Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“A meeting?”
“I was thinking you and the ladies could do lunch today.”
“This is sudden,” Niamh said.
“I just want you to try and make some friends.” And with our wives out of the way, it meant I could talk to Slavik without any trouble. I knew it was a risk.
I had intended to spend today with Niamh, and to explore our newfound … closeness. I wanted every opportunity to spill my sperm deep inside her so I could get her pregnant again. Also, I did want her to have friends. Aurora, Adelaide, and Charlotte were good people.
And so, four hours later, while Niamh was with the wives, I arranged a different kind of meeting with Slavik. He was in a café enjoying a cup of coffee, when I went to join him.
“You used your wife so that you and I could have a meeting?” Slavik asked. “I will have to warn you, if this is in any way designed to terminate Ivan, then you will be dead within minutes.”
“My loyalty lies with Ivan Volkov. I give my life to the Volkov, and that will never change.” One of the inks right around my chest is the Volkov brand, the V with the ivy around each one. I had the mark inked around my chest so I would always remember my loyalty, my ties.
“Then, what could you possibly want from this meeting?” Slavik asked.
“What has Finn Byrne done to Ivan Volkov to make him remove every person helping him?”
I couldn’t quite connect the dots. Ivan was turning this into a hunt. He had the ability to kill Finn. Not only did he have the man’s son, he also had the man’s daughter, the woman with all the power of the Byrne name. Ivan hadn’t used any of it.
Also, he had The Beast and The Butcher at his disposal, and their reputations were not false. I had seen The Butcher at work, and I now saw why she was named as such.
Ivan had the power, and yet he was taking out everyone around Finn. Almost playing with him, taunting him. Not that I had an issue with how Ivan was dealing with him. We all dealt with our demons in different ways.
This was personal.
Slavik sat back.
Neither of us spoke.
“As far as I’m aware, Finn Byrne was nothing more than a thorn in Ivan’s side, but one he’d pulled out.”
“Yeah, well, now I have a feeling the little hole that thorn created is bleeding,” I said. “He’s taking out all the petty thugs, but only those with any connection to Byrne. Why?”
“Well, that is something you’re going to have to ask Ivan.”
****
Niamh
I was not good at making friends.
This was when the situation was normal.
We all had men, less than two feet away from us. I noticed Aurora only had one guard, as did Adelaide and Charlotte. All three of the women offered me a smile, as I had three men guarding me.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I said.
Again, I was awkward. I didn’t know what to say. Where the three women appeared to be quite close, I was not used to embracing.
They hugged and looked so happy to see each other. I noticed that Charlotte flinched during the hugs, but she still gave them back, even though they clearly made her uncomfortable.
“This is strange, isn’t it?” Aurora said.
At least, I think it was Aurora.
I pressed my lips together, and gave a kind of smile, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes, and I wasn’t exactly sure if it was a smile or not.
“Apparently you all wanted to, uh, meet with me, I think that’s what Peter said. You didn’t have to do that. I know we’re not … like friends or anything. We won’t even be close, and…” I stopped because I wasn’t sure if I should say I had a choice about a potential divorce. Leaving the Volkov Bratva … and Peter.
It was hard to even think about right now. Last night had been amazing, and I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t know if I could stay married to Peter. He didn’t do love and the truth was, all I wanted was love and a family, and to be … wanted.
Wow, how the fuck had I just realized that now? I mean, I knew I’d always wanted a family. That was no secret, but I didn’t know if I could have that with Peter. Did he even want to be a dad?
Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I smiled at the women at the table, more thankful than ever, to have the waiter come to take our drink order. I was tempted to give the signal that would mean my guards got me away from this awkwardness, but I promised Peter I’d try.
“So, I think I should go first, because this is kind of awkward. I’m Aurora Ivanov. I’m married to Slavik, and even though our marriage didn’t have the best start, I am in love with my husband, and we have two children, and a third on the way. Oh, I was nearly killed as well, and framed for attempting to kill Ivan, but it wasn’t me. It was a woman he and Slavik were close to.”