Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
A woman like Meredith doesn’t have a heart or a care in the world for children, so why did she take the twins in? And where the fuck did Anya’s parents go? She’s always so flippant about their whereabouts.
“Sir, if I may. Your obsession with Anya Ivanov might be putting you at risk,” Michael says.
“Michael, are you really set on pissing me off today?” I ask.
“No, sir. I serve you, which means I also offer my council. Either the Ivanovs allow you to do business here and further integrate into their auctions or they don’t.”
“They will.”
In silence, he nods.
My phone buzzes with a photo of Alek Ivanov, dated today.
I smile. Finally, I’ve found him, I think to myself. Until a message follows.
Will: He gave me the slip, but I’m on his tail. You better triple my rate. This guy shot at me twice, and I had a bullet pulled out of my shoulder because of it.
Close. I’m close.
Never in a million years did I think I would be searching halfway around the world for another man.
Fuck, maybe I really am whipped. And all I’ve had is a taste.
CHAPTER 30
Anya
If the fucker won’t answer his phone, then I’ll go to him. When I walk into the restaurant, the hostess tries to stop me but is quick to trip over her own feet as she realizes who I am and evidently sees the expression on my face. I am not fucking around today. Vance and Clay flank me, half the restaurant watching on as I ascend the stairs.
“Excuse me, you can’t be up there,” she says from behind me. Unless she plans to put her hands on me, I don’t see how she’ll be able to stop me.
I spot River right away, in the same way his gaze gravitates to me. Next to him is his accountant, Patrick, plus the very charming Amanza. Great, another reason to fucking hate this place.
The few men he has sitting at his table make no attempt to stop me as I approach, and I feel everyone’s eyes on me. I stand at the opposite end of the table from where River is sitting.
There are a few new faces here, and one of them daringly smiles as he says, “Why don’t you come and sit on my lap, princess?”
I arch an eyebrow and raise my finger to River before he says anything. “Princess?” I say, throwing my head back and laughing before I look back at River.
“Should I go and sit on your man’s lap since he asked so nicely?” I ask. “Considering you can’t even answer my calls or fill my pussy with your cock, maybe your man here is a better option.”
Amanza chokes on her drink, and the guy who called me princess has turned a shade of green, now realizing that I’m not a woman to be trifled with.
River is staring at me, those hypnotizing eyes locked on mine. And they say so much and so little at the same time.
“C’mon, River, I can be a princess, can’t I?” I coo and lean down so my cleavage is on full display for him. Not once does his gaze wander from mine.
“I wonder if he’ll call me a princess when I walk over there and bite his fucking lips off,” I whisper across the table. His jaw tics, and I stand at my full height again. I need his bite. Something to attack and make me feel better.
“Your mouth goes anywhere near another man, I will cut off their dick and feed it to you for breakfast,” he growls, and everyone shrinks into their chairs. There he is.
“Then why don’t you keep your promise?” I question, dragging my hand over each one of his men’s heads as I stride alongside the table until I come to a stop at River and loom over him.
“You seem to be in a mood today,” he says casually.
I cock an insincere smile. This man has done nothing but patronize me for the past few months, and now he’s giving me the cold shoulder. Why? Because I shot a few bullets at his car? Boo-fucking-hoo. Buy a new one.
“You have no idea. We need to talk,” I say.
He grabs me and tugs me onto his lap, his hand wrapping around my throat. “You need to stay for dessert first.”
“So many promises with such little follow through,” I spit. But my core floods from his scent and touch. All my wrath and fury begin to slip, but I cling to them desperately because they’re the only things I feel safe in. And River brings up unknown feelings and desires.
River addresses the table. “I shouldn’t have to repeat myself, but if anyone is to go near this woman, I’ll feed you to my dogs,” he growls out.
I lean in to whisper in his ear, “It’s a bit of a lame threat, considering you don’t even have dogs.”