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)
Besides, I didn’t want her near me.
I turned and gave the guys a curious look. “Did you know that the Bullet Ant gained its name because the pain is so severe it feels like you’ve been shot? A tiny miniscule bite and scientists say you’ll beg for death.” I walked to the opposite end of the room and spread the purple curtain wide.
Four glass cases stood waiting.
“Naturally, some men prefer extreme pain when they’re having sex, so I like to keep some of the best around, just in case.” I sighed and put on the leather gloves next to the case. “Twenty-four hours, that’s how long you suffer, and the best part, really the best part of the bite?” I reached into the cage and grabbed one tiny ant and held it between my thumb and forefinger. “It’s hardly noticeable and what police officer would believe you anyway? Oh, I got bit by an ant, the Russians are coming.” My voice was detached, my emotions gone. All I felt for this woman had been slapped out of me every time she told me she wished I wasn’t born.
Every time I asked her to pick me up and she said I was dirty.
Every time I froze in my room and she refused to give me an extra blanket.
My father created me.
She molded the clay.
The guys all backed up against the wall, equal parts amused and curious as I held the ant out to Elena. “Who’s dropping off the girls?”
“Give me protection.”
I sighed and stood. “You had to have known I wouldn’t just let you make demands in my club, on my turf. I’m the fucking boss of the Petrov family, I make the demands, the decisions. You…” I leaned in and whispered in her blood-caked ear. “Are lucky I’m even speaking to you without cutting off a finger first.” I leaned back and tilted my head. “Who?”
“Protection!” she screamed.
I reared back and placed the ant on her leg.
And then I watched.
She went completely still.
“It won’t bite unless provoked.” I grinned. “Must be hard since you like to scream at things, hit them.” I examined my gloves and shrugged. “Just try not to be yourself and you should be just fine.”
“GO TO HELL!” she roared.
And then she let out an ear-piercing scream so loud that I was suddenly thankful the room was noise proof.
“It BIT ME!”
“I warned you.” I smiled at the guys. “I’ll let you know how things progress. We’ll question her when she’s able to speak without yelling, when she learns her manners, and most of all, when she learns who runs the fucking world.”
I shoved the door open and waited for everyone to walk out, then I turned and locked it, leaning my body against it while the guys all faced me. “What?”
“The hell?” Tex roared. “You just keep those things? Like pets?”
I snorted. “Hardly. Sometimes customers use them. Don’t ask me why, I’m not into that shit, I have more painful ways if this doesn’t work, but she’s always been petrified of ants and spiders, so, if this doesn’t work, I’ll go grab Mary and see if she can do better.”
Nixon made a face. “I’m almost afraid to ask this.”
“Mary’s the grandma tarantula we keep behind the bar when we want to scare away the wrong customer so the right one walks up and spends more money than they should on alcohol.” I checked my phone. “Mary gets a lot of screams, probably the best whore we have here.”
Chase whistled. “Well, now that I’m completely creeped out by all the creepy things you have here—”
“Say creep one more time,” Dante teased.
Chase gave him the finger. “You don’t have any… tigers or shit in here do you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry did you want a tour?” I asked in a bored tone. “Or can I get back to work.”
“The club doesn’t open for another few hours,” Phoenix pointed out, damn it.
“I’m aware of that. I’m still busy.” I clenched my teeth. “Go.”
The guys slowly filtered out. Tex rubbed his arms like he had ants on him, and Dante grazed his finger down Tex’s neck earning a hard shove and a reach for his Glock. Nixon gave me a middle finger salute before joining them.
And then I was left with Phoenix.
“I don’t buy it.” He crossed his arms. “You and I both know you like to read in the mornings so you don’t kill anyone at night.”
I swore violently. “That was private information.”
“Nothing’s private between us, you ass. Now tell me what you’re going to go do. Better yet—” He put his hand on my shoulder pissing me off more. “Show me.”
“Make me.”
“I’m not afraid of ants. Furthermore, I’d fight to the death before you got near those or Mary. So help me God, let me in or I’m just going to keep fighting until you have no choice but to surrender, and we both know that word isn’t in our vocabulary. Don’t make my wife a widow. What shit are you working on?”