Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“I’ve never heard you rattled, Joshua. You really have found your mate.”
As always, Drake’s voice was calm. It didn’t matter that Joshua had been growling at him for the last three minutes solid, probably blowing out his eardrum. Joshua could picture the man, pacing with the phone to his ear, just waiting for his friend to get over his tantrum. Joshua made an effort to calm down.
“Sorry, man. I just have this feeling. Gut deep. I don’t like that she’s hanging out there when I don’t even know what or who is threatening her.”
“It’s possible she’s safe. It’s been a year. They aren’t looking for her, or our team would have caught wind of it when they were putting careful feelers out.”
He took a deep breath and let it out. “The thing is, Drake, I’ve never been wrong. I know trouble’s coming. I can’t get a handle on where it’s coming from, but it’s coming. I can’t lose her. She’s already skittish. Sometimes she feels like water in my palms just slipping away.” He hadn’t meant to whine, but, hell, every night they were magic together, and every day she smiled that sweet smile and looked at him as if she expected him to turn into a monster. He knew sadists. His grandfather had been one. He wasn’t that. He had faults, but he wasn’t that.
“This meeting with the Russians is important, Joshua. You have to be certain you’re all in. One slipup and you’re dead. It’s too late for me to get there. I’m in San Antonio at the moment.”
“I can handle the meeting. You and the others put me in this position, but I took it willingly. I didn’t think I’d find my mate and it seemed like a good thing at the time.”
“Rafe had a big territory. You’ve gotten most of it under control in a short amount of time. You worked hard to get us that pipeline. The Russians are the last step.”
“You certain reaching out to them was a good idea, considering Alonzo’s past? We’re in bed with several Russians some are looking to kill.”
“We have to know if they’re hunting Alonzo. I have to know. He’s a friend, Joshua, and he’d lay down his life for any of us. We have to know how much trouble he’s in.”
“You think Nikita will casually tell us they’re looking for him, don’t you?”
“I’m betting on it. This is the first time we’ve really reached out to the Russians and they know it’s significant. They’re always looking to take over more territory. We’re solid here and they can’t move in, so they want peace with us. They want allies. They want a look inside. They’ll drop it that they’re looking for Alonzo, his brother and cousins. They’ll use us to try to find these men and at the same time, give us the opportunity to cement relationships by helping them out. That’s what we want. We need an ‘in’ with them. We know Nikita Bogomolov is one of the worst.”
“I’ll handle it,” Joshua assured. He liked Alonzo. Not Alonzo, Fyodor. Fyodor Amurov. He wasn’t about to let anything happen to the man, especially since he was mated to Joshua’s cousin.
“We’ll push the investigation into your woman, Joshua, but try to get a little more on her. A starting point would be good. Telling me she has a Spanish accent doesn’t help me much.”
“I’ll try. She keeps things to herself. What about Molly Sheffield? Did you get anything on her?”
“She’s an open book. The Sheffields are originally from that area. They left fifteen years ago, leaving the grandmother behind. As far as we can tell, Molly was the only one to consistently visit her. She purchased the swampland and house when she inherited money, but didn’t live there until recently. She got hooked up with a man by the name of Blake Garritson. Big-shot district attorney. Comes from big money. Has an ego the size of Texas. I can tell you with certainty, the man is dirty as hell, and he’s looking for Molly.”
“Is he close to finding her?”
“It took me all of three minutes,” Drake said. “I’d have to say yes. He’s got to be on her trail, or already has someone there watching her.”
Joshua swore under his breath. He didn’t need that added complication. Sonia had her own troubles, she didn’t need to take on Molly’s. But she would. She was going to be right in the middle of it. It infuriated him – call that terror – but it was one of the reasons he was falling so hard.
“Molly is seeing the local law. I sent you his name as well.” Joshua glanced at the clock. The Russians would be showing up any minute.
“Bastien Foret. I checked with my brother-in-law, Remy. He’s a detective in New Orleans. His brother is a sheriff here. They both say Bastien is as straight as an arrow. He’s a better-than-average detective. Intelligent. He’s not the type to try to blackmail or bribe.”