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)
She was happy. She hadn’t been happy in a very long time. She loved being with Joshua. She loved the way he was so sweet, and so adventurous, but careful of her. She knew any time she said no, or hesitated, he would stop. He made certain she was comfortable. He made her feel beautiful, and he listened to her. He pored over the plans with her, clearly respectful of her work. He’d loved her painting enough to hang it over his fireplace.
She hadn’t had those things in a long while and she wanted them. She wanted them with Joshua. She had a good friend in Molly. Maybe she could even count Bastien as a friend. Certainly Jerry, who detested driving his special van, but had done so just to check on her. She had a job she loved. She had Gatita and now Shadow. Her life was good, and she was terrified someone was going to come along and take it away from her.
She stayed quiet, listening to the distant baying of the dogs. A light shone on the shore of the strip of land, beaming out over the water, then was directed to the ground as if the hunter was looking for tracks. She hoped the cat tracks were lost in the sea of dog tracks.
Did you catch the scent of the man?
Yes. Gatita wrinkled her nose and her ears went flat again, indicating she didn’t want to think about the man in the cabin.
Was it familiar? Sasha? Nikita? One of the men working for them?
That was her worst fear. Once she’d realized Sasha and his father were part of the Russian mob, she’d read everything she could get her hands on about them. They were spreading across the United States. They had a strong presence in Miami. She understood why. The city was a natural gateway to both the United States and Latin America. She knew they were firmly entrenched in San Francesco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and were becoming so in Sacramento. She knew because she’d overheard Nikita talking. He’d spoken in Russian.
She had an ear for languages, and over time, with her mother working for the Bogomolov family and living on the estate, she’d begun to learn fast. She hadn’t trusted herself to get the accent right or choose the proper word, so she hadn’t spoken in their language – but she’d understood. She’d also known they were making major deals with the Italians and others.
Had they tracked her here? The only reference to the mafia she’d heard was when anyone brought up Rafe Cordeau. She had looked up that name and read what she could about the man. No one really wanted to talk about him, and if they did, they spoke in hushed tones, as if he might overhear them.
She hadn’t heard that particular name spoken in the Bogomolov home. She knew a few names – they were repeated often. She knew Nikita was especially anxious to find a man by the name of Fyodor Amurov and his brother, Timur. Also, Mitya and Gorya Amurov. She thought they might be cousins of the much sought-after Fyodor. She felt a little sorry for those men. She knew Nikita planned on killing them. He had offered a hefty reward for anyone telling them their whereabouts, but he wanted to look them in the eye when he gave them what they deserved. She knew that meant torture.
Just the fact that Nikita wanted them dead made her feel as if she had a connection with them, even if they were criminals. What are we going to do, Gatita? It isn’t fair to Joshua and Shadow not to tell them, but if I do, they’ll hunt Sasha and Nikita. The Russians won’t stop coming at us if they find out we’re alive.
Then don’t tell them.
Life was simple for Gatita. She loved Sonia and kept her safe. Nights running in the swamp was her favorite activity, especially now that she had the big male with her. Some nights, other leopards joined them. Living where they did was part of the world she approved of. It didn’t matter if Joshua knew about the Russians. As long as she had Sonia and Shadow, Gatita was happy.
You aren’t much help, Sonia groused.
She kept quiet, worried now about the hunter and what to say to Joshua about the threat hanging over her head. The leopards played in the swamp for another hour and then started back. Sonia remained quiet, considering what to do. If she went out into the swamp by herself in the light of day and the hunter wasn’t really a local, but had been sent by Nikita or Sasha, then she was dead. If she didn’t go… Either way, she was screwed.
“You’re very quiet,” Joshua observed as he led Sonia into the large master bathroom. “You’ve been quiet since we shifted. What’s wrong? You’re not still worried about the hunter, are you?”