Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 95627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Normally my reputation preceded me and delivered the trust, respect, or fear I needed someone to feel. I had no idea what aspects of my reputation she was familiar with.
"I have told you I have been protecting you. Yet you simply don't believe me. Let me prove it." I tilted the monitor back toward me and sent a few videos to the bank of screens behind me.
We were in a second temporary, makeshift office I had in a little cabin that was used strictly for security. Gregor knew that some of the work that I needed to handle would require sensitive conversations, and some possible bloodshed.
I wasn't sure if he knew I wanted to keep Viktoria separate from that, the same way he kept Samara separate from it. Or if he was worried about me getting blood on the hardwood floors in the lake house. Either way, it was convenient.
I started with the video of her creeping through the tunnels. Of course, we knew about the tunnels. We left them as emergency escape routes, which meant they were constantly monitored in case they became a point of vulnerability.
"I still don't see how I was in danger. From a spider bite, maybe?”
I was so done with her flippant tone and attitude.
Ignoring her, I fast forwarded to the point where she breached the end of the tunnel which let out between two large boulders. It really was a very impressive hiding spot. It looked completely natural in the woods, already part of a larger rock formation, and no one would want to get too close because who knew what kinds of snakes or spiders called that crevice home?
The video cut to another feed in the forest. Gregor had several cameras mounted about seven feet high in the trees, hidden by foliage but with completely clear views. I believed hunters often used them and they ran on motion sensors.
Usually, that meant that his men were scouring hours of footage of scurrying chipmunks and the occasional fox or bunny hopping through the undergrowth.
Today, it caught Viktoria sneaking around, as well as two of Solovyov's men.
"There." I stopped the video, and it showed her ducking behind a tree as two men came lumbering by. Talking more to each other than paying attention to their surroundings. "Those are not my men. They don't work for my cousin either. They work for our enemy. Do you understand what could have happened to you if they caught you?"
"I don't believe you." She had no idea how close she had come to dying.
I played more of the video, showing her almost being caught by two more groups.
I had already watched the footage several times, and it didn't matter. Every single time I saw it, my heart froze. For only a beat, then it ached, and I had to suppress the urge to rub at my chest. If she had been caught by one of them, there was no telling what would have happened.
Solovyov had a reputation, and he ensured that the men he hired rose to that reputation, reinforced it, even. If they had caught her, they wouldn't have killed her.
She didn't understand that, and she needed to.
So I played the video that showed Gregor's men striking back.
Earlier, Gregor and I were having a tense meeting when we were notified that some of Solovyov's men stepped onto Gregor's property.
We had a plan in place in seconds.
We would lure them away from the compound. Pavel and Damien were off to create a distraction to draw them away. Once they were far enough from the property, there would be no chance of the violence getting anywhere close to the families, or of Solovyov tracking their cell phones to that part of the massive forest. Then they would be dealt with swiftly.
The pieces would be sent back to Solovyov along with a little treat.
Some type of explosive, probably. It wouldn't have killed Solovyov, but it would have struck fear into the hearts of his men. It would have also sent a message to the world. A nice little postscript to the piles of burning corpses we left on the docks.
P.S. You come after us, we will retaliate in blood and fire.
The plan was set and then it all went to shit when another camera alarm went off, and Gregor pulled up the feed of Viktoria attempting another break for it.
Seconds later, I got a message from the housekeeper Mikhail swore would keep Viktoria in line.
Ms. Gorsky: The young lady is rude, and does not follow directions. She insists on going through the desk in the west wing. I tried to make her leave, and she dismissed me. She is a very rude child.
Artem: Your services are no longer required. I'm sure Gregor has another job for you.
Jesus fuck, this girl was going to kill me.