Total pages in book: 215
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217988 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1090(@200wpm)___ 872(@250wpm)___ 727(@300wpm)
“It has been too many years. For me, Katina died years ago in Russia.”
Wow. This bitch was cold.
“A truce?” the Fox asked. That surprised him. It wasn’t what they’d originally wanted. He was certain they’d wanted to kill Dahlia in order to weaken Markovich. But they didn’t have the upper hand anymore. “That’s what you want?”
“Yes. And you want your revenge on Pavel, yes?” she asked him.
“Yes.”
“Very well. As a sign of good faith.” She slid a gun from behind her. For a moment, it was aimed toward Cara. He braced himself to jump between them.
But then she turned the gun on Pavel. His eyes widened for a moment, right before she shot him in the chest.
“Galina!” Markovich roared. “What are you doing?”
The Fox tensed, watching Pavel’s guard for retaliation, but the other man never moved against her. Personally, the Fox thought the world would be a better place without this bitch in it.
Look at him being all altruistic and worrying about the planet. Next thing, he’d be recycling and driving an electric car.
Joking.
He already recycled.
He wasn’t a monster.
Markovich stared down at Pavel with wide eyes. “You shot him. I thought you were in love with him.”
“He’s only ever been my puppet,” she said.
“You’re so . . . you’re not the woman I remember.”
“Galina died that night. I was reborn as Vasilisa.”
She thought a lot of herself. Vasilisa meant Queen or Empress.
“Do you accept our truce? I know you are a man of your word. I would advise you to. It is hard to keep loved ones safe when you have an enemy.” Her gun was now aimed toward Cara, who jumped to her feet.
“Is someone going to end this bitch, or am I?” Cara asked.
“You were not unconscious?” Galina asked.
“Nope. Nor am I Dahlia, bitch. Do not take that deal, Markovich. Kill her ass. She just killed your brother.”
Markovich would never do it. He couldn’t. So it would be up to the Fox. But as he went to grab her, he spotted Pavel moving. The other man still had his gun in his hand. He somehow managed to raise it. The Fox saw him move. He probably could have stopped him.
But he didn’t.
The gun fired and the Fox raised his gun to take out the guards. He took out two. Jason got number three.
Damn. Too bad.
He was getting slow.
“Galina.” Markovich leaped over Pavel to kneel next to the woman.
“Someone really should have made sure he was dead,” Cara said as she kicked away Pavel’s gun. The Fox agreed. He felt for a pulse on his half-brother.
Nothing.
Good.
“Is she dead?” he asked Markovich.
“Yes.” The other man kneeled in her blood, staring down at her. “She is dead.”
Fox stared at him for a long moment. Likely he should say something. But he had no idea what. Then the others were there. Reyes kneeled next to Markovich, talking to him quietly. Ink and Jason were there, talking to Cara. He wasn’t needed.
“Fox? You all good?”
He frowned at Duke who was standing in front of him.
“What? Of course I am.”
“Good. Sunny would kill me if something happened to you.”
He forced himself to smile. “My sweet girl loves me.”
But Duke didn’t ignite at the taunt. “She does, Fox. I’ve always been angry at you, blamed you for putting her in danger. But I know I also owe you for saving her. If you ever need anything, just ask.”
What was this mushy crap?
“I will always take care of Sunny. And you owe me nothing for that. She’s my sweet girl and I care about her. She changed me. Whatever she needs, I’ll give to her.”
Duke nodded.
The Fox gave him a sly smile. “Does this mean we’re getting along? Are you going to invite us to Thanksgiving?”
Duke blanched, but then straightened his shoulders. “Sure, man. Sunny would love to meet Autumn.”
“Of course she would. My girl is amazing.”
“I’m sure she is.”
“I’ll send something to my sweet girl for her birthday. I’ve had an eye on this pink Maserati for a while.”
He turned around.
“Fox! Don’t you dare, you asshole.”
Ahh, at least that was back to normal. He couldn’t have Duke liking him too much.
He stepped outside. Time to go back to his babies.
“Wait, Fox! Wait!” Markovich strode out of the house toward him. He was aware of everyone growing quiet, but they gave them space.
“I’m not giving you the ring,” the Fox said.
“I don’t want it,” Markovich told him. “I never knew about you.”
“I know.”
“If I had known, I’d have forced my father to take you in. He wasn’t a good man, but he did believe in family loyalty.”
The Fox nodded. This was all too late for him. He was who he was.
“Is that why you took the job when I called? Because you knew who I was?” Markovich asked.
“Yes. I’d been watching you for a while. I had thought about confronting you or killing you. Something stopped me. Then you called and it seemed a perfect way to figure out what you knew.”