Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Lennox you have been trained to be a cold-blooded killer.”
“I know who I am, Mikhail,” I bite out, fury filling me more and more by the second.
“No child should be the one to kill their father. Even if he is a demon from hell,” Viktor justifies.
“Aren’t we all,” Ivan sighs and he has a point. There’s not a person in this room—myself included—that isn’t consumed by the darkness inside us. You have to be to live the lives we do.
“It was still my right to end him.”
“We recently had to kill our brother. I didn’t mind it, but the blood of your own on your hands carries different. I wanted to spare you of that, poppet.”
Viktor is a rare mix of English and Russian. His mother is different than that of Mikhail’s and Ivan’s. His use of the word poppet concerning me, however, is confusing as hell. “I thought you hated me,” I grumble.
“I hated not protecting you and seeing the path you were on, never you.”
“I like it better when you’re a scary asshole,” I point out.
“Noted. You never worried about Ivan being scary, though.”
“He wasn’t as cold as you. You can be intimidating as hell, Viktor. You’re cold and quiet. Ivan might be cold, but he enjoys it too much to remain quiet.”
Mikhail laughs. “Sweet God, she has you both pegged perfectly. Should I dare even ask how you see me, Lenny?”
“You do what needs to be done. Your heart isn’t in it. The darkness hasn’t clawed you raw on the inside like the rest of us.”
“Fuck,” Ivan murmurs.
They all three stare at me until I begin to feel uncomfortable.
“Please tell me you at least made my father suffer.”
“Immensely. He begged for his own death. It was spectacular,” Ivan assures me, looking almost gleefully.
“What did you do with his body?”
“It is currently visiting a pig farm in Costa Rica,” he brags with a smile.
I snort despite my anger. “Okay, I can live with that kind of end for the bastard.”
“Glad you approve. Now, can I be frank with you, Lennox?”
“Have you ever been less than that?” I mutter.
“Good point.”
“I need you to let this go and live life. Word is you’re very happy with a biker in the Titans.”
“How did you hear that?” I ask, narrowing my eyes on them.
He waves his hand as if my question was foolish. “Did I hear correctly?”
“Yes,” I answer grudgingly.
“E-Z has cleaned out the club. Bones and anything to do with him have been eradicated. Your father is currently resting in mud and pig excrement and being ate piece by piece. It is time you turn the page on the past and move forward. Teddy would want you to live your life and find happiness. You need to do that. If for no other reason, live a good, happy life to honor your brother.”
I sigh. “When you set up our meeting, you had no intention of letting me call in my marker and asking you to destroy the club, did you?”
“I admit, we were all hoping that the death of your father would help end some of your thirst for vengeance,” Ivan answers.
“You don’t want to destroy the club, poppet. E-Z is a good man. He is honorable. I hear this Ghost is, too. Don’t you think it’s time to come out into the light for a little bit?”
“You all three are getting soft in your old age,” I mutter.
“We want you here in Phoenix with us. We want to be able to protect you and keep you safe. Most of all, we want to be able to spend time with you again. It has been too long, Lenny,” Mikhail answers.
“Fine. I’ll give up my quest for vengeance,” I complain.
“You already had before you came today. Admit it,” Ivan prods.
“I had against the club. I was still hoping to get it against my father.”
“If it helps, we told him you sent us by calling in a marker.”
“It shouldn’t help, but it kind of does. I guess I should cash in my marker, shouldn’t I?” I reach in my pocket and pull out the gold coin that Ivan had given me long ago. He immediately holds up his hand.
“Keep it. We are family. There are no markers. Besides, if you are going to stay in Phoenix, we will rely upon your services. No one is better than you.”
“Are you so sure of that? The last time, I ended up in the hospital for a very long time.”
“True, but you took care of the mole in our organization when you healed,” Ivan replies and he’s right. Bones was tipped off by one of Ivan’s bodyguards. I took great pleasure in uncovering the leak and seeking retribution for it. In a way, that bodyguard was just as guilty of taking Teddy’s life as Bones was.
“Go, be happy, Lennox. Call and set up dinner with you and your man and the three of us. We’ll even invite Samuil.”