Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I tell him, sitting back in the chair, trying to figure out where the hell to go from here. I will my brain not to think about the fact that the only true living heir of Empire is currently being held prisoner in my penthouse, busily fucking my friends. “Oakley will never belong in this world.”
“No,” he agrees. “She will not.”
“What do I do?”
“Exactly what we intended for you to do,” he tells me. “In thirty days and thirty moons, you will take her life and put an end to this. There will be no living heir and you will rise as the new blood of Empire.”
The ashes at my feet begin to shift together and I rise like a fucking phoenix. The power of what’s to come blasts through my veins. I will become the new blood of Empire, and I will do whatever the fuck it takes.
Nikolai meets my eyes. “You must know, there are a few outside of The Circle who believe they know the truth. They’re only guessing, but nonetheless, I have tried to keep them quiet. But they are getting restless,” he admits. “This news getting out will not fare well for Empire. There are ones who believe you do not belong in power, who do not wish to follow someone so . . . young. Those are the ones who will come for your back. Your father was a callous ruler, one who never should have worn the crown of our people. But you, Zade, you will lead this organization the way it was intended to be led.”
My gaze lingers on his, and the longer I watch him, the clearer it becomes. “You know who this is,” I state. “You know who’s been making these attacks on Oakley.”
He shakes his head. “I do not.”
“But you know something.” He watches me, not responding, seemingly mulling over how he’s going to play this. “You know which of The Circle betrayed her name.”
Something flashes in his eyes, and I see a slight tightening in his jaw.
“Give me a name, Nikolai,” I prompt, not playing games.
He lets out a sigh. “Can I trust that my admission in this matter will remain confidential?”
“Of course,” I say, giving him my word. My word is my bond.
Nikolai’s lips press into a hard line, his heart on his sleeve. He takes a breath, knowing the next words out of his mouth will be nothing short of a death sentence for a brother who has stood by his side as a member of The Circle for twenty-odd years. But what choice does he have? Either let this fight continue and allow Oakley Quinn to rise as our leader and burn everything we’ve built over the centuries to the ground, or save us all? “The name you’re looking for is Aleksander Torrini.”
And with that, I rise, clutching the manilla folder in my hand. Without another glance toward Nikolai, I stride out of the office and back through the front door. My phone is already in my hand and my thumb madly roaming over the screen, a new text sent off to Dalton and Sawyer before my feet leave the final step of the property.
Zade - Meet me outside the Torrini estate in 30. Leave Oakley with Cross.
The moon still shimmers high in the sky when a black SUV comes flying over the hill, hurtling toward me. It pulls to a stop beside my Escalade, and as Dalton and Sawyer step out of the car, we each look up at the Torrini mansion.
It’s not as grand as the Thorne estate, but it’s also nothing to sneeze at either. “You ready?” I ask the boys, glancing back as they stride toward me.
Dalton grins, a gun already in his hand, though we both know he won’t be needing it. This one is all mine. “Fucking born ready.”
Sawyer nods, and without hesitation, we take off toward the house. “Who squealed?” he questions, glancing my way.
My jaw clenches, holding up my word of keeping this confidential, and Sawyer just grins some more. “Ahhh, my old man, huh? I knew he’d crumble.”
Getting closer to the house, I go to the front while Dalton takes the left and Sawyer heads to the right, covering all bases. Although, it’s barely 4:30 in the morning. I doubt anyone will be awake inside, but either way, we need to make this quick.
Aleksander lives by the bay, the shore practically on his front doorstep, and soon enough, the street will fill with early morning joggers and surfers trying to start their day off right. Despite how I had wanted to take my time with this, we need to play this smart. In and out. Get the job done and make sure no one sees us.
Making my way up the steps, I move toward the front door and hover in front of it. Aleksander has one hell of a security system set up here, just as all The Circle members do. I won’t risk touching that door until I know we can get in undetected.