Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
So even though my body would willingly surrender to his touch, I won’t. He killed that part of me.
Pulling away, I coerce him to release me and turn around to face him. “I don’t care where you spend your time or who you spend it with.”
“I’m not leaving,” he says calmly, soothingly, almost like he read my previous thoughts.
My chin trembles and I force it to stay in place. “I don’t care if you leave.”
“And I’m telling you I’m not. You might not want to know where I was, but I’m going to be a model husband and tell you anyway. I had a meeting with Nicolo Luciano in his club and he insisted I join him and his brothers for a drink in their house.”
“I said, I don’t care.”
“Before that, I got myself tested for your sake and had the clinic email you the results,” he continues as if I said nothing. “If I came back semi-drunk, I would’ve fucked you, so I chose to crash in the Luciano mansion.”
I pretend his words mean nothing as I leave the room and go downstairs. The dining room door is closed, which means Sergei is having another morning meeting.
Anastasia is sitting on a sofa in the entrance while Vlad is talking to her guards. She’s wearing a sophisticated flowery dress. Her hair is loose and her heels are brand spanking new.
As soon as she sees me, she stands and spins around, grinning. “How do I look?”
“Perfect, as usual.” I kiss her cheek and let her place her arm in mine as I address Vlad. “We already went through the security procedures with the guards.”
“There’s no harm in repeating them.” His gaze slides from me to Anastasia, and back again. “Do you want me to go with you?”
“No need.” Kyle’s voice cuts in from behind us. “I’m accompanying the ladies.”
It’s pointless to fight him on this. He’ll just start another verbal war with Vlad, and I don’t have time for that. So I simply nod at Sergei’s second-in-command to communicate that I’m fine with it, then I head outside.
Kyle places a hand on the small of my back. The possessive gesture isn’t lost on me. He’s doing this so Vlad knows to stay the fuck away. He’s been making it a habit in front of him and the other leaders in the brotherhood—especially Damien.
I try to get out of Kyle’s hold, but that only causes him to tighten it further, eliciting a shudder down my spine.
He drives Ana and me to the coffee shop we rented for the brunch. It’s located in a quiet neighborhood and is considered private enough that Adrian agreed to send his wife.
Still, guards, both ours and the Italians’, fill the surrounding streets and the area behind the coffee shop. The Irish have been quiet for some time now, and that’s not always a good sign.
If anything, they might have stayed under the radar just to prepare for a bigger attack.
As soon as we reach the building, I exit the car before Kyle properly parks it. Anastasia follows after me, as does Kyle. I turn around to shoo him away. “It’s women only. Go back.”
“I’m sure they will appreciate my company.”
Just when I’m about to speak, a long car stops right in front of us.
One of the Italians.
A guard comes out and opens the back door. A petite brunette exits the vehicle, wearing a huge hat and white-framed sunglasses.
Emilia Luciano, Lazlo’s youngest sister, whom he raised himself.
A grin plasters on her red-painted lips as she runs toward us and throws herself in Kyle’s arms, kissing his cheek. “Long time no see, you.”
What the…
“I wouldn’t call it long,” Kyle says, not attempting to peel her off him.
“You’re right. Last night wasn’t that long ago, but why does it feel like it?”
Last night.
Last fucking night?
I thought he was with her brothers, but he forgot to mention the sister. My hand balls into a fist around my bag’s strap, and it takes everything in me not to hit both her and him across the face.
Why should I care? I meant what I said earlier—I don’t give two fucks about where and who he was with.
And yet, an acid-like sensation instantly melts my insides.
It’s the humiliation. That’s it. That’s the only reason why I feel like I’m at the point of combusting right now.
Dedushka taught me that my honor and dignity come before anything else, and if anyone tries to tarnish them, I shouldn’t let them be.
That’s why I barge straight between them and offer my hand to Emilia. “Rai Sokolov, your hostess for the day.”
She pulls away from Kyle to take my strong handshake with a meek one. “Emilia. Nice to officially meet you. My brothers talk about you a lot.”
“The pleasure is all mine. I’m glad my reputation precedes me.”
“They’re not always good stories.” She tries to hide the jab with a smile.