Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
“I’m fine where I am,” Adam said. “Thanks, Marcus. Amanda, I was going to suggest that you come stay at my place, so we’d be together, but Marcus probably has better security.”
“You work it out on the way home,” Czar said, “and let us know.”
Marcus rose, helping Amanda up. “We’ll do that, Czar. Thank you for an entertaining evening.”
Adam and Rashad said their good-byes, and Ambrielle allowed them all to hug her. Master came in close, as she seemed uncomfortable with them touching her. He knew what that was like—until Ambrielle, he hadn’t liked anyone putting their hands on him.
After they were gone, Torpedo Ink once more gathered around the larger table. This time, Alena came in from the kitchen, and Lana joined them.
Czar immediately got down to business. “The biggest thing we learned tonight, thanks to Ambrielle very skillfully questioning her friends about the Russian woman, was that the piece of snake jewelry is some kind of symbol and is meaningful to her. The men she uses as her personal assassins might be part of the Ghosts’ business assassins, but they have a distinctive tattoo on their index finger. At least we hope all of them do. Ice.” Czar turned to their jeweler. “You’re good at identifying custom pieces.”
Ice nodded slowly. “There was a young Russian jeweler who had designed similar pieces. He hadn’t broken out yet, but I saw his work online at an event only a few of us were privy to go to. Our work wasn’t for sale; we were discussing where to get Russian gems for the best quality and prices or trading what we had with each other. At the time, he mentioned he was working on a commissioned piece for a woman he was very much in love with. He wanted to match the eyes of the snake with her eyes.”
“Did he happen to mention the name of his lover?” Master asked.
Ice nodded again. “Said her name was DeeDee. DeeDee Devin. He was killed in an accident not long after that.”
Alena tapped out a beat on the tabletop, drawing everyone’s attention. She frowned, but no one interrupted her as she obviously tried to remember something from long ago. “Absinthe, Demyan mentioned the name DeeDee once. Do you recall that? I think he did. In passing. He’d given his report to Czar and came back to talk to us. I was . . . upset and he rocked me and just started talking. He said that name. I swear he did, but I don’t remember the context.”
Absinthe threaded his fingers through his wife Scarlet’s hand and pulled it to his chest, heart high. “I have a difficult time recalling anything of those days when Demyan is involved,” he admitted, pain in his voice. “I’ll give it some thought, and if I recall anything, I’ll let everyone know.”
“It’s important, Absinthe,” Czar said. “This woman is targeting Blythe and the children. We have to figure out who she is in order to track her down.”
“I understand,” Absinthe said. “I really can’t recall.”
“Was anyone else there, Alena?” Czar asked.
Master understood, but it was difficult to see Czar without his usual calm demeanor. It was so unlike him to be pushing the Torpedo Ink members when they clearly stated they couldn’t remember something or they were having issues. Czar was always respectful of them. Master knew when it came down to it, any threat to Ambrielle was going to be dealt with hard and fast. He didn’t blame Czar in the least; in fact, he admired the man’s restraint.
“I honestly can’t remember, Czar, I’m sorry,” she said.
Blythe stood before Czar or anyone else could respond. “Thanks, everyone. We appreciate what you did for us tonight. We don’t know what we’d do without you.”
She smiled at them, a genuine, loving Blythe smile that radiated warmth. Master remembered the first time he saw her smile at the three little girls she’d taken in when they’d been so fucked-up, terrified and definitely afraid to trust anyone. Blythe was genuine. Everything she said and did was so real, so kind, caring and loving, it was impossible not to feel it, even when you didn’t want to. In the beginning, Torpedo Ink had been like those three girls, terrified to believe in her. Blythe had been the one to give them hope.
Czar stood as well, wrapping his arm around his wife, his love for her stamped into every line on his face. “Stay safe, everyone. Remember, we’re not the only targets. Master, keep Ambrielle under close watch. Clearly, Thompson isn’t going to stop.”
“She’s good.”
“Ink, you and Master get this thing with your boy Reese taken care of fast,” Czar continued. “We have too many irons in the fire as it is.”
“Tomorrow,” Ink promised.
“Any of the brothers you need,” Czar added.
“Volunteers only,” Ink responded. “We don’t know what we’re facing.”