Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 54103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
"Just one more table, then the only people in the house are Russians."
"Perfect. The final table. Do they look like they’re going to be there for a while?"
"They're almost done with their desserts."
"Great."
"Great?" Rachael echoes incredulously. "One minute I'm your boss, yelling at you like, let's face it, the most unhinged woman this side of Fort Worth. The next you're calling me up saying you’ll pay me a month’s wages if I keep tabs on the restaurant and empty the place when 'it's time' – whatever that means."
“The less you know, the better," I explain. "But rest assured, you're doing a good thing. I guarantee it. Keep me posted."
"Consider it done, hon."
I disconnect. "Almost time."
"This was an excellent idea," Nico declares with unmistakable pride. "He would have detected any of my men surveilling him, but the Vine's staff isn’t on his radar."
"The Vine is supposed to be neutral territory, right?" I contemplate aloud. "Will there be repercussions from this? What – why are you looking at me with that expression?"
"You're the most remarkably adaptable woman I've ever met. Mere weeks ago, you had no knowledge of organized crime, yet now you’re speaking like a seasoned mafia queen."
"I wouldn’t go that far."
He caresses my cheek with that disarming tenderness that consistently catches me off guard. "It's not. I know I keep saying it, but I'm genuinely proud of you. Your mother would be too."
Tears well in my eyes as I lean into his kiss. It's passionate, explosive, igniting a hunger within me that I struggle to ignore. "Thank you," I whisper against his lips.
"You're incredible, Sienna," he murmurs. "Before you entered my life, I thought myself incapable of forming genuine connections. I had resigned myself to being a cold, distant, grump forever."
"I like your grumpy face. Even if we fall..." In love. I stop myself. Too far, too fast... isn't it? "For each other, I still want to see that grumpy face occasionally. If only for artistic inspiration."
He smirks. "Agreed."
"And regarding my question earlier..."
He hesitates before nodding. "Will there be consequences from using the Vine?" He shakes his head, his demeanor becoming savage. "They forfeited any claim to decency the moment they trapped you in that bathroom within supposedly neutral territory. All bets are off now."
He gently smooths my hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. Warm sensations cascade throughout my body. "I'm profoundly grateful our paths crossed, Vignette."
“Me too," I respond sincerely.
"Are you sure? You had a normal life before I came along. Challenging, marked by tragedy and tribulations, but fundamentally normal. Civilian."
"I've experienced more during these few weeks with you – has it really only been a few weeks? – than throughout the last four years. You've awakened things inside me... aspects I never recognized existed."
I stop when I hear how emotional I’m getting. "Maybe we should save this conversation for later... when this is all over. When we can finally exhale."
As if on cue, additional patrons exit the Vine. My phone trills.
"Hon, it's me," Rachael announces, her breathing accelerated. "You want staff evacuated through the back exit, right?"
"Everyone," I confirm. "Make sure they’re safe."
"As you should be," Nico growls when I end the call.
"Two people are responsible for my mom's death. I refuse to sit here passively while you do what needs to be done."
He lowers his gaze. "Perhaps I don’t want you to see me like that. Murderous. Savage. Untamed."
"If you’re afraid I’m going to stop..." Again, that elusive L-word surfaces impossibly. "Caring about you because you're taking drastic measures against the man who ruined my life, you're profoundly mistaken. He deserves whatever is waiting for him."
“There’s no argument there. He's a trafficker, a sadist, an irredeemable man."
"Then let's go."
We climb from the car together and cross the street. Simultaneously, dozens of suited men emerge from nearby vehicles and fall in behind us. Occasionally, I forget how powerful Nico is, but when his men form an army behind us, his power becomes undeniable.
“Stay behind me at all times," he instructs.
"Just like the first time you saved me here."
He laughs savagely before retrieving his gun from its holster. He advances into the restaurant, gun raised. I follow closely, maintaining my position behind him. The bulletproof vest provides less reassurance than I previously thought. A palpable atmosphere of impending violence permeates the air as his men file into the room, weapons drawn.
Viktor glances up, a thin smile distorting his features. Two additional men sit at his table... one of whom, I realize, is the man who mocked me that first time. Anya is present as well, sporting a fresh bruise on her cheek. She appears smaller compared to her presence at the ball, less imposing. I realize I may have misjudged her.
"I must be mistaken," Viktor remarks. "I was under the impression this ground was neutral territory."
"You forfeited that privilege when you attempted to use my cousin against me, you bastard," Nico snarls, then gestures broadly. "Men – confiscate their weapons."