Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Then Arthur shifts his attention to Adrian and extends his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met before. I do believe you know who I am…as I know your name already as well. Thank you for inviting me to this lovely intimate ceremony. I’m so sorry I missed the official vows.”
Adrian studies Arthur, dropping his hand after the initial shake. “I agreed to allow you to name your terms. I said nothing about an invitation.”
Arthur’s smile grows wider. “Well then, I guess I just have excellent timing.”
My fingers are itching to go for the gun tucked into the waist of my pants. One bullet, and I can end it all. One bullet, and I can end this misery and shame.
Cilla curls her hand around my forearm, pulling herself from my shadow to stand beside me. “Father.”
He matches her indifferent tone. “Daughter. Looks like you proved useful to me after all.”
She stiffens beside me, only the tiniest amount, but I feel the tension in her grasp as she digs her fingernails into my jacket.
I start forward, but both she and Adrian hold me back.
Adrian releases me first. “Leave it for now. He wants to talk. We’ll let him talk.”
Val is wide-eyed, clutching her stomach as if she can protect it from this man and what he’s done. I don’t blame her one bit. I nod to Cilla. “Why don’t you take Val to sit down. Your father, Adrian, and I can all have a little chat.”
She quickly wraps an arm around Val’s waist and leads her out of the room.
I turn to watch Arthur again. “You made a mistake coming here. I don’t give a shit what kind of truce you think we have, but we don’t. I don’t want anything from you.”
Arthur purses his lips and taps his chin in mock confusion for a second. “Oh, but I do believe you did want my daughter. Enough that you just married her. I’d say that’s a hell of a lot if you’d rather bind yourself for life than turn her back over to me. Her loving father.”
I clench my fists, and Adrian cuts his hand in front of me again. “No, don’t engage, Ivan. He’s trying to rile you up. Don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing he’s succeeded. It’s not worth it.”
I know he means the thing with the FBI. Fuck. Emmanuelle and Andrea. Whatever the hell happened there. Obviously, nothing good with Emmanuelle now in prison. Either way, Adrian is right. We are trying to keep out of the spotlight until the law enforcement's attention dies down again.
Arthur’s gaze shifts unflinchingly to mine. “When you were my guest, I offered you a deal. My daughter in exchange for negotiating peace. You kept your end. I’m here, but you’ve decided to keep her, so we need to renegotiate.”
Adrian shifts beside me, his own hands clenched, but nothing of the tension I can see in him is written on his face. “Well. It seems you’re more like your brother than I was led to believe. Buying, selling, and bartering your own blood away for whatever you need.”
“My brother is short-sighted and doesn’t understand the firestorm he’s crawled himself into. I do. I know who you are, Adrian Doubeck, and I know once you have a target, you won’t stop until every member of my family is dead. I’m trying to save my little offshoot any way that I can. How can you fault me for that?”
I step closer to him. “I can fault you for anything I damn well please. The season is open motherfucker, and I’m coming for you.”
Arthur narrows his eyes and shakes his head. “Ivan, please. The grown-ups are talking now. Why don’t you run along and play with your new toy.”
As if she heard him speaking about her, Cilla rushes back into the foyer, her bare feet slapping on the hardwood.
No one looks at her. I’m not taking my eyes off her father, and Adrian also knows to keep his eyes on the threat. Not that he’d be able to do much against both of us, but he doesn’t take risks when Val is nearby. Not anymore.
Cilla curls her hand around my forearm again as if she might be able to step between us and hold me back. Why she’d bother to protect him, I don’t know. Or maybe she’d do it thinking she’s protecting me.
I focus on Adrian again. It’s his order, even if this is my vengeance.
Adrian gives Arthur a nod. “Tell me your terms.”
I go ramrod straight beside the man who’s saved my life more than once. Hell, I’ve saved his more than once. We’ve been fighting side by side for years, and he’ll listen to this asshole over me?
Never shifting his gaze from Adrian, Arthur nods in return. “I give you my brother and his entire male family line, and you let my little branch live. I don’t have sons. The name will die when I do. I just don’t intend to go out as soon as I’m sure he will.”