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)
He left.
I gazed up at the clouds of smoke hovering over us.
“Wassily, have them open the windows.” I picked up my glass of vodka. “I do not want any smoke rising in the house and getting to my mouse or cub.”
“Yes, sir.” Wassily rushed off, ordering my men around.
“The Lion has a cub.” On my right, Tisha gathered the cards and began shuffling. “Kazimir, it will still take time for me to get used to that.”
On my left, Roman grinned. “I heard that the Lion also plans to get married.”
“No.” Tisha set the cards down. “This cannot be true.”
Roman widened his eyes. “She already lives in your house. Do you need the vows?”
I took a large swallow of my vodka.
Some of the numbness settled.
I gazed at Roman. “The vows are not for us, they are for the suicidal fools that dare to touch what is mine.”
“This bastard. I bet he means it.” Shock covered Roman’s face as he looked at Tisha. “Soon, you and I will be the only bachelors from the old days.”
Nikolay sat across from me and laughed. “Marriage is not that bad.”
“You can say that. You have found a woman to like more than a few months.” Roman chuckled. “I fear I will never find a woman like that.”
“And you will be better because of it.” Tisha raised his glass of vodka and took a large chug. “Kazimir, I remember our being knee deep in pussy one night. Breasts bouncing all around our faces, and we said that we would never be married.”
“That was then, cousin.” I took another swig of my vodka. “This is now.”
“This is now?” Tisha waved me away with his big hand. “I will not believe that the Lion is gone until I see you walk down the aisle.”
“You will see soon.” I gestured at the cards. “What are we betting for this game?”
Tisha gazed at the cards. “One million rubles.”
“Speaking of wives.” Nikolay raised both hands. “I cannot lose too much this evening.”
Roman laughed. “Is your cock at the house with her too?”
Tisha laughed. “I could never have a woman give me limits on anything.”
“I do not mind the limits. It is better than still roaming this earth for the right woman.” Nikolay shrugged. “You know what they say, a well-fed man does not understand the hungry.”
Tisha eyed Nikolay. “And who is the well-fed man, my friend?”
“I am.” Nikolay grinned. “You are the one that is hungry.”
Two women from Harlem Crew strolled by, heading to one of the card playing tables in the back.
Tisha winked at them.
One chuckled.
The other hurried them off.
Tisha watched the women walk away. “No one is hungry over here, my friend. I am always well-fed.”
I waved one finger. “My mouse’s women are off limits, Tisha.”
“Why?” Tisha lowered his voice. “Are you secretly sticking your cock in some of them?”
I’d wondered how much my cousins and other men had heard about Emily and Lunita. It appeared Tisha had not heard anything. If he had, he would know that the very statement was dangerous.
Maxwell entered and gazed around at the packed room.
Good. No lemon tree.
I raised my hand in the air and gestured for him to come over. “You all should meet my mouse’s brother.”
“Aww.” The humor left Tisha’s face as he put his gaze on Maxwell. “The new king of Italy.”
I frowned. “Tisha, is that bitterness I hear in your voice?”
“Italy is a massive territory of overwhelming value, and this guy gets it because the Lion is in love with his sister.” Tisha returned to shuffling the cards.
I set my glass down. “Is that what you think?”
“That is what I have heard.”
“Then, you heard wrong. Maxwell has earned everything that is in his possession.”
“I do not know him.” Tisha fanned the cards out into a rainbow and then mixed them back together. “Who is this Maxwell?”
David entered next.
“And this guy? Another king I have never heard of.” Tisha pointed at David. “Who are these people around my cousin?”
I looked Tisha in his eyes. “They are family. Be careful.”
“I understand.”
“I hope you do.”
“If they are your family, then they are my family.” Tisha touched the tattooed red rose on his neck and then drew a line under his mother’s name. “Because our blood. . .it is the same, and that is because we are truly family.”
I frowned.
Maxwell came over and got to the one empty chair at the table. “What’s up?”
Nikolay scooted over. “We are right at the beginning of a new game. Maxwell, have you ever played Durak?”
“A few times.”
I eyed him. “Really?”
“Yeah, man.”
“Where?”
Maxwell dug into his pocket. “Up in St. Pete.”
“With Misha?”
“Of course.”
Roman snorted. “Then, you must definitely join us. Only one million rubles to get in the game.”
“One milly?” Maxwell took out a long blunt, sniffed the end, and smiled. “That’s close to 14k U.S. Right?”
Nikolay nodded. “Close enough.”