Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
That was my old life though. I undress and change into fresh pajamas and climb under the blankets. This is my new one. I take care of Mom, worry about Dad and Vadim, and work. My ass gets pinched and drunk idiots stare at my tits and they leave me good tips, and then I do it all over again.
No exploring. No walking through open doors I know I should never go near. No climbing walls, shimmying through windows, crawling through narrow caves.
No fucking strange, gorgeous men on ruined mattresses.
Just a sick mother and sore ankles.
I stare at the ceiling.
So what if I’m trapped here?
Curiosity never got me anywhere good.
Chapter 4
Arsen
Two Weeks Later
I slouch down deeper in the driver’s seat of my BMW and stare across the street. Club Shade’s bass thumps and occasionally rattles the windows, and I figure half the people that live on this block hate that goddamn place with a passion.
Not that I blame them. Shade’s about as slimy as clubs get. It’s like some idiot frat boy dreamed up the most cliché space imaginable, made it even worse, added more mirrors and a hands-off policy with regards to what happens in the bathrooms, and then makes it a reality.
“You know what my favorite part of stakeouts is?” Tigran asks.
“The comfortable silences.”
“Coffee.” He raises a paper cup to his lips and sighs. “Endless coffee.”
“You’re an addict.”
“Proudly.”
“You know what my favorite part is?”
His eyebrows raise. “The comfortable silences?”
“No. When they’re over.”
My brother laughs. I like his laughs. Always have. He’s got a good, infectious one, and I think it’s like half his charm. Get him going and everyone around him is suddenly in a good mood.
We’re opposites like that. Tigran’s the charming and outgoing brother, while I’m the ugly brooding one.
“What do you think Saro’s doing right now?” Tigran asks.
“Either snorting himself to death or acting tough in front of his guys. Probably both.”
“Where did Auntie Nare go wrong? He had so much potential.”
I snort and shake my head. “I watched our idiot cousin eat a worm from the gutter for a dollar one time. Remember when he shot himself in the foot?”
“I never said he was smart.” Tigran frowns and takes another long drink from his cup. “When you’re dumb as mud, the only place to go is up.”
“Nah, you’re wrong about that. When you’re that dumb, all you do is drag everyone else down to your level.”
“Guess you’re right about that.” Tigran stretches and leans his head against the window. “That stupid asshole. I still kind of like him.”
“Even though we’re going to put a bullet in his head?”
“I’ll like him even as I pull the trigger.”
That’s my soft little brother. He’s got a big heart but even bigger loyalty. He’ll do what’s necessary with a smile on his face.
“Saro deserves it. He never should’ve gone against me, much less against me and Uncle Garen.”
“Speaking of which.” Tigran leans toward me again. “You see your future wife yet?”
I grimace and don’t reply. I’ve been doing my goddamn best not to think about that little arrangement.
Ever since I took over as the patron of the Armenian Brotherhood, my life’s been one constant bloody battle after another. Maybe half the existing captains decided to stick with me, and the rest were split between my idiot cousin and my ruthless uncle. Slowly though, Saro’s been losing support, while Garen’s only entrenched himself further.
It’s an ugly stalemate. If I had it my way, Garen would be choking on his own blood right now. But instead, I’m meeting him halfway and marrying a girl from his side of the organization.
Once I’m married and my traitor cousin Saro’s in the ground, the Brotherhood can start to heal. I’ll be the patron, the main boss and leader, while Garen will be my right hand and Tigran will be my left. The Brotherhood will be united again, and we’ll be able to begin the long process of healing our wounds and growing our power._
But for now, there’s more blood to spill.
And some fucking random girl to marry.
“Come on, you know you’re curious.” Tigran waggles his eyebrows. “Think Garen’s going to saddle you with someone ugly?”
“He’s not that stupid.”
“Yes, but he is definitely that vindictive.”
Tigran’s got a point. “It’s irrelevant. I’m marrying this girl to end the war. That’s all that matters.”
“Yeah, yeah, but you gotta live with her, right?”
“Allegedly.”
“Live with her, fuck her, have babies with her—”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“Haven’t you even thought about any of this?”
I glare at my brother. “Of course I have,” I say, even though it’s a complete lie.
I’ve barely thought about my upcoming marriage. It’s still a month away, so what’s it matter to me right now?
Truthfully, I’ve had other things on my mind. Like finding Saro and finally killing the little cocky shit. Like keeping Garen’s men at bay while also ingratiating myself with Baltimore’s elite. Like bribing the chief of police and city hall and making sure the flow of drugs onto the streets continues while consolidating my strength.