Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
All of that does not equate to me wanting to marry him, though. Nor does it make me want to fall in love with him. Maybe in another life, we could be together. But we want different things. We have entirely different lives.
I scoot down lower, and he kneads my feet while he watches the television. The feeling is overwhelmingly good, and my tired body gives in.
And before I know it, I fall asleep.
CHAPTER 29
Crue
When I carried her to the bedroom, she didn’t even open her eyes. I laid her down and pulled that maxi dress off without hesitation. When I did that, she moved but only slightly. Then I pulled the blanket up to cover her stunning body and went to the bathroom. When I came back, she was passed out again.
I kissed her forehead and told her I’d be back.
And right now, it’s six a.m., and I’m still not back.
Instead, I stand over a man who looks like he used too much gel in his over-slicked hair as he smiles up at me with gold teeth.
Are gold teeth still a thing? Surely not, it looks so damn crass and unrefined these days.
“Her mother hired an investigator today,” he says. Slimy Jim is his name, and he may be a slimy bastard, but he is good at finding information. He shovels more food into his mouth and mumbles, “She moves fast.”
“Who was the investigator?” I ask.
He laughs, then gives me a shit-eating grin, food stuck in his gold teeth. “Me.”
I roll my eyes. Of course, it was him.
“And?”
“Well, she wants me to dig up dirt on you.”
“Is this at her request? Or her daughter’s?”
“She wouldn’t say.” He shrugs.
Interesting but not surprising. Rya’s mother dabbled in this world for a while, and information was of value. Or maybe she genuinely cares about her daughter. But somehow, I doubt that—I know what this woman is like. Maybe it’s that she doesn’t understand the magnitude of who I really am.
“Then give her some dirt. I want to see what she does with it.”
His spoon pauses, and he looks up at me. “Are you for real?”
I clench my hands. Usually, when someone comes poking into my personal business, I kill them. Nothing good comes from someone snooping where they shouldn’t be snooping, and the easy fix is to kill them, just as I’d been doing the past week with the Torrisi in mind.
“Yes, but nothing she can use. Make shit up for all I care. Keep me informed, though. I want to know exactly what you tell her.”
“You plan to let her breathe?”
“Fucking hell, Jim, stop asking questions and just fucking do it.” I walk out of his restaurant and slam the door as I leave. Dominic is waiting for me when I slide into the car in a foul mood.
“What’s that about?” he asks, dropping his cigarette to the ground before stomping on it.
“The mother may be an issue.”
“I don’t think Rya will take kindly to you killing her mother.”
“Maybe.”
“She won’t,” Dominic says and gets in the car.
Well, damn, there goes that idea.
CHAPTER 30
Crue
I sit across from the collector.
More accurately, the both of them. The sister, Anya Ivanov, sits at her wooden desk. A few guards behind her watch us warily. She has rich porcelain skin with thick, glossy red hair. Her brother, Aleksandr, is posted at her right, watching intently, his red hair the same shade as Anya’s. Both look ageless, but I assume they are more or less around my age. Equal partners with different roles to play. Another family dynasty.
Dominic and Dawson stand behind me. My other two men were made to stand outside.
“I’m surprised to see you here today, Mr. Monti,” Anya says. “If my intel is correct, you’ve been living in New York for quite a few years now but have never shown interest in… our events. Why now?” Her smile is polite, but her eyes betray her as her gaze roams over my body. Desire.
“I will soon be coming into an inheritance, one might say. And I want to expand my reach and businesses here in New York.”
She side-eyes her brother. “I’m sure you’re aware that we have many powerful families who attend such events and auctions. I would hope that your intent is pure.”
I try not to scoff. Pure? That’s ironic, considering the business they run.
“Are you saying I don’t belong amongst these powerful families?” I question.
She kicks up a smile. “On the contrary. I just hope you don’t scare any of my patrons away.”
“You can understand why we might be hesitant in your sudden interest,” Aleksandr finally speaks. And his voice is as honeyed as his sister’s. Two individuals who are equally able to get their own way.
With most.
But I grow impatient, and the atmosphere in the room changes.
“Of course, we are more than happy to accept your entry,” Anya quickly says. “But new members often offer a donation of sorts.”