Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 148184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
“What is it?” I ask, stepping into his open arms now. The strength that kept me going for the past couple of hours seems to drain out of me bit by bit after the confrontation with Andrea.
Kai sighs and carefully sets the paper on the table. “It’s a summons all right and a threat. It seems the council is content to go to war with us, officially.”
“Me,” Adrian corrects, his chin pressing into the hair at my crown. “The council wants me, and I plan to give them exactly what they want.”
55
ADRIAN
The threat was issued to me, and Andrea had already paid the price of being in the council’s crosshairs. I won’t risk the rest of my men as well. Not with stakes this high.
I don’t sleep much over the next couple of days, so much so that Valentina comments on it when she catches me staring off into space for the third time in the morning. “Are you going to tell me what you’re thinking?”
I wave my fork at her, the one I didn’t even remember I held. A piece of melon dangles from the tines. “I’m thinking I need to find somewhere safe for you and the others to go.”
Her forehead scrunches up as she chews her own food. “The others?” she echoes.
“Andrea is already hurt, and I won’t risk anyone else. I’m going to find somewhere safe you all can hide out until this blows over.”
She laughs, short and sharp. “If you think they are going to leave just because you order it, then you haven’t been paying attention. Every single one of them wants revenge for the attack Andrea suffered and for the council’s continued targeting of you. Even with them on your back, the five aren’t going to go anywhere, not without you. Especially without you.” She narrows her eyes. “Isn’t that what you pay them for anyway? To keep you safe.”
I hum in my throat. “Among other things,” I hedge. She doesn’t need to know the extent of everyone’s specialized skills.
I snag my phone off the table, finally setting down my fork, and thumb out a quick message to Kai and the others. At the very least, I need to try to get rid of them. My heart tells me that Kai will be the hardest of them to shed. Maybe if I task him directly with Valentina’s safety.
I glance over the edge of my phone to my wife, who is happily eating a bowl of fruit while reading the newspaper spread across the table. It’ll be hard enough to get her to leave me as well. Especially after we’ve finally gotten through our disagreement about my protectiveness.
A few minutes pass, in which I shove my breakfast away and settle back into my chair to wait. They file in quickly enough, Kai following Andrea with a heavy frown and Ivan leading at the front.
Victor’s absence hits me all over again. Combined with Andrea’s attack, I’ve barely had time to process it. I miss my friend.
I swallow a heavy lump and study them all. Michail, tall and serious. Kai, my second-in-command, dressed perfectly as usual. Alexei and Andrea, so similar yet so different. Finally, Ivan, whose anger is always at the forefront these days. He’s a powder keg I don’t want to be anywhere near when he erupts.
I fold my hands on top of my stomach and try for nonchalance. Not that it will work, but I have to start somewhere. “I have a special job for all of you. I need you to be ready to go within the next couple of hours.”
I catch Kai’s grimace from the doorway. No doubt he’s waiting for the arguments as well. When no one speaks up, I glance from face to face.
“What do you need, Boss?” Michail says, surprising me, and Kai as well, by the look on his face right now.
I study each of them and lock eyes with Andrea. “Are you good to go, or do we need to put you in a safe house until we are on the other side of this?”
Her glare could cut a lesser man down in seconds. I weather it and nod in return. “You are on Sal’s family but don’t make any moves. Your afraid to see them, so that’s all you’ll see until you can look the bastards in the eyes and know they don’t own you. But it’s strictly a monitor, assess, and report back to Kai. For now.”
Something unreadable passes over her features, then she spins, and leaves without a word to anyone else, even her twin, who watches her walk out with a grave expression.
I shift my focus to him for a moment. “You’re on the casino. No one goes in or out without you knowing who they are. Make sure everything stays smooth while we deal with this.”