Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Phoenix: Life is hard. You’re either with them and us, or you’re against. She can’t help who she is. I’m not stupid. You’re not legally married, she has no protection of your name, none. She’s on her own unless you can convince them. That’s all the advice I can give.
Me: I’m sending her away.
Phoenix: To die?
Me: What else do I fucking do!
Phoenix: You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.
Me: I told her I would kill her if it came to that.
Phoenix: Then aim low, or high, and make them listen, because they’re about fifteen minutes out, and they’re ready to crown you mafia king.
Me: If I told you I’d rather live in complete poverty with the woman I love?
Phoenix: I’d say you just grew a pair. Twelve minutes.
Me: I hate you sometimes.
Phoenix: Good.
I shoved my phone back in my pocket and cursed, slamming my hands against the dresser, and then rage like I’d never felt before took over. As if it had been building since I was a kid under my dad’s reign.
I threw the dresser over then took my knife and dug it into the mattress, ripping the sheets, pulling them from the bed.
I wouldn’t sleep in that bed ever again.
Not without her.
I let out a roar of outrage as I fell to my knees and lowered my head. I’d tried to run away from my father, from his family, only to be the only one left standing to lead it.
And now? Now my past was knocking.
The only way out was death.
I gripped my knife in my hand.
I stared at the way the metal glistened.
It would be easy.
Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
My blood would stain the room in seconds.
It would be their fault.
They would have no leader.
But…
They would still kill her, wouldn’t they?
I didn’t realize I was shaking until a soft hand wrapped around mine, slowly lowering the knife to the ground.
“Let go,” Alice whispered.
“Can’t,” I said through clenched teeth. “I can’t…”
“You must.” She shook me.
I didn’t move as I lowered my head and a solid tear fell from my eye.
“Andrei?”
This was my ending.
Saying goodbye to the one person, the one reason for any happiness in my soul.
I blinked up at her. “We need to go.”
I felt like I left my soul in that room as we walked out. I sure as hell left my heart with her.
My body went through the motions as I grabbed the bag she’d packed and escorted her through the dimly lit hallway one last time.
Maybe if Hell froze over.
This would have ended differently.
But Hell was very much alive.
Because I was living in it.
And soon, I’d command it.
We made it through the club and outside in record time.
One of my black Escalades was out front.
Ax was in the driver seat.
I opened the door and tried shoving her in.
“Wait!” Alice turned in my arms, pressed her mouth to mine with such ferocity I experienced pain and pleasure simultaneously. I sucked in a deep breath. I would remember her.
I would remember everything.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “For giving me twenty-four hours of heaven, after twenty-two years of hell.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
I brushed them away. “Stay safe.”
“Where am I going?”
I hesitated and then, “You’ll see.”
I kissed her forehead and shoved her in the car, then slammed the door before I could do anything stupid.
I fired off a text to Ax.
Me: Don’t tell me where you take her. You know our options. If you tell me they’ll try to get it out of me. I’ll die before giving her up.
Ax: Good answer, Boss. And try not to worry too much.
I snorted. Right, try not to worry too much?
He pulled out of the parking lot around one minute before ten different vehicles pulled into it, the scores of tires kicking up loose gravel.
I waited patiently.
She was safe.
She was gone.
I’d never felt such hatred for another human being as I did for the ones slowly getting out of their cars to face me.
On the outside, I was calm.
On the inside, I was a fucking hurricane ready to wreck everything in my path.
The guys approached first.
Tex had two guns strapped to him, and a stupid grin on his face like this entire situation was hilarious. He was wearing a black beanie for shit’s sake.
Nixon wore combat boots that looked like they would easily crush someone’s windpipe if he so chose it. His lip ring glinted in the sun as he ran a hand through his messy hair and narrowed his eyes at me like he wasn’t sure if he should kill me or congratulate me.
Dante stood on the other side of Nixon, and Phoenix looked like he was exceptionally bored.
Great. I was the only one losing it.
Gravel crunched beneath Chase’s boots as he folded his arms across his chest. “Got any De Langes in there?”
“I’m sure I do. They like to sell women, remember?” I snorted. “Feel free to start your bloodbath while I stand out here and get a tan.”