Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Humidity hung in the air like a blanket, so thick and heavy that I felt like something was pulling me down. Sweat already beaded on my forehead and back.
“Damn, New Orleans.” Heading down the steps, I placed the joint between my lips, flicked my lighter on, and let the flame lick the joint’s end. Once I took a long drag, the small ache in my chest disappeared. The smoke swirled around inside my lungs before I exhaled.
Let’s see if we can have a reasonable day here.
I spotted Jean-Pierre standing by a white Mercedes Benz and talking in his phone. Two men stood at his sides.
A silly smile spread across his face. He turned away and whispered something into the phone.
Definitely talking to Eden.
After all that Jean-Pierre and I had been through in California, I would not only respect his relationship with Eden, but I would also fight for them to always remain together.
I scanned the rest of the area.
A blue Mercedes Benz was parked behind Jean-Pierre’s white one. Several vans flanked them. Tons of men climbed into them.
What will go down here?
Taking a long puff, I stopped at the bottom of the steps and leaned against the railing.
Boris turned my way and reached his hand out. “Please, let me have some.”
“You don’t need to ingest anything for several weeks.”
Boris didn’t move his hand.
Shaking my head, I gave him the joint. “Don’t tell Em I gave you a weed habit. She might kick my ass.”
Boris grinned. “You think so?”
“Wipe that grin off your face. She cares for you, but she belongs to the Lion.”
Boris shrugged. “I have always understood that.”
“Then, stop fucking eagles and yelling out her name.”
“That was only because the Great Eagle sounded like her.”
“Make sure nothing else sounds like her when your dick is out.”
“Do you think the Lion and Mouse will last forever?” Boris took a hit of the joint.
“They will as long as she doesn’t kill him.”
Boris chuckled.
I didn’t.
He coughed and then cleared his throat. “Oh. You are serious?”
“Very.” I extended my hand to him.
He gave me back the joint. “But she would not. . .kill him?”
“Em wouldn’t, but there’s a darkness to her that might.”
“There is gossip among the Harlem Crew that when Emily was in New York she was linked to a few murders.”
“It’s not gossip. It’s fact. And linked is a nice way of saying that Em is a bonafide serial killer with a bad memory.”
Boris widened his eyes.
“Hey.” Shrugging, I inhaled and then blew out smoke. “It’s been a minute since Dark Em has come out. Not since New York. I think the Lion keeps her mind steady.”
Boris’s tight expression relaxed.
“Honestly, when I first left Em and was out in St Petersburg with Valentina and Misha, I thought for sure Em was going to shift into Dark Em, but thank God she didn’t.”
“Dark Em?”
“Her brother Daryl used to call her murdering side that name. X and I started using the term too.”
“But there has been no Dark Em since she has been with the Lion?”
“Perhaps, all the killing and war shit keeps her darkness at bay. Or maybe, he’s the cure to her crazy.” I tried to hand Boris the joint.
He shook his head. “That is some strong stuff.”
“The joint or the news on Dark Em?”
“Both.”
“I get it.” I smoked a little more, put the joint out, and placed it in my case. “Alright. Let’s complete this mission here so we can get back to Italy.”
“They think Timur can be fixed.”
“That’s because they’re crazy.”
Jean-Pierre got off the phone and gestured for us to come over.
We walked up to him.
Jean-Pierre nodded at his men. They reached into the Benz and handed us our guns.
I confirmed my gun was loaded. “You no longer want to put me in a position to die due to Eden?”
“Do not remind me, Maxwell.”
“Understood.” I placed my gun in the holster. “I’m now rooting for you two to be together forever. In fact, I hope I get an invitation to the wedding.”
“Ride with me.” Jean-Pierre climbed into the Benz.
Boris and I exchanged glances.
Boris shrugged.
We entered the car.
The interior cabin incorporated both wood and leather, creating a lounge-like ambiance. Everything was themed in a baby blue and cream color combination. There was a third row where Jean-Pierre and I remained.
Boris sat in the second with his two men.
The driver closed the door next to me, climbed in, started the car, and drove us away.
I looked through the window and caught several men struggling with getting a straight-jacketed Timur into a white van. He was screaming out something and wildly jerking around. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but his face was twisted in a mask of terror. The men were having a hard time holding him.
Finally, one of them finally managed to get a syringe into his arm.
Timur’s body went limp.