Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
His kneecapping proved that Blaire is part of the Russian Mafia, but I’ve not been given a single answer to any questions I’ve asked the past five-plus hours. I was bundled back into our SUV at the same time Blaire was dragged to the taxi she commanded, then driven to an unknown location.
My room is as dark and dingy as the one I was thrust into after I was sold, but they didn’t cuff me to the radiator this time around, so my wrists are scald-free.
I’m also not alone.
I thought I was brought here in retaliation for sparking unease between the Bobrovs and the Popovs, who are head of the Bratva in the United States, but within hours, Lera and Sofia were shoved into my room with me, where we’ve remained for the past several hours.
My wide-with-panic eyes shift to Sofia when she asks in a thick, whispered accent, “How did he find out?”
She doesn’t scare me. I’m petrified that the man who got kneecapped didn’t return to our SUV. Excluding Dr. Leonard, he is the only person who knows I won’t be giving birth in three months.
Well, so I thought.
“How did Kirill discover you’re not pregnant?”
“He didn’t,” I murmur, still unsure which team she is on. “They didn’t tell him.” My Russian isn’t very good, but I wouldn’t use it anyway since I don’t want Lera to be a part of our conversation. “How do you know I’m not pregnant?” When she strays her eyes to her feet, I ask again, louder this time, “How do you know?”
My angry voice startles Lera, but she only responds by tightening her hands around her ears and burrowing her head into her knees. Her cheeks are awfully white. She doesn’t have any energy to give, much less for a fight she should not be a part of.
My bewilderment increases when Sofia confesses, “I gave you hormones.”
“What?” I could have misheard what she said because of a commotion occurring outside. There are raised voices and a handful of bangs. Standard noises on the ship when the crew got drunk, but unusual since Ghost’s murder.
I’m not the only one grieving. Half of Kirill’s men are as well.
“Hormones,” Sofia repeats. “I told the staff to put hormones in your food and water.” When I take a staggered step back, she mutters, “Ghost’s plan would have only worked for a couple of weeks. Kirill knows the changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy. He looks for it in mine all the time… even when it makes him angry.” Her last sentence is a mumble.
“Why lay with him if you hate him?” I realize my error when she grimaces during my second to last word. “You love him?”
My stomach flips when she nods. “But I knew him before this. Before Milo’s passing.”
Her excuse sounds plausible until I recall Kirill’s mocked comment that he organized my kidnapping. “He organized for me to be kidnapped nine years ago. That was four years before Milo was killed.”
“Because he knew you could give him what I couldn’t. That you could give him a mafia heir.”
“He is head of the Bobrovs. He doesn’t need my weak connection to a Russian entity. The Petrovs have nothing to their name. They don’t even have the Gottles’ support.” Which I am slowly learning is more important to any mafia entity than anything. “So what the hell could I give him?”
I’ve never felt so confused when she murmurs, “You could seduce Ghost.” I sit on the soiled mattress, certain I’ll need to be seated for her next confession. “Kirill isn’t a Bobrov. His mother strayed, then pushed her guilt onto our mother. That’s why Ghost is scarred.” Her pained sob arrives with a handful of tears. “And why they killed her when she told me the truth that I shared with Milo.” She brushes away the salty blobs rolling down her cheeks before continuing, “I thought he was the brother I was searching for.” A painful ripple escapes with her laugh. “He wasn’t, but he promised to keep it a secret. When he didn’t, Kirill was so angry, he lashed out.” More tears fall. “He was paranoid Milo might have told someone else when the Gottles tortured him before his death. He was scared of losing everything, so I told him Ghost’s lineage could give him a son who would have the Bobrov blood.”
Her voice cracks along with my heart when she mutters, “I didn’t think he would kill him, though. He just got so angry when Ghost remained loyal. No one could tempt him.” A painful rattle rumbles through my chest when she murmurs, “Then Kirill remembered his instant fascination with you. You were just harder to secure since Henry banned us from the US.” I stare at her like she is missing a few brain cells when she smiles. “It was risky to get you but so worthwhile. Ghost wanted you more than he wanted to save Lera from my fate.”