Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Hi, Aunt Greta, it’s Aurora,” she says into the line. “I’m well, and you?” A couple of seconds pass. “Oh yes, I’m very excited about the wedding. Ah…is it possible to speak to Abby?” I watch as Aurora listens, then her eyes flick to my face, and I see the worry tightening her features. “Oh…okay. Uhm…yeah, of course, I’ll be there.”
When she ends the call, I ask, “Was that Abigail’s mother? What did she say?”
Looking nervous as fuck, Aurora walks to me. “There’s no easy way to say this.” She sucks in a deep breath of air. “I’m just the messenger.”
Losing the little patience I have, I roar, “Fucking tell me!” Aurora flinches, and I quickly take a couple of breaths to calm down. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I can see you’re worried,” she says before she drops the bomb, “There’s an engagement party tonight. For Abbie and Antonio Vittori.”
I swear I see red as Aurora’s word sink in, and it takes me a moment to process everything.
“Her parents are forcing her into an arranged marriage?” I ask to make sure I heard right.
“Yes.” Aurora gives me a compassionate look. “It was bound to happen. I’m sorry, Mr. Vetrov.”
Over. My. Dead. And. Rotting. Corpse.
I take a step back, my mind racing as it forms a plan of action.
When I stalk down the hallway, Aurora calls out, “Should I give Abbie a message?”
I stop to glance over my shoulder, and not knowing if I can trust Aurora, I mutter, “No.” Then I think to ask, “Will Misha be your plus one to the engagement?”
“Yes.”
Good. I’ll have a bratva enforcer on the inside. This can work in my favor.
“Thank you for the help, Aurora,” I say before I head toward the stairs.
Tonight I’ll burn down the whole of Italy because, so help me God, I will get my woman back.
Stalking into Uncle Carson’s office, I lock eyes with him. “Have the guards bring Misha here. I need to talk to him.”
“Nikolai, think before you act,” he warns me.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Viktor’s number. “I’m getting my woman back today if it’s the last thing I do.”
Accepting that Abigail is the one for me, Uncle Carson nods and instructs a guard to find Misha.
The call goes through, and it doesn’t take long before Viktor answers, “It’s been a while. How’s the family?”
“We’re all alive,” I mutter. “I’m calling to inform you that I’m planning an attack against Emilio Sartori.”
“I just got the man to yield to me. Why are you attacking?”
“He took Abigail.”
There’s a moment’s silence before my cousin asks, “Do you love her?”
“More than life itself. I’ve claimed her.”
“And Emilio took her? Why?”
I let out a growl. “He’s forcing her into an arranged marriage with Antonio Vittori.”
Victor sighs before he mutters, “What do you need from me?”
“I plan on killing one of your allies. It will probably piss off D’Angelo. Your blessing will do.”
“Is there any way to prevent bloodshed? Their businesses are lucrative and bring in a large sum to the bratva.”
Christ, that’s like asking a starved wolf not to devour a carcass.
“I can’t make any promises.”
“Emilio is Abigail’s father. Try to keep this in mind before you kill her father right in front of her. It took Rosalie years to heal, and I almost lost her because of it.”
I close my eyes, trying to find some way to calm down so I can think clearly. “There’s no love between Abigail and her father, but if there’s a way to avoid bloodshed, I won’t kill him.”
“Good. I’d hate to lose the money, but I understand you must fight for your woman. It’s a tricky situation.”
“Misha will be at the engagement party tonight. Can I use him to tell me what’s happening inside the mansion?”
“Yes, but he’s not to take part in the attack. l might agree that you have a right to defend your woman, but the bratva can’t be a part of the attack.”
“I understand. My parents and I will handle the situation.”
“I’m sorry this happened, Nikolai. I hope you get her back.”
“Thank you.”
I end the call as Misha comes into the office.
“Sir?” he asks.
“You’re going to an engagement party tonight.”
He nods. “Aurora just told me.”
“Viktor is aware of everything, so you won’t get in trouble. I need you to be my inside man,” I inform him. “You’re not to take part in the attack. As soon as I hit, you take Aurora and get out of there. Understood.”
“Yes, sir.”
I give him my phone number, then order, “I want to know how many guards there are and where they’re situated.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll give you a minute to escape with Aurora before I attack,” I warn him.
“Thank you, sir,” Misha says before leaving the office.
I turn my attention to Uncle Carson, who comes to stand in front of me. “How can I help?”