Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Emily turned her gaze sharply towards Valentina. “And you. . .”
Careful, mysh. She is my sister.
Emily pointed. “You’ve been next to Kaz long enough. This was your time to shine.”
One tear left Valentina’s eye.
“I was rooting for you. We had fun together, but before we went inside, you should have checked, double-checked, triple-checked every single security opening, every person and position. We rely on each other to survive, and tonight, that reliance was betrayed. You two got my brother shot five. . .fucking. . .times.”
Valentina swallowed hard. “I. . .fucked up.”
Emily turned to address everyone present, her voice loud and clear. “This is a wake-up call for all of us!”
Some of my men stirred.
“From now on, no more surprises. We tighten our ranks, we double our efforts, and we make damn sure this never happens again. We are on, always on because the moment we forget that, we are as good as dead.”
Valentina’s voice showed how defeated she must have felt. “I understand.”
Tisha remained motionless. “I do too.”
“Our kids were almost orphans tonight. For that reason alone, I want to kill you both.” Emily put the safety back on the gun. “But the boys love their Aunt Valentina. And my lion loves you too with all of his heart. And he is still not over Pavel’s death or Olga’s.”
Tension gathered in my shoulders.
She sighed. “And I need Kazimir to be on for this war. And he would not be that way if he were mourning you two sad-sacks of undisciplined shit.”
Valentina blinked.
Tisha ran his shaking fingers through his hair.
“So. . .” Emily gave one of my men her gun. “Say thank you to the Lion.”
Together, Valentina and Tisha looked at me. “Thank you.”
I blinked, but at least the rest of the tension in my chest left, and then pride for my mouse entered.
Emily slowly shook her head. “Tisha, you are relieved of your duties. Roland—the Bear—takes your spot in an hour and is in charge of Kaz’s safety until King David arrives this week.”
I blinked again.
What? Who decided that? Roland is aggravating.
I could picture his big burly frame at my side talking about candy all day and forcing me to behave like he was my damned father.
Plus, he was probably one of the few people on this planet that could truly stop me from going too far.
I will not stand for that. Only I pick my men, mysh. Not you. I am the Lion. I am the—
Emily glanced over her shoulder and scowled at me as if she heard my thoughts.
I chose to stay silent.
Not because I was scared. . .
I simply had nothing to say in that moment.
Emily returned her view to Valentina. “Misha takes your spot, when he arrives.”
This wild rage hit her eyes. “The Mosquito?”
“Yes.” Emily crossed her arms over her chest. “You have anything to say about that?”
“Well. . .” She lowered her voice a notch. “Well. . .I am not returning to Russia.”
“You’re not. Instead, you have the duty of watching over the kids, since now your daughter will be with Paolo and Emilio too.”
To my surprise, her face lit up. “So my baby is coming too?”
Aww. My little princess. I will be able to show her New Orleans.
“Yes.” Emily nodded. “Get a special crew together to watch the kids. I want killers. Snipers. People ready to die for our babies. The Comedienne is offering a special team for the kids too and his property to keep them safe for moments when we are gone or in the midst of an attack.”
Tisha spoke, “I choose to not leave New Orleans either. I want to stay and fight. I want to earn your respect back.”
“Motherfucker, you couldn’t go, if you wanted to.” She pointed at me. “You will still stand by Kaz because you’re right, you are going to make this up to me.”
“I am.”
“If you’ve got to give your life to keep Kaz safe, then you will. You are now his shield. You are his bulletproof vest. As Max jumped in front of Valentina to save her, you will be jumping in front of Kaz.”
“I agree.”
“Good.” She sighed. “Valentina and Tisha.”
They watched her.
“Get your heads out of your asses.”
Without another word, Emily abruptly turned and headed back to Maxwell’s room.
But right as Emily began to pass, I caught her arm, gently brought her close to me, and whispered, “It is late, mysh. Say goodbye to Maxwell so that we can go.”
She looked at me. “I am not leaving Max’s side tonight. You go. I will sleep here.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Kaz, when he wakes up, he will see my face. Period. There can be no other way—”
“Say goodbye so that we can go. You need your sleep, and the kids will need to see your face when they wake up.”
“Let me go.” She sneered at me. “I said what I said.”