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)
Bad enough that he was half Russian.
Even worse, to fall in love with a De Lange.
“Does he love her?” Luca asked the question I’d been pondering for the last week.
“Andrei doesn’t know how to love. I know that, you know that, the very fact that he’s fallen this hard this fast tells me he could, but it may be too late for him.” I hated admitting it. “If he hasn’t given in now… then I’m left to assume he’s intrigued, and he likes her that’s as far as it will go.”
“And if you’re wrong?” Luca asked.
“Then I’m completely fucked because even I don’t want to get on Andrei’s bad side. Like I said, I made a judgement call because it’s what’s best for him, and what’s best for the families.”
Luca patted my shoulder. “You better hope you’re right.”
“What would you have done?” I looked up at him.
He winked. “I chose well.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Luca got out of the cart and grabbed a driver from his bag. “Wanna play?”
“Luca.”
“What?”
I crossed my arms.
“Phoenix grab a damn driver and stop staring at me like I’m the devil. We both know he rarely visits me anymore now that he’s off torturing Andrei. Temptation must be hell for that boy.” He pointed his club at me. “The only other person I’ve ever seen that needed to get laid more than his next meal was you and at least you weren’t a virgin.”
I rolled my eyes.
“And for the record.” He grinned. “I would have done the same thing.”
It didn’t make me feel any better.
Then again, I rarely felt good about decisions that could ruin lives or end up killing people.
“Grab a damn club.”
I flipped him off and grabbed a club. And tried to forget about what was coming in the next week.
And the many lives that would be taken.
All because a Sinacore woman fell in love with the devil himself, Alexander Petrov.
CHAPTER FORTY
Alice
It had been exactly two hours since we’d made it back to the apartments. Since Andrei had walked through the club bloody and shirtless for everyone to see. An A across his chest.
Me… across his heart.
Written in his skin.
He’d wrapped my hand in his shirt and my first instinct was to take it off, to let myself bleed too, to feel the raw intensity of blood pulsing out of my body at the same time his was.
Knowing that what he had done could not be undone.
There was something holy about the entire conversation, even his expression had changed. Like he chose to remove his mask.
He’d told me to change into another dress and to do my hair and makeup and then he’d just left.
He didn’t tell me when he’d be back.
Or if he was coming back.
Nothing.
I slipped on a white Versace that hugged every curve, the neckline had a slight sweetheart dip while the straps wrapped around my neck then hung loosely down the back as another set of straps kept the dress in place. My shoes were a nude heel from a brand I didn’t recognize but knew was Italian.
And I was once again wearing a fur coat, wondering how many fake animals were sacrificed in order to fill my closet.
I had just sat down on the barstool, wondering yet again if I should text him when the door swung open.
I couldn’t keep my expression calm as he swaggered his way toward me, dark skinny jeans, boots, and a black T-shirt with a few holes was tight against his body, his camel colored leather jacket completed the effect.
His nose ring almost glistened in the light, his hair was swept to the side, and I could see every inch of his chest and neck tattoos as they danced along his skin.
His lips looked so soft.
So kissable.
His mouth absolutely delicious.
Mine.
This man had pledged himself to me.
I started shaking with the reality of it.
I slid off the barstool and walked toward him.
Andrei held out his hands when I reached him and then he tugged me against him and kissed me softly, hungrily. “You ready to go?”
“Where are we going?” I wanted to stay right there in his arms.
“We’ll put in our time at the club, be seen, and then we’ll go have dinner…”
I grinned. “Dinner, hmm?”
“Dinner.” He kissed me again, his hands dipping tenderly into my hair as he licked my lower lip.
I gasped as he tugged it and pulled away. “Is this… a date?”
His hands slid down my ass as he held me prisoner against his rock-hard body. His head tilted as a small smile formed across his mouth. “Did you want it to be?”
I felt my cheeks heat. “I’ve never been on a real date.”
His expression hardened, and then he whispered. “Good. That means I’m your first. I want to be your first everything.”
My knees trembled. “That’s a big undertaking.”
“Good thing I’m a big guy,” he fired back with a wider grin. “I like your blush.”