Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“But you’ll know,” Olivia said with more conviction than I felt. “Your gift is more than combat. You can sense weakness, I know it. That’s why you’re so lethal.”
I flipped through the binder once more, then turned to Olivia. “Promise me something.”
“What?”
“Promise me if something happens to me—if this all goes wrong, that you’ll run.” I held her gaze.
She flinched. “Absolutely not.”
“Olivia—”
“I would never stand there and let something happen to you in the first place, let alone run away.” She shook her head. “Don’t ask that of me.”
“You’re the fastest of us, Olivia. I’m not just telling you to run to save yourself. I’m telling you to run so you can warn Alek.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Warn him yourself. I’m not leaving your side.” Without another word, she turned toward the window and settled back into her bed, curling on her side.
I didn’t bother to remind her that if I couldn’t warn Alek, it would be because I was already dead.
We made it through customs with the ease that money provided and quickly headed for the small, chartered plane that waited for us on the tarmac.
“We have another ninety minutes before sunrise.” Olivia checked her watch as we tugged our luggage across the concrete. “Cutting it kind of close, don’t you think?”
“It was either this or wait another full day,” I reminded her, spotting the private jet that bore the Sorokin insignia. “Your parents sent their pilot, and it’s a forty-minute flight to the island. I think we’ll be fine.” My gaze swept over the fuselage and the two hulking pilots who stood at the foot of the stairway that led to the open door.
The smaller of them jogged toward us in a black flight jacket. “Mistress Sorokin!” he called out when he saw Olivia.
“Kolya!” Olivia grinned and opened her arms only to drop them quickly.
“Did you forget that you were mated?” I teased, whispering in her ear.
She elbowed me in the stomach.
“It’s good to see you,” Kolya greeted her with a warm smile, his fangs nowhere in sight. “I’ll take your bags up.” He nodded at me, then took both our suitcases and zipped up to the plane with supernatural speed.
“He’s my second cousin,” Olivia remarked.
“Guess speed runs in the family.”
“I’m faster.” She shrugged.
I laughed and wrapped my arm around her shoulder as we approached the other pilot. “Ah, my competitive little mate.”
A low growl came from the other male, and both Olivia and I stiffened. She held her breath, but I took a deep one and assessed him for threats.
He was a few inches shorter than I was but carried more bulk in his muscles…and his middle. He looked over Olivia with an assessing stare that had my own chest rumbling in answer before turning his attention to me, focusing on where my hand rested on Olivia’s shoulder.
He shifted his weight, flinching slightly as he stepped forward.
Bad knee. One sweep, and I’d have the male on his back before he could so much as touch Olivia.
“Father,” Olivia whispered.
My eyes flew wide. Oh, shit.
I immediately released Olivia, recognizing the paternal, protective energy coming off him in waves of…animosity that were aimed in my direction.
“Olivia, my darling.” He opened his arms, and Olivia raced toward him. He swept her up in a bear hug, rocking her slightly as he continued to glare at me.
“I didn’t know you were flying the plane,” she said as he put her on her feet.
“I didn’t know you’d wait fifty years to bring your mate home,” he chastised, sparing her a smile before returning to stare me down a little more.
“Sir, I’m—” I started.
“Get on the plane before the sun comes up and turns my daughter into a scorch mark. We can discuss who you are once we’re airborne.” He urged Olivia up the steps, and I followed, counting to ten with all the reasons I couldn’t just snap at her father.
The private jet smelled like lush leather and pissed-off male as we took our seats. My hackles rose in response as I secured my seat belt.
“Relax,” Olivia whispered from her chair next to mine, but now she was drumming her fingertips on the table that separated us from another set of empty seats facing our direction.
“Hmmm,” I answered, knowing full well the other males could hear us. Vampire hearing was a blessing, but right now, it was damned inconvenient, too.
We were airborne in a matter of moments. It was a short flight to the arctic island Olivia called home, and we were five minutes into it when her father lumbered toward us, removing his jacket and taking one of the seats on the other side of the table.
I half expected the guy to be in a leather biker vest, but he wore a gray fisherman’s sweater that confirmed what I’d already guessed. He was built, but time and food had softened the bulk of his muscles.