Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“Can’t say the same,” I said through clenched teeth, hands still up, turning to Andrei with a glare. “Listen, she’s just making shit up.”
Katya smiled at me sweetly. “Was it shit when we were in the SUV and you—”
“Nixon, hurry, get popcorn.” Tex snapped his fingers while Nixon, smirking and shaking his head, left the room and went into the kitchen like this was some sort of blockbuster film.
Phoenix grabbed a hundred-dollar bill and calmly passed it to Dante. “My money’s on Andrei.”
Dante took the money with a shrug. “What? I like a good bet.”
“Santino’s going to die,” Chase agreed with Phoenix. “I wonder how fast or slow… Now that I’ll bet on.”
I took a deep breath as the barrel of Andrei’s gun pressed against my temple. “This is my fault. She doesn’t want an arranged marriage with some random stranger, and I’m assuming she’s sacrificing me on the altar of matrimony, which will never work since I’m—”
“Did you get her pregnant?” Andrei blurted as he clenched his teeth again like he was ready to eat me alive, then pull my intestines through my throat.
“What? In two days? No!” I shouted and held up my hands as calmly as I physically could while the situation worsened. “She’s not pregnant.”
“I could be pregnant.” Katya shrugged.
“Son of a bitch, stop talking!” I yelled at her.
“Don’t yell at my baby sister!” Andrei fired back, waving the gun in front of my face.
Chase started snickering. “Classic.”
I lowered my hands. Andrei somewhat lowered the gun, now zeroing in on my dick, which I guessed was better than a kill shot. He sneered. “Has this been anywhere near her?”
I could lie.
I should lie.
But for whatever reason, I locked eyes with him and confessed. “Yes.”
The boom of the gun going off was the last thing I remember.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“The triumph of anything is a matter of organization.” —Kurt Vonnegut
Katya
Holy shit, my brother just shot at him. I covered my face in horror and let out a scream when another gunshot rang out. Santino didn’t as much as move. He just stood there frozen.
Two pretty red throw pillows suffered a quick death on the couch; down feathers went everywhere, coating the white leather like snow.
The wives came running in, took a solid judgmental look at Andrei, then at the pillows, and shook their heads, most of them scattering back into the kitchen as though shooting throw pillows was an everyday occurrence during dessert.
Alice marched up to her husband and smacked him in the shoulder twice before grabbing him by the neck and touching her forehead to his, or I guess more like slamming it. “Those were from Pottery Barn, you dick!”
Tex let out a low whistle. The room fell silent. I swear everyone leaned forward just to see what my scary brother would do after his wife slapped him.
“They were on sale too,” she snapped, shoving at him, even though he didn’t move an inch.
“I love a good sale,” Trace added.
Not sure that was helpful.
Mo crossed her arms and grinned at Andrei like it was the best day of her life. “Same, and I think those were the last two, weren’t they?”
Chase winced and leaned forward on the couch, rubbing his hands together. “Tough spot to be in.”
“Can we not focus on the pillows?” Andrei yelled. “He did the one thing I told him not to do!”
Dante groaned out a curse. “Did you really think he’d keep it in his pants? He’s a Sinacore! Plus, she’s a consenting adult.” He peered around Andrei and asked, “Did he force you?”
“Unbelievable!” Santino said through clenched teeth.
Suddenly I felt bad, even though I still needed to manipulate the situation. “No, actually it was my idea.”
Great time to pipe up and put my foot in my mouth.
Alice let go of Andrei. “Sounds pretty accurate when it comes to the women in this Family.”
Santino looked ready to grab me by the throat and shove me against a wall, and not in the happiest of sexy ways but like ready to murder me in front of my own family. “Can we…” My voice sounded strong even though I felt like I was going to pass out. “…just not discuss this in front of everyone?”
“You started it,” Santino snapped.
“You started it!” I yelled back.
He stomped toward me and jabbed me in the chest with his finger. “You were the one that crawled onto my lap, spread your legs, begged me to—”
I cupped a hand over his mouth. His eyes widened like he just realized he might be dead in a few seconds—for the like, second time in ten minutes.
I kept my hand there.
We both slowly turned our heads toward my brother.
It shouldn’t have come as a shock that both Nixon and Chase were standing in front of him while Tex just smiled like this was the best day of his life.