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)
Against my will, a smile spread across my face. It was impossible to be mad when my cub was near. “Come in, Olga.”
Emily let me go.
But, before she could walk off, I pulled her back and brushed my lips against her ear. “Remember, mysh. It is always us.”
“I will remember.”
I released her.
The door opened.
To my surprise, David walked through first and held it open for Olga. In her arms, Emilio looked around the room. Soon as he spotted my mouse, a whimper left him.
“Oh, baby.” My mouse hurried to him. “I’m sorry. Did you miss me?”
David got to my side.
I looked at him and lowered my voice. “Any status on the gardener’s family?”
“Giorgio apparently is a hobby magician because the entire family has disappeared.”
Interesting.
I looked up and put my focus on my mouse.
She now sat on the bed with several pillows behind her. Emilio suckled on one nipple. Olga placed more pillows around them.
Meanwhile, Emily kept her view our way, watching me.
Frowning, I didn’t move my gaze from her. “David, what about the neighborhood or city that he was from?”
“That information vanished too.”
I sneered.
David continued, “There is no Internal Passport nor international passport. We went deeper, searching for a driver’s license, health insurance card, taxpayer identification number, or even a work permit.”
“All gone?”
“As if he never existed.”
I scowled at my mouse. “Or as if someone got Maxwell to ask his homey Misha to get rid of the gardener’s information.”
Well played, mysh.
I turned to David.
He shook his head. “I apologize, Kazimir. I will do my best to—”
“Forget about it.”
“What?”
“This smells like Misha. If he truly did it, then we will be wasting our time and resources to get the information back.”
David nodded, yet worry spread across his face. He came closer and lowered his voice. “We have another problem.”
I tried to keep my anger down. “What?”
“Someone left a card on Paolo’s bed. Baba found it when she was putting him to sleep.”
Goddamn it.
I gestured for him to come with me. There was no way my mouse needed to hear this now. Too much was already going on.
We left the room, closed the door, and stood in the hallway.
I ran my fingers through my wet hair. “What did the message say?”
“It was just two words written in blood.”
I tensed. “What two words?”
“Traitor’s son.”
“Damn it. We do not need this shit right now.” I gazed at the door. “Does Blue know?”
“Not yet.”
“I cannot believe I am going to say this, but. . .”
“Yes, Kazimir?”
“Delay telling Blue. Keep this as quiet as possible. We all need a relaxing night.”
“Yes, sir.”
Chapter 10
Three for Three
Kazimir
In my dream, I walked on the beach.
Sand stuck to my bare feet.
Ten feet away, Pavel stood, wearing a gray suit. His long black hair flowed around him in the warm ocean breeze.
I headed his way. “Do you have more messages for me this evening?”
To my surprise, he began to frown. “I am sorry, but tonight I will not be the one that teaches you a lesson.”
I gazed around. “What do you mean?”
Then, something or someone violently shook me, but I couldn’t see them.
I stumbled back and batted at the air. “What is this?”
Pavel’s frown deepened. “I am so sorry, Kazimir.”
“Sorry for what?” And then, the dream faded and I jerked awake.
“Kazimir! Kazimir!” David shook me. “Wake up!”
Blinking my eyes, I shoved his hands away. “What?”
“Lunita is running around the mansion.”
No.
Panic surged through me. My head was still foggy with sleep. I looked to the left. My mouse’s side was empty.
Goddamn it.
“Are you up, Kazimir?”
“Fuck.” I stumbled out of the bed. “Just give me a minute.”
David stepped back and held my pants in his hand.
That was when I realized I was still naked. After the shower, Emily and I had simply dried off and passed out in bed.
I grabbed my pants from him and rushed to put them on. “Lunita is up?”
“Yes.”
“But, I put my best guards on Emily. Two men I trust with my life—”
“She tricked them for a little bit, heading to the nursery—”
“No.” I shivered and buttoned up my pants. “I-is Emilio okay?”
“He is safe.” David held up his hands. “Emilio is just fine. He is now with Maxwell.”
“Okay. Okay.” My heart hammered in my chest.
“Kazimir, when she made it to the nursery, she sliced the two guards necks.”
“W-where are my slippers. Never mind, fuck my slippers.”
“Kazimir.”
I rushed around him. “What?”
“Lunita went into the nursery’s adjoining room—”
“What?” I spun around. “W-why would she do that?”
“She killed Olga.”
My world imploded, every thought and emotion disintegrating in a single moment. It was chaos in my heart. There was only empty darkness in my soul.
“No.” I shook my head over and over. “Olga is not dead—”
David widened his eyes. “Kazimir—”
“Get a doctor right now!” I ran off. “Where the fuck is Lunita?! Still in t-the nursery—”
“No.”
I raced out of the bedroom. “Then, where is she?”