Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“If you tell me anything along the lines that I have to let you go, I’m going to lose my fucking mind,” I grit the words out, unable to stop aggression from filling my chest. “Is there another man?”
There’s no right and wrong where I’m concerned. Everleigh Adams is mine, and I’ll fucking kill to keep her by my side.
“There’s no one. I don’t date,” she says. “And I never forgot about you.”
Thank fuck.
I move closer to her again, and before she can take a step away from me, I wrap my arms around her and hold her tightly. “Just let me touch you. Please.”
I feel her nod.
“This is all I ever wanted,” I admit. “Life has been hell without you.”
“I was scared, Alek,” she whispers. “Your world almost killed me a couple of times. I didn’t dare try to make contact. I’ve built a life in Pasadena for Vincent and me. A happy one.” She pulls back so she can see my face. “It’s good to see you. It really is.” She shakes her head, her eyes shimmering with tears. “But I can’t pick up where we left off. I’ve moved on.”
No.
NoNoNoNoNo!
Carefully she extracts herself from my hold, and she gives me another compassionate look. “I need to get Vincent home. Maybe we can meet for coffee?”
What. The. Fuck.
Every crack she filled, every broken piece she mended – it all shatters open like a hemorrhaging wound.
Not thinking straight – not thinking at all, I grab hold of her and force her deeper into the cottage.
“Alek!” Everleigh shouts, her voice tight with confusion and panic. “Let go!”
I force her into my bedroom, and yanking the door shut, I lock it so she can’t escape.
She bangs her fists against the door. “Alek, let me out. Don’t do this. Please. God. Alek. Please.”
I press my forehead to the door. “I can’t lose you again. I won’t.”
“Please, Alek,” she sobs. “I need to see Vincent. Don’t do this to me.” She sobs uncontrollably, and it makes a tear roll down my cheek. “I’m begging you. Please, open the door.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and my head snaps up. Seeing Alexei, some of the feverish insanity lifts.
“What are you doing, son?”
I give him a desperate look. “I can’t lose her. Not again.”
He pulls me away from the door, and keeping his hand on my shoulder, he says, “You can’t keep her locked up, Alek. That’s not how we do things.”
“She’ll leave,” I exclaim, my voice filled with panic.
“But she won’t die.” He nods to the door. “Unlock it.”
I shake my head, which makes him give me a look filled with warning.
“Unlock the door, Alek. The girl’s not going to disappear. We know she’s alive and will be able to track her from now on. We can find her in seconds.”
His words manage to calm me enough for me to realize what I’ve done.
I’ve just attempted to kidnap Everleigh for a second time.
With our history and all the torture we suffered, that’s the worst thing I could’ve done to her.
Hurrying, I unlock the door and shove it open. Everleigh’s body slams into mine, and she starts to hit me. I don’t feel any of the blows as she shrieks, “How dare you! How dare you do that to me? You were there. You know what I went through. How could you do that?”
I wrap my arms around her and ramble apology after apology, “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I’m so fucking sorry. Forgive me.”
Yanking free from me, she rushes down the hallway. Her voice is hoarse from crying. “I’m taking my son, and I’m leaving.”
“Everleigh,” I shout, going after her.
Before I can grab hold of her, she spins around and levels me with a heartbroken look. “I can’t do this right now. We’re overemotional, and we’ll say and do things we’ll both regret. I’m going home. We can meet for coffee in a public place, but right now, I’m going home.”
My breaths start to come faster, and my heart thunders in my chest.
Again I feel Alexei’s hand on my shoulder. “Calm down, son. Let her go home. We can track her.”
Everleigh’s eyes dart to Alexei, and the blood drains from her face. “Oh, God,” she whimpers. “You’re still in the bratva?” Her gaze jumps between Alexei and me. “You’re all bratva. Jesus.”
She spins around again and runs to the door.
“Everleigh! Stop!” I pull free from Alexei and rush after her.
Chapter 30
Everleigh
My God.
Now it all makes sense. Rosalie’s guards. The estate. All the freaking guards.
I’m right in the freaking heart of the bratva.
Dear God, I can’t believe after being so careful, I let this happen!
I run to Rosalie’s house, and bursting into the living room, I go straight for Vincent.
I grab him off the floor and swipe my handbag from the couch.
“Mommy!” Vincent exclaims. “You made me drop my cars.”