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)
With clenched teeth, I sealed my fate and whispered. “As burns his saint, so burns my soul.”
“It is finished.” Louis beamed. “All is as it should be.” He raised his hands into the air and let out a long exhale that sounded like it had been trapped inside his body since my mother’s disappearance.
The guys let me go.
Chase’s shirt had speckles of blood.
Seemed I was hiding more than one De Lange.
It was over.
In more ways than one.
Louis took off his ring, it was identical to the tattoo, and with great force, he shoved it onto my left hand like a fucking wedding ring.
“Now,” Louis clasped his hands. “Before business, we drink.”
Finally, something I agreed with.
But I couldn’t move.
I was rooted to the ground as the guys all walked around me and started talking about the weather, their kids, the new Maybach that was just announced.
I stood there.
Completely fucking empty.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Alice
I’ve always heard that every person, at one point in their lives, experiences a crossroads.
I was at that point.
Ax had brought me to a private airport.
The jet was pitch black and looked expensive.
I had my bag in my right hand as I stepped out of the SUV and stared up at it.
A man I didn’t recognize, a beautiful man started walking down the stairs to greet me.
He was tall, muscular, extremely familiar despite the fact that I’d never met him before.
“Nikolai.” Ax held out his hand.
Nikolai shook his hand firmly and looked to me. “Any issues?”
“Issues?” I repeated.
“With getting out of the club before it was infested with more Italians?” His lips quirked like he said something funny.
“No,” Ax answered for me. “I just got a text. Everything seemed to go as planned… Unfortunately.”
Unfortunately? What did that even mean?
Both men gave me a pointed look.
I wanted to back away, I wanted to steal the SUV and drive it back to the club.
“Is Andrei—” I licked my dry lips. “Is Andrei okay?”
“He’s alive,” Ax said quietly. “Then again are you ever really living when you don’t have those you care about by your side?”
“Deep for a made man,” Nikolai teased. “All right then, so I guess this is the choice you’re going to make?”
“Choice?” I almost shrieked. “I wasn’t given a choice.”
“She’s new,” Ax pointed out like I was an idiot.
I almost smacked him. “What do you mean I’m new? I wasn’t given a choice. Andrei shoved me into the SUV, basically making me think I was never going to see him again and looked like he was marching off to his death!”
“In a way he was.” Nikolai shrugged. “The death of part of his past, the rebirth of a new future. The question is, where do you fit in Alice De Lange?”
I sucked in a sharp breath and started backing away from both of them. “H-how do you know?”
“Then again,” Nikolai ignored me. “He did lie and tell everyone you were married so you were safe.”
“He’s an idiot,” Ax pointed out. “Should have just done it and apologized after the fact.”
“I’m lost,” I whispered. Did I need to grab the knife I’d tucked away in my bag, or not?
“You can get on the plane with me. Fly to New York, disappear, new name, new identity, I’ll even let you work for me.”
“Huh?”
“He’s kind of a big deal.” Ax nodded. “In case you’re wondering why he looks familiar; he won a Nobel Peace Prize for his research with AIDS and other STDs.” He shrugged. “Then again of course he was able to study it closely since he’s known as The Doctor or Dr. Death. He’s Russian in case you haven’t noticed the tattoo on his left hand, and he works for Andrei on the side.”
“It’s good that you work at the club.” Nikolai shook his head. “What if she tells?”
“She won’t.” Ax winked at me. “She’s in this now.”
I was in something all right.
My heart was breaking.
They were talking in riddles.
And I just wanted to know he was okay.
“What’s my other choice?” I asked quietly staring down at the asphalt. “You said I have two choices.”
“Your second choice is a bit more… adventurous.”
“Adventurous?”
“You stay and let him fight for you,” Ax said confidently.
“I’m a De Lange.” I gulped. “Chase will kill me, and if he won’t, one of the other ones will.”
“Chase’s wife is half De Lange.” Ax shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “She sacrificed herself for him. Blood must always be spilled.”
My head shot up. “What was that?”
Nikolai’s lips twitched. “Blood must always be spilled. Especially after Mil’s betrayal. Like I said, staying is more adventurous, dangerous, and you may not live. But something tells me that if you get on that plane, you’re already dead.”
“Figuratively.” Ax cleared his throat. “He means figuratively.”
Tears welled in my eyes.
Could I do it?
Could I get back in that car and face not just the monster I loved, but the ones who would kill me without a second thought?