Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Pavel nodded.
“She adored my son and your son. She loved Emily like her own daughter. Can you think of the horror she felt when seeing Emily’s face and then being stabbed in the throat?” I moved my shoulder from his hand and walked off. “Olga was confused when she died. . .”
Pavel appeared in front, forcing me to stop. “As painful as it is to lose someone we care about, death can also serve as a catalyst for growth and transformation.”
“Catalyst?” I spoke through clenched teeth. “You think I fucking care about that?”
“It is time to confront your vulnerabilities and fears.” Pavel pointed at the sky. “It is time you find hope and beauty even in the darkest of moments.”
“I do.”
“Do it even more.”
I looked off at where he was pointing. The last of the sun’s rays dipped below the horizon.
“The true growth is that Olga’s death must help you change your actions from now on.”
“That is the problem too, Pavel.”
He directed his view to me. “What is the problem, cousin?”
“Olga’s death will not change me.” I put my hands in my pockets. “I should have regret for killing the gardener, but none is there.”
“What if you knew that Olga would die?”
“When it comes to my mouse, there is no logic within me.” I gritted my teeth. “None.”
“Kazimir. . .”
“I still would have killed the gardener.” I looked him in the eye. “I still plan to kill his family, even though my mouse has hidden them from me. I will not stop searching for them.”
“If you kill his family, new consequences could come. At the bare minimum, negative karma could—”
“So be it.”
“Kazimir, I do not want you to lose your way—”
“He touched her!” My rage boiled over. “He came into my house and he touched my fiancée! Violated her!”
Pavel’s body flickered in and out, and I feared our conversation may end too soon.
I lowered my voice. “The gardener had to die. And now his family dies. Perhaps, many of his friends die too. What would you have done?”
“The same.” Pavel turned away.
Dread filled the silence.
“Exactly.” I stabbed the air. “Even dead, you cannot justify my not bringing violence.”
Pavel sighed. “We are our fathers’ children after all.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Yes, we are.”
We both stared at the glow of the rising full moon.
Pavel spoke, “I worry for you, Kazimir.”
“I will be okay.”
In this dream-like state, I could feel the bond of our bloodline, keeping me strong as I faced the harsh reality of Olga’s loss.
Pavel put his view back on me. “You should have regret, Kazimir.”
“Should I?”
“Yes.”
“I do have regret.”
Pavel quirked his brows. “What do you regret, cousin?”
“I regret killing you.” My heart twisted. “I am sorry.”
Pavel opened his mouth, but no words came out. He just stood there, staring at me with an expression that could only be described as shock.
“I love you.” I tensed. “Even though I hate what happened, I still love you.”
The silence between us felt like a lifetime before Pavel finally spoke.
“I love you too, cousin.” He put his hand on my shoulder again.
It was all the comfort I needed in that moment—a reminder that no matter how much violence lay before us in the future, it would never shatter the bond between us.
“Protect my son, Kazimir and love him like your own.”
“I will.”
Soon Pavel began to fade.
“No.” I reached out to him. “Not yet. Do not leave.”
Pavel disappeared along with the dream’s landscape.
My eyes snapped open as I woke up in bed.
Sweat beaded along my forehead.
That was a dream.
I exhaled.
Just. . .a dream.
I rolled over and didn’t see Emily in bed. Even more, her space in the bed had not been touched. The blankets, sheets, and pillows were still neatly in their proper place.
She never came to bed? No. That could not be so. . .unless. . .
Terror ripped through me.
Lunita.
It felt like a weight being crushed down onto my chest.
I rushed out of bed.
What happened? Where is she?
My heart sank as a wave of panic washed over me.
The rising fury burning inside my chest threatened to explode. There was this constant undying need to keep her safe. It was an unstoppable inferno, raging within my veins.
Why did no one wake me?
Once out of the bed, I realized I only had on my black suit pants from last night—no shirt or socks. The front of my pants was open, exposing my hard cock under my black boxer briefs. I zipped my pants up and buttoned them.
Is she safe?
I grabbed a robe, slung it on, but didn’t bother tying it.
Someone better have answers.
I stormed out of my bedroom, the robe’s sides billowing around me in a furious wind.
When I got to the door, I grabbed the knob and swung it open.
Maxwell and David had been talking to the group—Blue, Giorgio, Wassily, and several other guards, then everyone noticed me glaring at them from the middle of the doorway.