Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
But I have another purpose for our meeting.
Aleksandr sits brooding, as his fingers fly over his phone screen. He mutters to himself and stifles a groan.
I tap my computer monitor and pull up the video feed to see my brothers as they join the virtual meeting, one by one.
“We have a situation.”
Nikko scowls from the screen. “Do we have an explanation?”
I lean back in my chair and raise an eyebrow at Aleksandr.
He flinches. “I’m looking into it now. I'll have a report by the end of the day.” Turning to me, his icy blue eyes fairly gleam. “But I'll tell you this, Mikhail. It takes great skill — unparalleled skill — to bypass what I’ve put in place. Genius. Brilliance.” He shakes his head, half in awe of the expertise she casually demonstrated without even knowing she did.
Brilliance.
My personal kryptonite. Why have I always been attracted to brilliant women?
I want her.
One of my brothers stares at me, his gaze cold and calculating. “You could use this to your advantage, brother.”
“I could.”
“He doesn’t have time to seduce her,” another of them says. They carry on a conversation while I think this through. While they don’t say it aloud out of respect, we’re all painfully aware of my lack of a wife and how crucial marriage is for me.
“Seduce her?” Aleks half grunts. "If he had ten years, he wouldn't have enough time to seduce her. First, she’s not the type to fall very easily. I’m telling you, this woman’s intelligence is off the charts. I had a firewall and system in place the fucking FBI couldn’t break. Trust me when I tell you they’ve tried.”
“And let’s be honest,” Nikko says. “Mikhail is good at many things but with all due respect, brother, seduction is not one of them.”
I shrug and don’t deny it. It’s a skill I’ve never needed.
I want to stare into those eyes again. I want to grip her hair in my hands. I imagine myself cupping her ass and making her moan. I imagine the look of fear in her eyes when I overpower her.
I imagine the way she screams when she can’t get away. I imagine the way her face looks when her head is thrown back when she fucking comes.
She’s mine.
Kolya shakes his head at the camera, running his fingers through his short hair streaked with silver. “We don’t have much time to arrange another marriage, Mikhail.”
“We fucking don’t.” I blow out a breath. “Fortunately, she needs protection and money."
He gives me a curious look but doesn't ask questions. As he strokes the stubble on his chin, I can practically see the wheels turning in his mind.
“Excellent,” Kolya finally says. “So the little hacker walked right into your lair and practically bared her neck to you.”
Little hacker.
“She did. And don’t forget she committed a crime worthy of punishment.” I give a short nod.
“How many days, brother?” someone asks. I don’t bother to see who it is.
“Three.”
If I don't get married, I forfeit the alliances and connections a marital statement makes. Marriage can be a powerful force, yes. In some cases if we marry an influential family, we gain access to resources and support, but in this case, it symbolizes unity and loyalty within our group. Marriage means that we immediately strengthen the sheer number of our group.
This time, Volkov won’t be able to make a move. He would never suspect I’d marry a penniless fugitive.
The destruction of our assets, the possibility of attack from our enemies, the potential threat they could leverage against the few people that mean anything to us. Even my tribe of panthers isn’t enough.
We’re on the cusp of war if I don’t have a wife, a war we’re not equipped to win.
“I’m having her followed, only to see where she goes and what she does. I know where she’s sleeping tonight. Her temporary refuge.”
Aleks smiles. “Perfect.”
My phone rings. My mother’s ringtone.
I hold up my hand to indicate silence. My brothers practically hold their collective breaths.
I put the call on speaker.
“Yes.”
But it isn’t my mother on the other line.
“Mikhail. How are you?"
Volkov.
Aleks narrows his eyes.
I clench my fist. "Fantastic.” He waits for me to reciprocate the bullshit formality, but I don’t.
"Fine, fine. I was just sitting here with your mother. We were having a nice dinner."
I grit my teeth and force myself to stay calm. Bashing this phone against the wall is a childish move that won’t solve anything.
My mother. Of course. She doesn't know who Volkov truly is, and there's a part of her that still trusts him. He's family, after all, but she doesn't know what he's capable of. How he only values family inasmuch as he can use them.
I keep my tone light. “Mama. How are you?”
“I’m well, Mikhail. I miss you. Come for dinner, soon?”
I look at Aleks as my mother continues talking. On the conference screen, Nikko makes a fist, Lev scowls at the camera, and Kolya’s body tightens.