Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109523 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
“Come to think of it, the men I’ve nailed to the wall never complained.”
“Are you done?” Andrei was proud that he managed to sound bored by Lucas’s attempts to rattle him. Because the image of Lucas nailing him to the wall took a prominent spot in his mind and made him feel like he should pull over.
Lucas nodded. “For now.”
“Where are we going?”
“Price Hill.”
Yes, the fun was definitely over. It was time to get to work.
Chapter 6
Both men fell silent on the drive west out of downtown and across the tracks to Price Hill. Tension thickened in the car, but it was not due to any discomfort between them. Andrei knew he should say something as his hands flexed on the steering wheel. The sexy banter was now forgotten, pushed off to the side. This was a bad idea and he needed to make that clear.
Andrei parked the car under a dingy street light, but didn’t turn off the engine. Nothing felt good about this. The shadows in the area were heavy, crowding close to old homes fallen into disrepair and vacant buildings where business owners had given up. Trash and dead leaves clogged the gutters, while sidewalks were cracked and crumbling. Hope had abandoned this part of town years ago, leaving its occupants to trudge along like vacant-eyed zombies, beaten down by life and despair. It was all too familiar.
A muffled click jerked Andrei from his grim thoughts, drawing his gaze to Lucas to see him removing his seat belt and reaching for the door. Andrei moved faster, hitting the lock button so that a loud thunk echoed through the car.
“Where the hell are you going?” Andrei demanded before he could stop himself. The area had him too on edge to censor his words.
“Getting out. I want to show you something.”
“No.”
Lucas stared at him, his brow furrowed in confusion and what looked like shock. Hadn’t anyone ever said that word to him? Well, he was going to have to get used to it. There was no way in hell Andrei was letting the man out of the car when someone was desperate to do him harm.
“What?”
“I said no. We’re not getting out. In fact, I shouldn’t have even driven you here. We’re leaving. It’s not safe.” Andrei started to reach for the gear shift in the console between them and Lucas lurched forward, grabbing the key and pulling it free. The car fell silent with a shudder, leaving them wrapped in a deepening silence.
“We’re staying. Just for a few minutes.”
“Give me the key.”
Lucas smiled as he shoved the key in his right pocket. “Come get it.”
Andrei swore violently under his breath, gripping the steering wheel with both hands, before glaring over at his companion. Lucas was lounging back in his seat, the shadows caressing his features, making him look all the more enticing with that lazy grin on his lips. “Damn it! This isn’t some fucking game. Give me the key now.”
“Just slip your hand in my pocket and take it. Then we can leave.” The tip of Lucas’s tongue slid across his upper lip and Andrei couldn’t stop his gaze from following the motion before he finally closed his eyes and shook his head. This man was going to drive him insane.
“Be serious. You’ve been attacked once,” Andrei said evenly, forcing his voice to remain calm. He could appeal to the man’s common sense. “We’re in the area they’ve warned you away from. You think they’re not watching this place? We step foot out there and they’re going to try to kill you. I’m one person against an unknown number.”
“And I’m telling you that there’s no reason for them to protect this place. It’s nothing. There’s nothing to watch.” Lucas’s growing anger made him clearly enunciate each word. “Besides I’m not about to be run off from my property by a bunch a fucking hoods.” He flicked the latch, unlocking his door, but Andrei immediately hit the button again. “Andrei…” The growl rumbled through the car in warning. Lucas hit the latch again and Andrei punched the button.
Lucas started to move but Andrei was faster. Twisting his body, he slammed his left hand against Lucas’s door, holding his lean body mere inches above the other man’s, as he blocked his escape. “I fucking said no. You may be used to getting your way, Your Highness, but it’s my job to keep you alive. You’re not getting out of the car. So give me the damned key.”
Tension ratcheted up between them until Andrei could feel his skin tingling. Lucas’s lips parted and a harsh breath escaped him. Andrei made the mistake of looking at them and he nearly groaned. They were inches apart. Lucas tilted his chin up, closing the distance by a tiny amount. His mouth looked soft, so fucking soft. Andrei had never kissed a man before and now that he was so damned close to Lucas, it was all he could think about. He tried to imagine the feel, the taste, the sound he might make as their mouths met and he simply couldn’t.