after he left me high and dry last night… but this is certainly speaking my language. Especially with the beautiful new addition of the earrings he bought me.
Smiling, I open it to find a watch I’ve seen online but never in person. The band is a serpent that wraps around the wrist and is encased in diamonds. The head holds the clock, and I smile as I put it on and admire it.
Beautiful.
A knock on the door interrupts me and my expression drops. What now?
“Come in,” I say as the large wooden doors open to reveal the old bitch herself.
I stand behind my desk, surprised. “Meredith?”
“You’ve certainly gotten comfortable if you think you can continue ignoring my calls,” the old hag says, well dressed in a designer suit. Her almost-black hair is wrapped into a tight bun. Those piercing blue eyes are as lethal as ever. If it weren’t for the faint hint of the wrinkles around her eyes, most wouldn’t guess she’s a woman in her late sixties.