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)
I gritted my teeth.
“I do not want more of us to die.”
My heartbeat quickened. “I promise that I will seek your counsel before reacting.”
“Thank you, Kazimir.” Her smile widened. “You have really been showing growth since the birth of Emilio. I also. . .”
She looked like she was about to cry.
I widened my eyes. “What is wrong, Baba?”
“I. . .also appreciate that you are finally opening your heart to Paolo.”
I looked away.
“Continue to hold him close to your heart.”
“I am trying to be better, Baba.”
“You are, Kazimir.” Then, Baba touched her head and shivered. “Wait. . .” She blinked her eyes several times. “No. No.”
Is she getting a vision or something?
“No. No.” She frantically scanned the space, looked at something behind me, and grimaced. “No! Do not. . .do this!”
“What is wrong?” I checked over my shoulder.
David approached with several men. A curious expression covered his face. “Are you okay, Baba?”
“I saw it. I. . .already know.” Baba touched her chest. “No. Do not do it, David.”
My number one’s brows furrowed. “Baba. . .”
“Do not tell him, David. It is not necessary. All is done.”
David blinked. “Baba, I do not know if you are talking about what is on my mind, but if it is. . .I am just doing my job. What is done is done.”
“You could have ignored the information. Hid it. Anything. Your job is not to make him happy. It is to make him better.” She scowled. “You cannot give the Lion everything he wants.”
I held out my hands. “What are we talking about?”
Baba got between us. “Do not do it, David.”
I walked around her. “What is going on?”
David swallowed. “Baba, it is too late. Most of our men already know.”
She closed her eyes.
I looked at David. “What is going on?”
A neutral expression covered his face. “I have. . .something that you have wanted.”
Baba turned to me. “Kazimir, we have just talked about your walking on a healing path and not—”
“What does that have to do with David’s information?” I eyed my number one. “Someone tell me what is going on. Now.”
David looked down at the ground. “We have the gardener’s family.”
A mischievous smile spread across my face. “Oh, do we now?”
Baba sneered. “You are better than this, Lion.”
“Actually, I am not.”
David placed his hands in his pockets. “In ten minutes, our men will be picking the family up at the airport along with Boris.”
“Our men? No.” I shook my head. “It is too lovely of a day for the Lion to not go out and welcome them all back to Moscow myself.”
Baba pointed at me. “Kazimir, we just talked about your growth—”
“Let us save my growth for New Orleans. For now, I am in Moscow. And examples must always be made.” Already I could feel my fingers itching to grab a gun.
Emilio snored against me.
All must understand. . .
Images of death and blood spun in my head.
Never fuck with my mouse, and never ever fuck with the love that I have with her!
Chapter 39
Milk
Emily
Now newly showered and dressed, Blue and I headed for the conference room to talk to the wet nurses.
I checked my right and only spotted my regular guards and three new ones. “Eh, Blue. Where’s Giorgio?”
She frowned. “Apparently, Giorgio slipped on ice and hurt his leg. He is resting to let it heal. However, he added his top three guards to your detail.”
I gave her a skeptical look. “Slipped on ice?”
Blue shook her head.
“When did this happen?”
“I was told it was last night.”
“He told you this?”
“No.” Blue sighed. “David informed me.”
“I bet he did.” I put my view on the path ahead. “You think David beat his ass?”
“I hope not.”
I knew an ass whipping was coming. I just didn’t think David would make the first move.
What the hell happened? Did Giorgio say something to piss him off? Or did David get a bit of vodka, lose his patience, and knock Giorgio out.
No wonder Giorgio wasn’t at the memorial service last night.
“I apologize for the inconvenience, Emily.”
“If the bullshit was going to go down, now would be the best time.” I shrugged. “However, they can’t be fighting while we’re gone. Everyone must focus.”
Blue nodded.
“And. . .as I said before, a decision must be made.”
A tense expression decorated Blue’s face.
“Once the decision is made, Giorgio should stop slipping on ice.”
“I agree.”
I was glad I gave Blue the ultimatum to pick one of the men. Clearly, last night had triggered David to do something to Giorgio. Only God knew why or what had truly happened.
Max had claimed that Giorgio had the upper hand in the fight in Italy. Clearly, David won last night.
Giorgio 1. David 1.
The biggest question was who would win the third round? And would that battle involve guns?
Visions of blood filled my head. I saw their bodies mangled, bullet-riddled and lying on the ground.