Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
What do I expect?
A little fear begins to replace some of my rage. If Valentin really is as dangerous as I think he is—then I’m really, really stupid. I should be trying to find a way to get rid of him without pissing him off.
Yelling at him like this isn’t exactly the subtlest solution to my problem.
But when he talks, he doesn’t sound upset.
“I was wondering when you would find out who I really am, malishka.”
“Would you stop calling me that Russian nickname?” I snap at him, losing my mind.
“I know you think your life would be better without me. But I’m telling you, I can change your world. I can give you things. I can take care of you and your mother. And whether you like it or not, you will be mine. I’m a very patient man.”
I sit down on my bed, so exhausted I can barely stand. I feel dizzy and confused, and I just want to get off the phone now.
I don’t know how he’s not getting the message.
“Just leave me alone, okay, Valentin?”
“Come to dinner with me.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“If you hate having a meal with me, I will stop sending gifts.”
I let out a long breath. I’m too tired to fight. “Do you actually mean that?”
“I will never lie to you. I will always keep my promises.”
“One dinner. Then we’re over.”
“I said I’d stop sending gifts. I never said we were over.”
I rub my temples. “Fine. Okay? Fine. One dinner, then no more gifts.” Maybe this way he’ll finally understand.
I’m not interested, and I never will be.
“Good. I will send you a dress.”
“No,” I say quickly, sitting up straight. “No, no, no. I can’t explain that to my mom.”
He’s silent for a moment. “Wear something nice then,” he says, and I can tell he doesn’t like that.
“How nice are we talking?”
“Upscale.”
“I’m not sure I have anything upscale. I have overdue bills.”
“Then let me send you something.”
“No,” I say and groan. This man is infuriating. “I’ll figure it out, okay? Just, I have to go before I throw myself out a window.”
“I’ll pick you up tonight at seven.”
“Outside of Stove and Smoke. I don’t want to explain you to my mother.”
“If that’s what you want. See you there.”
He hangs up. I stare at the phone.
I called him to make sure I never saw him again, and now we have a dinner date.
How the hell did that just happen?
Chapter 9
Valentin
Anton drives the town car to pick up Karine. I sit in the back and gaze out the window at my city. Several of my soldiers follow in a nondescript sedan, keeping their eyes out for any trouble.
Not that I anticipate any, but there have been some murmurs lately. The Japanese are unhappy with the current status quo, and the Italians are always getting greedy and trying to take more territory. It’s a little dance we do, me and the other heads of the major crime families in this city. We pretend like all we care about is business and stability while secretly trying to murder each other.
“For the record, Valentin, I just want to say that I think this is a bad idea.” Anton glances at me in the rearview mirror.
“Hold on, let me put up the divider. It’s soundproof. You can talk all you want.”
“Your sense of humor always astounds me.” Anton’s jaw works. “I’m serious though. I looked into the girl.”
“And what did you find?”
“I know who she is.” He lets that linger for a moment. I stretch my legs and wait for him to speak. This isn’t exactly a surprise—Anton’s clever and good at his job. It would’ve been a disappointment if he hadn’t figured it out eventually. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he says finally.
“Yes, well, that’s very true,” I admit, smiling to myself. “But it’s a fun game.”
“I’m serious. Baltimore isn’t Philadelphia. They have their own system down there.”
“And that’s exactly what fascinates me. We’re so regionally divided, but for what? We live in a global world these days, Anton, and yet the Philly families and the New York families and the Baltimore families all act like we’re separated by unfathomable distances.”
“We stay in our own territories. It keeps the peace.”
“Oh, I don’t plan on starting a war. Marriage brings people together, don’t you know that?”
Anton shakes his head, visibly annoyed now. “Let the girl go, Valentin. Forget about her family. Does she even know about them?”
“She doesn’t,” I murmur.
“Getting involved with her isn’t going to bring your father back.”
I stare at Anton, anger simmering in my chest, but we pull up to Stove and Smoke before I can tell him to watch his mouth. The place is a hipster-style gastropub with lots of wood and metal. The exterior door was renovated to look like it’s from the 1700s, even though the place was opened only a year back.