Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I continue screaming until he dumps me onto a couch in Ghost’s office and barricades the door with his body that I beat into until exhaustion overcomes me.
18
ANASTASIA
Ghost ducks, scarcely dodging the letter opener I fling at him the instant I realize who is entering his office. Angry it misses its mark, I grab the next closest object and peg it at his head. The stapler scratches the non-scarred side of his face, and I don’t feel the slightest bit remorseful.
It has been hours since Yev left, and I haven’t heard a single thing about Alek’s condition.
After dragging his hand over the droplet of blood pooling at the end of his fresh scratch, Ghost asks, “Are you done?”
“I would be if the gun in your drawer was loaded.”
When he smirks—forever the smug prick—I upend the stack of files on his desk.
“Hey!”
He doesn’t need to threaten me further. The images that fall out of the folders are too shocking to put energy into anything but holding the contents of my stomach. “Who is that?”
Ghost gathers up the folders before snatching the image of a beheaded woman out of my hand before replying, “Kirill’s second wife.” He dumps the files into a filing cabinet at the side of his desk, slings off his jacket, then removes a two-gun holster. “Doc says Alek will make a full recovery. He just needs to rest and lower his stress.” After planting his backside onto his desk, he kicks out his chair and nudges his head to it, demanding for me to sit. When I do, he adds, “I’ve just got to work out if having you here will help or hinder his recovery.”
“How is this my fault? You let him crash his fucking car.”
He looks like he would give anything to punish me for my scornful mouth, but he holds back his annoyance—just. “He crashed it into a gleaming gold Aurus Senate.” I try to act like they’re as common around these parts as Lada’s. My efforts are noteworthy but worthless when he adds, “With ‘golden’ tags.” Ghost folds his arms over his chest before leaning back like he’s in for a long night. “Who is she? And why did Alek know she’d get Kirill out of the convent long enough to get Katie settled?”
“What?” I’m not acting daft. I am truly confused.
“Kirill held Katie’s head under water this morning. Alek stopped me from retaliating by saying he knew another way we could get to him.” He leans forward so I see nothing but honesty on the unscarred side of his face when he utters, “Kirill left the house immediately upon hearing the driver of a gleaming gold Aurus had been in an accident.”
I’m still confused, but I play along in the hope Ghost won’t kick me out before I see with my own eyes that Alek is okay. “Stace Lenkov. Her father is in distribution. They’re wealthy, but not like this.” I wave my hand around his office. “She only found her father once she became an adult. Before that, she…” I hate myself for almost including Alek in my next statement. “… fucked anyone who would give her the time of the day. She wanted a sugar daddy.”
“Wanted?”
I nod when the interrogation in Ghost’s exposed eye asks way more than his one-worded question. “She’s five months. The father’s identity hasn’t been acknowledged.”
“Who do you suspect it is?” This is the most words Ghost and I have exchanged even with me dating Alek for three years.
“Up until this morning, Alek.”
Ghost huffs, then shakes his head in shock like he couldn’t have heard what he thinks he did.
When he realizes his hearing isn’t playing up, he asks, “You’re serious?”
I sink into my chair before jerking up my chin. “She was chasing him for months before…” It is so hard to remember that Alek didn’t cheat, I have to physically stop myself from spewing lies. “I fucked up.”
Ghost pffts again before giving me my marching orders. “If you’re stupid enough not to notice how fucking snowed under he is for you, you’re not smart enough to be a part of this.”
My first thought is to sprint for the door, but my heart won’t allow it. “I can’t leave him.”
Ghost swivels around the chair I vacated like it was on fire, sits on it, then lifts his eyes to mine. Air hisses between my teeth when he slants his head so the scarred side is exposed. It is far worse than it was years ago. Almost patchworked back together. “Then don’t.” My relieved sigh is premature. “But if I find him like that again…” He finalizes his reply by straying his eyes to his filing cabinet of horrors.
“You won’t. I promise.”
He has no reason to believe me, but he does. After a brief nod, he gestures his head to his office door again. This time, I race out of it.