Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
She’ll fucking lose her mind when she realizes our wedding isn’t temporary, and it feels like all of this is an omen.
“What?” I snap into the phone. Rafail, of course.
I hear him blow out a breath on the line and mentally curse myself for not keeping my shit together. I expect him to tell me to get us outside because they’re waiting for us, but he doesn’t.
“We’ve got bad news, brother.”
Ember looks at me, and I look back at her as I listen. I stand up straighter. If anyone’s going to hurt her, if anyone’s planning on—
“Yeah?”
Rafail doesn’t speak right away, and that’s what sets me off. He’s not the type to hesitate. Not unless it’s something big—something that could derail everything.
“Rodion.” His voice drops, low and sharp. “Her fucking brother’s here.”
What?
My entire body locks up. Across the room, Ember freezes like she knows, as if she can feel the news straight through the phone.
“What do you mean, here?” I grit out. The fucking audacity of this goddamn prick.
“I mean, he’s at the gate. Says he’s her family, and he’s demanding to take her back.”
How fucking delusional can one person be?
Ember’s staring now, wide-eyed and pale, her lips parted to speak. “What is it, Rodion?”
Rafail keeps going, his voice clipped. “He knows about the wedding. About her. Too much, Rodion. He’s not just some jealous asshole from the past. He’s been digging, and he’s not alone. Looks like he’s made some friends in all the wrong places.”
“Like fucking who?”
“Feds.”
Of all the fucking—
The words get stuck in my throat, as Rafail’s meaning sinks in. Shawn isn’t just sniffing around to make trouble, he’s weaponized his obsession with her, using her as leverage. A small pebble in the ocean, causing a ripple that reaches miles.
Jesus.
Rafail’s voice cuts through the haze of fury. “Looks like he’s been feeding them information. Could be nothing, could be scraps, but you know how the Feds work. They’ll turn a crumb into a fucking feast if it gets them close to us. He’s probably selling it like he’s a fucking golden boy, a good citizen. And now they’re circling.”
I grit my teeth.
“Why the hell do they care?”
“They could use her. Think about it. Get your head out of your ass and use that brain.”
I pinch my lips together as he continues.
Should’ve fucking ended Shawn before we left Cali.
“She doesn’t have to talk. They could use her to track your movements, trace your calls, watch her every step.”
“Then we get him out of here,” I growl, pacing toward the window like I might spot him through the damn gates of the hotel.
“Already tried,” Rafail says. “He’s not leaving. Not without her. And if we make a scene… well, Romanov hospitality only stretches so far. I promised Polina.”
I’m going to fucking kill the son of a bitch.
But how, when I can’t do it in the open when my hands are tied?
And would Ember ever forgive me?
I can practically hear the underlying warning. This isn’t our family’s territory. The Romanovs have their own rules, and our alliance with them is tenuous, at best. If Shawn pushes his connections with the Feds, instead of a wedding day, I’ll be led out in handcuffs.
Ember’s already at my side, eyes burning with questions.
“Give me ten minutes,” I tell Raf, ending the call.
“What is it?” Ember stands in front of me. I hate the way her lower lip trembles.
“You won’t fucking believe this.” I shake my head when recognition dawns on her.
“There’s only one person from my past who could fuck this up. It’s him, isn’t it? God. This is what I tried to tell you—that he isn’t harmless. You can’t just treat him the way you’d treat a normal predator. He-he’ll stop at nothing, Rodion, nothing. Oh god.”
She closes her eyes, and two fat tears roll down her cheeks.
I won’t let this happen.
I reach for her.
She pushes me away.
“You don’t understand. Shawn doesn’t stop. He doesn’t… doesn’t break.”
I pull her to me, this time not taking no for an answer. She breaks into a sob. “He could never let me have anything good or normal or healthy.”
I can’t help but smirk at her. The situation is fraught; she’s a mess, my brother’s pissed, and I have no idea how I’m going to get out of this situation, but I can’t always take shit so seriously.
“So you take it all back? Marrying me is good and normal and healthy.” I nod as if proud. “Honored, babe.”
“Rodion.”
I sober and pull her to me. I kiss her forehead fiercely and pull her into a hug. “I’m teasing, baby. I’ve got this. You said he doesn’t break?” I hold her out in front of me and tip my finger under her chin, meeting her gaze. “Doesn’t back down? Neither do I.”
Chapter 23
EMBER
I’d give anything to go back to the safety of one of my books right now. Back to where there are always happily ever afters, and the bad guys never win… unless they’re the bad guy you fall in love with.