Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
While I was raised in a safe and loving entourage with Dad, Mom and my sister were on the run from Dedushka and his men their entire lives.
Mom didn’t want her to live the sheltered mafia princess life she had to endure. When we were twelve, Mom came and took me from school so we could leave the country. Dedushka was getting closer to catching her, and she didn’t feel like Dad could keep me safe.
That was the first time I met my mother and the second half of me—my sister.
We spent the most excruciating month on the run, but it was the most exciting, too. I got to know Reina—Rai then—and my mom, whom I’d constantly asked Dad about.
But then, they found us. They weren’t only Dedushka’s men, though. Ivan was also there, and he planned to eradicate every last Sokolov offspring so he could rule.
My sister and I were running, but we heard the gunshot that took Mom away. Ivan disguised it as suicide, but I know he killed my mom.
Back then, I gave my sister my name and told her to go to Dad and live my life with him. Then I stepped in front of Ivan and Mikhail and told them, “I’m Rai Sokolov.”
Despite being scared of what they could’ve possibly done to me, I never lowered my head or cut off eye contact. Dad taught me to never act like I’m wrong when I’m right.
That was the day my sister and I swapped places. Ever since then, I became Rai Sokolov and she is Reina Ellis—well, Reina Carson now.
Ivan wanted to kill me as he did with Mom, but a younger Mikhail snatched me from his hands and told him that the Pakhan wanted me alive. Needless to say, Mikhail must regret saving me every day now.
Dedushka and I didn’t always get along. If anything, I yelled and screamed and scratched his beard for how he sent his men to kill my mom. He said that he only wanted to bring her home, and that he never wished for his only daughter to die. It took me months to believe how genuine he was, and I wanted to tell him that Ivan was the one who killed Mom, but I didn’t, because I had no evidence and a practical man like my grandfather only believed in evidence. Besides, Ivan would’ve sold me in the black market before I could endanger his position at the time.
A while later, my grandfather sat in front of him and told me the words that snapped me into focus. “The only way to protect yourself, your sister, and your father is to become powerful.”
Since then, I realized that I needed to take advantage of his power. Over time, I saw how rightful Nikolai Sokolov actually was, and how much my mother’s death ate at his soul. He often said that he regretted not being the safety she needed and that I was his second chance.
Just like that, my life became different—especially from that of my twin sister.
When I keep my distance from her, like now, she often says stupid things, like maybe she should’ve kept her name. My poor sister doesn’t know that she would be eaten alive in my world. She wouldn’t be able to live her event-free life with her hotshot lawyer husband.
I sit upright. “Yeah, different, as in you would be dead, Reina.”
“Are you telling me you’re not heading there yourself?” Her voice catches, eyes filling with tears. “I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t be. I can take care of myself.”
“What if something happens and you can’t? Who will take care of you then?”
“I have my man and woman. You met them.”
“Ruslan and Katia are your guards, not your family.”
“Hey, they are. Don’t go insulting my right and left hands.”
She scoffs. “I don’t know if I should laugh or be sad that you consider your guards your family.”
“It’s because they’re loyal, Rei.”
She shakes her head. Right then, Gareth jumps from her lap and runs toward the door where his father comes in.
Asher scoops him in his arms and tickles his tummy, making him break out in uncontrollable giggles.
Reina’s husband is tall and handsome with dark hair and a broad build that he’s maintained since playing football in high school. He’s wearing a beige suit that gives him an approachable yet firm edge.
The camera moves a little when Asher lowers his head and captures Reina’s mouth in a kiss. It’s not only a peck or a mere brush of lips against lips. He goes all the way in, making her moan as she pushes away from him, cheeks flaming. “I’m talking to Rai, Ash.”
Asher grins at the camera, his green eyes twinkling. “Hey, Rai.”
“Hey, Asher,” I say in a tone that suggests I wasn’t the least bit affected by their PDA, but sometimes, it gets to me in ways I can’t explain.