Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
He’d killed for me.
Spilled my own brother’s blood for me.
He had given himself to me.
I nodded at Nikolai. “I think I’d rather die than get in that plane with you.”
“Good answer.” His dark eyes flashed.
“You were hoping I’d say no?”
“I was already in the city for business when Ax called. You may need me later anyways. It seems I’m staying.”
“Why would I need you later?”
“Doctor.” His face fell.
Great.
I refused to lose my nerve now.
“Are you going to come with us then?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He grinned and then shoved Ax, “I’m driving, you’re a lunatic.”
“You’re not wrong.” Ax winked and opened the SUV door for me. “After you, Alice.”
The door shut with finality behind me.
I had promised him I would leave.
I had promised him I would be safe.
I had promised him I would ask him to kill me.
And it seemed I might have to follow through with it if things went wrong.
“Blood must always be spilled.” I repeated out loud. “Nikolai, how much blood does the human body have?”
“Around seven percent of your body weight is blood, why?”
The car turned as he drove us back in the direction we came.
“How much blood would appease Chase?”
“All of it,” Ax said without thinking. “You’ll need a different plan, stabbing yourself isn’t going to work.”
“I wasn’t going to stab myself.” I wrung my hands together.
We were back at the club too soon.
A dozen expensive black cars were parked out front. “What’s going on?”
“Oh,” Ax turned around as he loaded his gun. “The Sinacores are here to wipe out the remaining De Lange blood line and take their place, and the love of your life is their new boss.”
I froze. “What?”
Nikolai’s face softened in the rear-view mirror. “He’s half Italian, he’s the heir to one of the oldest mafia dynasties in the world. And his first task is a mass cleansing.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “And if he defies his first task?”
Nikolai locked eyes with me. “To defy your own blood, or direct orders from the Capo, means death.”
“I’m walking into my own funeral.” My voice shook.
“Oh ye of little faith.” Nikolai winked.
I’d been at a crossroads.
I had chosen the road less traveled.
The one with signs that said beware.
The one with the broken bridge and enchanted castle.
The enchanted castle filled with blood thirsty monsters, and no princes riding in on white horses.
“I need a minute.” I grabbed my bag and took a few soothing breaths then very slowly got out of the SUV with Nikolai and Ax flanking me.
The club was loud when we walked in.
Men were laughing.
Drinking.
And my heart was breaking.
He’d known, hadn’t he?
Andrei had known.
And he’d chosen blood.
Over love.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Andrei
For once in my life, the vodka didn’t do anything except remind me of Alice. I had sent a text to Ax to make sure she made it safely to wherever he was taking her.
He had yet to respond.
I trusted him with my life, but he was still Italian.
Then again, so was I.
Shit.
“No offense, but you look like hell.” Chase sat down next to me while more laughter erupted from the corner where Louis and Tex were talking. Nixon and Phoenix had joined, and Sergio was currently on his laptop trying to locate every last De Lange in the Chicago area.
Most of the families had fled.
As long as they didn’t come back they wouldn’t be killed.
But we didn’t want to leave any stone unturned.
And I had no choice in the matter.
If the Sinacore Family was to take its rightful place, there had to be no question that another family would challenge.
And the De Langes were stupid enough to do just that.
Sergio cursed and jerked his head at us. “Vic said a group of De Lange men just left one of the known locations downtown, heavily armed and headed this way.”
“Good.” I could taste blood on my tongue. “I need to kill something.”
Next to me, Chase chuckled. “Knew that you wanted in, it’s probably why you look like shit, unless something’s happening with that wife of yours?”
Wife.
My stomach sank like a rock as I kept my face indifferent. “She left.”
Chase’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not how marriage works typically. You get that, right? Why the hell did she leave?”
“This isn’t the life for her.” I looked away.
“I’m calling bullshit.” Chase grabbed a bottle of water from behind the bar and sat back on the stool. “When you find someone you don’t just let them go to protect them. Been there done that, the T-shirt fucking sucks, and it’s depressing as hell.”
It was strange that I was having this conversation with Chase of all people, with De Langes pissed off and headed our direction.
With the taste of another De Lange still on my tongue.
The universe was clearly out to kill me today.
I was about to say exactly that when the room fell silent.
I knew it was her before I craned my neck toward the door, I could smell her, feel her. Rage took complete control of my body as I slowly stood. She walked into the club like she wasn’t going to get killed.