Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Can you hack?”
Alexei lifted on hand and wobbled it. “Some. I’m not a novice, but I’m not advanced either. Luckily, I know someone who is. He might be able to ship us something that’s loaded with the software we need.”
“We also need a safe place to work. I can’t imagine that hacking the hard drive will be quick. I don’t think this hotel is secure enough for long-term use.”
He was already shaking his head. “It’s not. I don’t want to stay here for more than one night, but I know where we can go that will be safe.” Alexei popped up into a sitting position and smiled at Soren. “And if I call now to make arrangements, we might have to wait only a day for the computer to arrive at the house.”
Soren’s expression wrinkled with worry. “You’re going to call your Uncle Viktor.”
Alexei leaned close and kissed the tip of his nose. “It’s Gabriel now, and I have to. Even if we didn’t need the hacking help, I need to tell him about my encounter with the SVR. If they take an interest in me, they might take a new interest in him.”
“I understand. I just don’t want him to kill me.”
“Why would he kill you? Because you’re former CIA or because we’re sleeping together?”
“Yes,” Soren hissed, looking completely serious.
Alexei bounced off the bed and moved to stand in the center of the room, where he stripped off his sweaty shirt and tossed it on the floor. Soren’s hungry eyes followed his every movement, eating him alive from a few feet away. Fear of Gabriel had certainly not made him less interested.
“We have a plan. We’re going to move to a safer location tomorrow morning and then use a new computer to see what’s inside the hard drive. Once we have that information, we can plan our next step. Do we sell it, erase it, or use it to trap someone evil so I can do my thing?” As he finished speaking, he made a gun with his finger while smirking.
“You really shouldn’t look so sexy when you talk about killing people,” Soren groaned.
“Yes, but I’m talking about killing bad people. That ups my sexy quotient by a hundred.”
“It’s amazing I’m not a walking hard-on when you’re around.”
Alexei snorted as he tugged at the button on his jeans. “What do you mean you’re not? Now get in the shower with me. I want to watch you jerk off while I wash my hair.”
Turning on his heel, Alexei marched into the bathroom with his head held high. They didn’t have a great plan, and there was plenty they needed to talk about, but at least some of the secrets had come to light and Soren hadn’t flinched when he learned about his grandfather. Yeah, he’d flinched at the mention of Gabriel—aka Reaper—but there was a damn good reason to be scared.
Gabriel wouldn’t kill Soren because he’s former CIA, right?
Chapter 15
Soren discovered that Alexei’s idea of a safe haven was a cute, four-story house along one of the canals in Amsterdam. They sneaked out of the hotel and hurried across town, back to the Gare du Nord. Only this time, Soren actually managed to catch a train with Alexei by his side. He was really starting to hate this lovely train station.
Eyes watched them, but no one approached. He didn’t know why they weren’t attacking. Were they worried about the hard drive? Or maybe they’d figured out who Alexei was related to? Anyone who could wipe out the Krestyanov family on his own had to be someone that shouldn’t be crossed.
He didn’t know if Gabriel had sent out word to one and all that his nephew wasn’t to be fucked with. The man was clearly not happy with how things were working out. After their enjoyable shower, Alexei had called his uncles, which had resulted in much pacing and switching over to Russian more than once. Soren spoke four languages fluently, but Russian was not one of them. He was seriously regretting that oversight now.
Alexei had reassured him that everything was fine, but the young assassin couldn’t quite meet his eyes when he’d said that. Soren didn’t want to create a rift in Alexei’s family, but he also couldn’t bring himself to walk away. There had been an opportunity or two while they’d traveled to the train station and even once during the train’s brief stop in Belgium, but he hadn’t been able to do it.
It was more than simply wanting to keep Alexei. If he left him, there was no assurance that the mob of assassins and spies would follow. He wouldn’t leave Alexei without someone there to help keep him safe.
On the train they talked about random things and places they’d been during their lifetimes. Alexei spoke with great love of the island of Mykonos, a place his mother had taken him for winter vacations. When this was over, he wanted to see the island with Alexei, to fall in love with it the way he had.