Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Easy for you to say. It’s not your woman out in the open that could get hurt,” I argue.
“I never want anything to happen to Angie. She’s the reason I’m doing all of this. We can do it all here. This place is like Fort Knox. We will put all of my father’s allies in one section and surround them with our men. They will be negated from the beginning. The DeLuca representation, and hell even the Titans if you want them, will be here, too. You can even invite your allies. My father will make his move not knowing his allies are useless.”
“Are you sure Abram is so cocky as to make a move with all of us together? Even a dumb man has to know that’s suicide.”
“My father believes he is a king. Mostly, he is the king of underestimating me. That will be his downfall.”
“How soon do you want to do this?” I ask, unable to argue that Samuil is wrong. Everything he is saying makes sense. I know I could keep Gia safe differently. Yet, the Levkins did get people in our organization. It would be safer to gamble where we have more control, because my Kitten must be safe—no matter what. There’s the added advantage that doing this will secure a strong alliance with the Bratva, and Samuil will make sure that alliance stays intact, if for no other reason than he wants to make sure Gia is safe and happy. His guilt won’t allow him not to. The biggest factor, however, is that I want my ring on her hand. This is the easiest way to accomplish that.
“It can be whenever you want. We will plan it around the time schedule you set. I would suggest it be soon. Neither one of us wants this drawn out.”
“I need to talk to Antonio and Niko. The four of us should have a phone conference in the morning,” I tell him. “If everyone agrees, we can plan it for a week from today. That will give Antonio time to be here, as well as organize what men he wants with him and which of our allies will come to the wedding. We will need a safe place to keep the women and children if you’re right and shit hits the fan. I want Gia protected at all times.”
“I’ve already seen to that. I will show you after you visit with Angie. You can make sure it’s up to your standards.”
“That works. A week will also give me time to convince Gia to marry me, too.”
Samuil surprises me by laughing. “It won’t take that long. She loves you. I got this black eye from her trying to prove she could learn to love me the same way.”
“How did you do that?” I ask, deceptively mild. I have a feeling my little Kitten didn’t tell me everything.
Sam’s expression suddenly turns wary. Too late motherfucker.
“It was just a kiss, Victorio. Angie didn’t want it. When I tried to force the issue—”
I don’t need to know anything else. She struck out at him when he tried to force her to kiss him.
I leap over the desk, with an unholy howl of anger, intent on killing him. My fist slams into his nose and then I wail on his ribs. Samuil gets in a hit, knocking my head back. When I try to lunge at him again, his chair overturns and we both go to the floor. We both scramble to stand. I charge head-first into Samuil’s stomach, keeping my head down. Sam leaves his midsection open for my punches, but he grabs my head and slams it backwards into a wall. I charge back at him, flipping our bodies around so his back goes against a window, his shoulder breaking the glass pane.
“I’m going to kill you motherfucker. No one touches my woman!”
I uppercut him, and before he can retaliate the door to the office opens so quickly, it bounces off the wall.
“What the hell is going on?” Gia yells.
Both Samuil and I freeze. I drop my hold on the bastard and turn to look at Gia like the love-starved fool I am. God she’s beautiful. She’s wearing jeans and a pale blue T-shirt. Her beautiful red hair is curly and has been brushed until it shines. It falls down her back and I itch to gather it in my hands. God, how is it possible that she got even more beautiful in the time we’ve been apart? While I’m busy drinking her in, Samuil uses the opportunity to sucker punch me, causing me to bend over from the force of his blow. I stumble but would have been fine if the heel of my foot hadn’t landed on a part of Samuil’s office chair. I go down before I can catch my balance.