Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“She…is alive?” The words strangle me on their way out.
“Yeah. She managed to escape the bombing, but that’s not the point right now. She helped me leave Russia because her family wants to kill everyone in this house, including your family. She said she wants to set up a meeting for just the two of you so no one else gets killed in this war. She’s doing this behind their backs, so they can’t find out…”
Maksim trails off when I drop the bottle of vodka. It crashes against the ground as I throw my head back and bark out a long, deep laugh.
Life rushes through my limbs all at once, washing away all emptiness and the hell that came with it.
I’m breathing. No.
I’m alive.
Fuck.
Fucking fuck.
She actually got me. She nearly drove me insane, but all this time, she was in Russia doing fuck knows what.
She wants to kill me the next time she sees me?
By all means.
Anything for my beautiful wife.
9
SASHA
“Sasha!”
I straighten on the makeshift stool I made from some boxes as Anton barges into the garage. I let my rifle rest on my knees, my fingers strangling the cloth I’ve been using to clean it. I prefer to do it here so Mike doesn’t see this side of me—or his family.
He’s just a kid who loves his cartoons and candy, and I want to preserve that innocence for as long as possible.
Cold air penetrates my bones and the blizzard slips inside before my brother slams the door.
His coat is covered with snow and his face is so white, it could compete with the harsh natural elements. His eyes blaze worse than the storm outside, terrifying in their depths.
“What the fuck have you done?” he snarls, his voice and face tight with tension.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Maksim is gone.”
“Really?” I rub the cloth across the back of my weapon. “And how do you know that? Unless you went to see him on your own?”
He’s been sneaking out regularly, after he thinks we’ve all gone to sleep. I thought maybe he was going to exercise or meet with the men who still follow this fallen empire, but judging by his shit mood every morning, I’m sure he’s been visiting that old cottage.
I considered following him, but since Maksim has gotten strong enough to defend himself, I thought it would be better not to interfere. Besides, they haven’t been injured, at least not physically, so it was pointless for me to get between them.
Anton seems to take the asshole act up a notch whenever I try to break up their endless fights, so I chose the diplomatic route and let them fend for themselves.
Now, however, Anton looks close to ripping me to pieces. “So you did let him go.”
“No, I didn’t. But you didn’t answer my question. Did you go behind my back to the cottage?”
“Sasha,” he growls deep in his throat.
“Yes, Tosha?”
“Don’t fuck with me.” He storms in front of me, his shoulders, legs, and fists brimming with lethal tension. “When did he leave? How? What’s his itinerary?”
“No clue.” I lift a shoulder. “I might have dropped off a key there and smuggled in some ski equipment.”
“You fucking idiot!” He reaches a hand out to grab me by the collar of my shirt, but I jump up and step away at the last second. The rifle drops from my lap and hits the ground with a clank.
“What?” I meet his cold gaze with my own. “Maks isn’t your prisoner. He’s no one’s prisoner, for that matter. He was never supposed to stay in that basement forever.”
“Yes, he was.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you, damn it! You just sent him straight to New York. In no time, Kirill and his men will be crowding the front of our house to finish what they started.”
“No, they won’t, because Maks doesn’t know the exact location of this house.”
“You underestimate that fucker. He can pinpoint the area and they’d easily track us down.”
“He won’t do that.”
“Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure?”
“He’s my best friend and I trust him.”
Anton barks out an obnoxious laugh that pierces my ears. “Best friend? Trust? You were and always will be a naïve fucking fool, Sasha. This is why Kirill managed to fool you and stomp all over you.”
I get in his face, losing my cool as I push against him. “So what if I made a mistake? So what if I wanted love and stability in a fucked-up existence? Yes, I was an idiot. Yes, I trusted the wrong person, but that doesn’t mean I’ll lose my humanity because of it like you did! I’m not a robot, Tosha! I will never be a damn emotionless monster who’s fine with imprisoning his friends and driving them insane. He’s your friend, too. Or was, because you’ve definitely lost him now. I haven’t, and I won’t. Maks is one of the good ones. He has a pure, compassionate soul, which can’t be said about you.”