Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I will be taking over your city while you’re gone. I’ve already made the arrangements, and have all the necessary foods and details on my private island. You and Adelaide will have each other. The staff know not to be seen or heard, unless you want them. Trust me, you and Adelaide need this.”
Running a hand down my face, I want to argue with him, but this wasn’t a suggestion. Ivan was giving me an order. This was the first time he’d done it to me in a long time.
“There will be plenty of time, Ivan,” I said.
“And I’ve said you are to take a honeymoon. Your plane leaves tonight. I hear the forecast is for hot weather, so go and enjoy the sunshine for a little bit. Show me that it’s possible to be happy.”
This makes me even more tense. The life within the Bratva was not fun, but Ivan always seemed to find the positives. He was a ruthless son of a bitch, but I did hear a rumor that there might be someone in his life. Again, it was a rumor. There were always whispers and gossip that followed him. I doubted any of it was true.
If Ivan wanted me to go on a honeymoon, then I didn’t see a reason to put it off. Ivan controlling my territory was a scary fucking thought. I had nothing to hide. My loyalty was to him and him alone, and I would never betray him.
He’d given me the chance to exact my revenge, and I had taken it, gladly. Seeing my father fighting for his last breath was in fact a memory I treasured.
Hanging up the call, I smiled. It was a sick treasure to have, because right beside it was taking my wife’s virginity, and knowing no other man was ever going to touch her.
I was a sick fucking bastard.
Chapter Fifteen
Adelaide
A honeymoon.
On a private island.
No one around for miles.
To many, this was the dream—to finally be alone with their spouse. Andrei and I had been on Ivan’s island for two days. I don’t know how he did it, but he’d been avoiding me. Like now. We enjoyed breakfast together and he’d looked down at his cell phone, and left without a word.
This was not a honeymoon. This was just another prison, only a little bigger. And incredibly beautiful.
I move toward the balcony that’s just off our main bedroom, and put my arms on the ledge. I look out over the large island, surrounded by the ocean. There was a small dock, which allowed the plane to land, as well as for small boats. There was even a small yacht for Ivan to go out and enjoy the ocean.
Beautiful.
Serene.
Calming.
Stepping away from the balcony, I walk back into the main bedroom. The silence of the island was shocking to me. It had been a long time since I’d been able to really think. Closing my eyes, I listen to the sounds. Living in the city all my life, there was no such thing as real silence. There was always some noise and strange sounds in the city, and people were always so close.
Opening my eyes, I go toward the cabinet and make the decision that I’m going to go for that swim. Andrei’s not around, so it’s not like I have to be self-conscious in my swimsuit, which is one piece.
I pull my summer dress over my head, toss it to the floor, and wriggle out of my bra and panties. Then I step into my swimsuit and slide it up my legs and over my body. I don’t linger on the scars from the bullet wounds. The doctor had promised me I’d be able to have children again, which was an odd way of putting it. Again? I didn’t even have one child. The moment he said it, he looked like he was going to be sick.
I ease down the bathing suit, and look at myself in the mirror. The scar isn’t ugly. The surgeon who worked on me had done a wonderful job. I’m shaking my head, because I know looking at the scars doesn’t help bring back any of the memories. I slide my suit back into place, don’t look in the mirror again, and head right down to the small pool. There was no way I was going to swim in the ocean.
The main caretaker of the house had warned that there had been some great white shark sightings, so yeah, this ass was not going near any ocean. Stepping up to the pool, I look inside the water, take a deep breath, and then jump, sinking down. I allow the water to take over, and then I charge toward the top, breaking the surface, lifting my head up. Sliding my hands through the water, I move back and forth, and then I start swimming up and down the length of the pool.