Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“Celebrating?” Andrei narrowed his eyes and then stared at the empty shot glasses like there wasn’t enough alcohol in his system yet.
“Yeah.” Tex grinned and lifted his drink to his smirking mouth. “Your marriage, of course.”
I could have sworn Andrei choked on the shot as it went down, and then he winked at Tex. “Oh we’ve already been celebrating, you weren’t invited.”
“Trust me, the very last thing I want to see is you trying to find your prick and win a prize when you find the right — oomph.”
Mo smacked him in the chest. “So, this is exciting, right? Another girl to add to the gang!” She shared a look with me that said I’d better be explaining later what the hell was going on, and I knew without a doubt I had to lie.
I had to freaking lie.
Because I couldn’t tell her the real reason.
No, that seemed like a great way to get killed in this really pretty dress and end up buried in it.
“Come on.” Trace reached for my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go dance, and we want details…” She peeked over my shoulder to Andrei.
“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing special.” I gulped, still within earshot of Andrei. “I mean, nothing different from all his other girlfriends.”
The guys silenced.
The girls shared obvious looks of intense curiosity.
And then Trace looped her arm in mine and said loudly, “Andrei doesn’t have girlfriends. In fact, you’re the first girl he’s ever brought to family dinner, let alone, to hang out.”
I stole a glance at Andrei.
His expression was unreadable.
But he did reach for another shot.
And when I looked down.
His foot moved.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Andrei
There are many definitions of Hell.
My list was exhaustive, my definitions tragic.
Tonight I was adding something new to the very top.
That. Fucking. Dress.
I hadn’t purchased her clothes, I was too busy running the club, and trying to keep her alive.
The wives seemed thrilled to have someone to take under their wing. Inside of a week, she’d know how to throw knives and render a man unconscious with her thumb and forefinger.
Great.
“So, what gives?” Tex kicked my tapping foot. Shit, how long had I been doing that? I stole a glance at Alice, but she quickly looked away.
“You’re going to have to use English.” I scowled.
“The girl.” His arm hung around Mo. “The De Lange girl, shit for brains brother, you cut his tongue out, dad’s most likely gone to ground, when are you letting her do the honors of killing her brother before we kill her? She still suffering in one of the holes you call a room here?”
I could feel the tension pulsing from Alice’s body.
“Do we really need to talk business?” Mo patted Tex’s cheek. “Besides, does it really matter? It’s not like anyone can escape this place.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to say that even I couldn’t escape it. Physically its walls kept me here; mentally I was imprisoned by the screams of people I couldn’t help.
Chase adjusted his position next to me and looked up at Tex. “What day did you say she was exchanged for her father’s life; all the killing gets a bit fuzzy.”
Shit. Just another thing I left out for Alice to find later.
She was traded.
Meant for dead.
Surprise.
“Few days ago.” I sighed and motioned for another round. “I’ll look at the ledger. She was fed three times a day, on constant watch, and at the time was so sick we thought she would die.”
Chase flinched. “Then don’t let her.”
Luc put her hand on Chase’s arm.
His jaw ticked. “She’s a De Lange.”
“So is your wife,” I said softly. “And you don’t see me pointing a gun at her face.”
He jolted to his feet. “That was different, and you know it. She took a blood oath.”
“Yes,” I said, nodding to Luc, who looked ready to pull Chase into her arms and kiss away his anger. “She did. It’s the only reason you’re still living and not out on a killing spree.”
“To be fair,” Phoenix pointed out. “He’s still on a killing spree.”
“A controlled one,” Nixon added in, his eyes sliding from mine to Chase’s and then he shifted in his chair and glanced at Alice.
Shit.
“Mo’s right.” I stood. “Let’s drink. We can talk business tomorrow.”
“You’re hiding something.” This from Chase.
I went stock-still and then looked over my shoulder, irritated that he would call me out in my own club. “And you’re lucky I didn’t take your wife before you had the chance.”
He lunged for me.
Nixon held him back.
I winked. “Sometimes, Chase, it’s just too easy,” I slapped him on the cheek lightly. “Keep it in check before I get security to escort you out of here.”
“Or Mary,” Tex mumbled under his breath.
“Who the hell is Mary?” Trace asked.
Nixon groaned. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Is she another one of your…” Trace gave me a sheepish look. “Girls that, you know…”