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)
I pause with the scotch at my lips. “I plan on extracting many things from Anya Ivanov. Which reminds me. Wherever you have your little gossip meetings, I want you to make it very clear that no one is to touch so much as a hair on Anya Ivanov’s head. If they do, they will deal with me.”
Michael and Derrick look at one another. They’ll no doubt ensure the same message goes to my men.
Will whistles. “Wow, you’ve fallen pretty hard for the beauty, haven’t you? But I’ll make sure your message is spread loud and clear.”
“It’s not falling when I’m simply claiming what’s mine.”
“And does Anya know about this?” he asks pointedly.
“She will.”
If I don’t fuck it up and give in to my carnal urges first.
“Alright, lover boy. Good luck. And if you end up ten feet under, know that I still expect payment. Chasing this fucker isn’t cheap or easy.”
“I’ll transfer some money over now to boost morale,” I promise.
“That’s why you’re my favorite,” Will teases.
I hang up the phone and am surprised when I see a text message from my mother.
Mom: Are you moving to New York permanently? Should I come visit soon?
The only woman I’ve ever permitted to tell me what to do is my mother. She might be naïve to what her son does for business, but it brings me pride to know I can cater to her every need for the rest of her life.
I wonder how my mother might perceive a woman like Anya. They couldn’t be more opposite. I also can’t deny the pleasure it will offer me to see Anya being introduced to any parent.
CHAPTER 21
Anya
I’m on edge. I haven’t had sex for over a week now, and no matter how many times I use my toy, it’s just not cutting it. Especially considering I’m in an internal war with myself because my mind keeps drifting to River.
It’s late afternoon, and I just left a meeting in the city. I watch the people around the car, bored by their busy, insignificant lives.
Friends shop with elbows linked together.
Lovers hold hands.
Parents cradle their babies.
All of these things are meaningless to me.
At least as I was raised to believe. Since Alek’s disappearance, I’ve found myself more curious as to what their lives might be like. I feel like someone looking from the outside in. All of these things I was raised to exploit and use as a weakness. Yet they all look happy.
I sigh and look at my phone. I’m busier than I’ve ever been, yet I’ve never been more bored with the mundane running of our empire. The shine of the diamond snake watch grabs my attention, and I smirk. Well, much to my irritation, there’s one person who has made it less boring, as much as he is disruptive.
I untuck my shirt from the hem of my skirt and lift it past my tits. I angle my camera and poke out my tongue as I take a pic of my tits on full display. Vance watches me through the rearview mirror but says nothing as I send the photo to River. The sooner he gives in to me, the sooner I can push away this confusion and uncertainty he raises in me.
And I royally need to be fucked.
“Vance,” I call out. “Find out where Mr. Bently is staying and take me to him.”
He nods through the rearview mirror as I hit call on Alek’s number.
Ring.
Ring.
Voicemail.
“Alek, what the fuck? I got my ass chewed out by the old bitch because of you. You need to come back home. She’s not impressed, and I don’t want to deal with her. She came to my house. You know how fucking weird that is in the first place.”
When I look out the window, honey-colored hair catches my eye. I’m surprised to see Dawson and his woman, Honey, strolling along. She’s laughing at something he says, and his smile in return… I’ve never seen him make that expression.
It fills me with loneliness because of the thought that I might be missing out on something.
Yuck. I shove that thought down. “Alek, you need to come home. I’m starting to go crazy, and not in my usual loveable way. Like in a weird-as-shit way. Like when you look at couples and babies and think it doesn’t look too bad.” I erupt into laughter. “Actually, fuck that, kids are still disgusting creatures. But something weird is happening while you’re not here.”
A somber thought crosses my mind. Something I’ve been in denial about since I found out Alek was chasing a woman. “Is that what you’re looking for, Alek?” Love? I can’t say the word out loud. It’s not something that Alek and I have ever discussed or even know how to navigate.
“Are you looking for a companion?” Was I not enough? We always have each other’s back. But now something is changing, and I can feel it fracturing inside me bit by bit, and I don’t know what part of me will remain. “I don’t care about you withdrawing money or the shitty situation you dropped me in. Please just call me back.”