Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Rafe huffed. “Dimitri’s a fucking evil bastard.”
It took some work to settle Rafe down, but finally, I got more details about the evening out of Lorenzo, including the fact that Dimitri suggested we use our cousin Tessa as payment. I wanted to find the bastard and snap his neck, but I had to at least act like I had more restraint than Rafe.
“I am going to make sure he is paid back for that insult,” Lorenzo said. “But now is not the time. We need his weapons, and we’re going to get them. Then we’re going to let him work himself into a corner. He’s running out of money. His business is on shaky ground. That’s another reason for this marriage.”
“So Ivanov is paying for Nikolai?” Rafe asked.
“Yes, but it’s worse than that. They’re using Alina because she has fought her father on everything he’s tried to force her into and tried to escape from home at least twice. She’s being forced to marry Nikolai, but Ivanov is the one who’ll fuck him.”
“Jesus. Hasn’t Ivanov killed more than one young lover?” I asked.
“Yes, and they were all still in high school.”
Rafe shook his head. “That’s fucking sick.”
I blew out a long breath. “Everything about this goddamn business is sick. That’s why we should all have gotten out of it long ago.”
Lorenzo shook his head. “That’s not an option. I have people to protect and no other way to do it.”
I studied Lorenzo for a moment. “This isn’t like you.”
Rafe frowned. “This is exactly like him. He always gives a speech about how he’s responsible—blah, blah, blah.”
Lorenzo snarled. “Don’t push me.”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s not like Renzo to give in to anything he wants. He’s been punishing himself, working nonstop, and basically living like an ascetic since he got out of prison.”
“But Renzo’s fucked guys since he’s been out. No one can stay celibate that long.”
I rolled my eyes. “I didn’t say he hadn’t taken care of basic physical needs. He’s eaten too, but he won’t do anything for himself because all he wants to do is blame himself for something he didn’t cause.” And he would never have fucked Nikolai if it didn’t mean more than just a chance to burn off some anger. Why did everything have to be so fucking complicated right now?
Your feelings for Alex aren’t complicated. You want to fuck him until he promises to do everything you say.
He was my student.
Do you really care?
Lorenzo’s voice interrupted my thoughts. “I’ve had a long night. Don’t make me say or do something I’ll regret. Just go home.”
“Have you let Remington know?” I asked. Our cousin had suspected Dimitri was attempting an alliance with Ivanov. Now we knew he was right. How far would he go to stop it?
“About the deal?”
Was he trying to piss me off? “I sure as fuck didn’t mean about Nikolai.”
Rafe grinned. “I don’t think I’d tell him that.”
For a moment, I was worried Lorenzo would literally explode. “I’m not fucking stupid, and no, I haven’t had a chance to talk to him because I’ve been arguing with the two of you.”
Rafe held up his hands in surrender. “Wow, you’re fucking grouchy. I would think good sex would’ve made you a little bit more mellow.”
“The negotiation happened after the sex, and there wasn’t anything relaxing about this night. So go home and leave me alone.”
Rafe started to speak again, but I gave him a look cutting enough to make him close his mouth as I took his arm and escorted him out the door.
“We’ve got to do something about this,” Rafe said.
“What do you propose, and how the hell would you get Remington to agree to it?”
He frowned at me. “Do we have to bring him into this?”
“You think we have the power to take down Ivanov, just the two of us?”
“Lorenzo would join in. He wanted Nikolai. You said so yourself.”
He had to want him even more than I wanted Alex, or he’d never have taken such a risk. “I think he does, but putting all of us at risk isn’t the answer.”
Rafe slammed the door as he sank into my passenger seat. “Why do you have to be so fucking sensible?”
“Because you’re so fucking reckless.”
“Remington doesn’t want this alliance between Ivanov and Dimitri,” Rafe said.
“That’s right, and Lorenzo will push him to do whatever is necessary to stop it, but he can’t just rush into it, and he can’t have Nikolai.”
“Why not?”
Did he really think the whole world would just adjust to our whims? “Rafe, he’s our enemy’s son.”
“We’re buying weapons from the fucker.”
“That doesn’t make him a friend.” We had plenty of business associates that we’d just as soon kill and replace with our allies.
Rafe shook his head. “Whatever. Where are you going now?”
“To bed, which is where you should go.”