Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 745(@200wpm)___ 596(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Really?
My men rose and headed away.
Blue frowned. “Should I go too?”
“No, but give Kaz this seat and let David sit next to him so you have some space between Kaz and you.”
He looks like he is in bully-mode.
Blue rose and scooted two seats down.
With a pissed expression, Kaz stepped into the row, walked forward, and then sat down next to me.
Music soared through the hall.
I gazed at Paolo. His eyes were popped open taking in everything, purely fascinated with the orchestra.
At least somebody will have a good time today.
I turned to Kaz.
He watched me. Mad or not, the man was still absolutely gorgeous. I would have kissed him if I didn’t know he was entirely aggravated at me.
Just get the gardener on the plane and wait for Max to arrive.
Was it crazy for me to try and save the gardener? In my eyes, he had met a crazy woman with different personalities. Knowing Lunita, she had probably flirted with him. While it was wrong for this Konstantin to stick his dick in the Lion’s fiancé, I still felt guilty as fuck for him being entangled with Lunita.
Next, I had to consider Lunita’s reaction if Kaz killed him. That wouldn’t be good.
Enough people had died from Kaz’s and Lunita’s hands, solely because of me. There would be no more.
I found my courage and spoke, “Good afternoon.”
Silent, he gazed at me.
“I didn’t know that you liked orchestra music.”
Kaz’s neutral expression didn’t crack, yet he turned his view to the stage. “The Butcher cannot be the only mafia boss with class.”
My nerves coiled. I didn’t know what else to say but, “I love you, Kaz.”
The words just came out.
What else was there to tell him? I meant it, and surely he was mad and possibly wondering why I was being erratic today. Perhaps, he still needed to know that I cared, that my heart was still all his.
Kaz didn’t look my way. “I love you too.”
My nerves calmed, yet my stomach twisted. “Tonight. . .we should talk.”
“About what?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Perhaps, you should tell me now.”
“It would be better if I told you later.”
Kaz turned his view to me. “I do not know what the gardener did, but you cannot save him.”
I widened my eyes. “Leave him out of this.”
“Tell me why I should?”
“How about this. Promise me right now that you will not kill anyone and we can go outside and talk about it all—”
“Mysh, I would never promise you that because I know my temper. With the way you’re moving today, I know that somebody must die.”
I pursed my lips together.
“Also, my spies in the Corsican say that Jean-Pierre has pansies on his private plane, heading to Moscow.”
I blinked. “I. . .I didn’t know Jean-Pierre did that. I never contacted him today.”
“Then, the Butler did.”
“Maybe.”
“The Butler must have been worried for your safety.” Kaz watched me with an intensity that made me want to jump up from the seat and run. “Why would the Butler be worried about your safety?”
My heart pounded in my ears. “I would like you to trust me and wait for our conversation this evening.”
“Where’s Dr. Stovall?”
I inched back.
Goddamn it, David. Can you just fucking take a break today, and stop doing your job.
I swallowed. “Dr. Stovall is relaxing somewhere that I thought he would enjoy.”
“So, you do admit to hiding him?”
“I wouldn’t lie about that.”
“But you would conceal everything else.”
“At this moment, it isn’t concealing it is more. . .delaying my telling you everything.”
“I do not like delays, mysh.” He leaned close to me so that his mouth was barely an inch from mine. “It has been a very long time since I have had to wait for anything.”
“Just give me some time.”
“Time?”
“Yes.”
“Hmmm.” He brushed his lips against my mouth.
I shivered in lust and fear.
Then, he leaned in further and whispered in my ear. “This is a very dangerous chess game you are playing with me today.”
I gritted my teeth.
He brushed his lips along my earlobe. “I hope you win because this game is not just about strategy and outsmarting me—your opponent—it’s about the delicate balance of power and control in the Brotherhood, Harlem Crew, and even in Moscow.”
“It’s not.”
“Yet, no one wants me to roar today.”
“Kaz, just give me some time—”
“One wrong move and all those pretty little chess pieces of yours could come crashing down and spilling into puddles of blood.”
I frowned.
“But if you play this game correctly, you may lead to ultimate victory and everyone is safe. What do you think your odds are today, mysh?”
“I don’t want to tell you right now because I don’t want you to kill anyone.”
“That is clear, mysh, but the longer you wait, the higher the stakes.”
“Meaning?”
“While you’re trying to save one gardener, I may kill everyone else.” With that, he rose and headed away.
A cold chill ran through my body.