Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
He still didn't release my hand.
I tugged at it. “Kaz, let me go.”
Fast, he pulled my body against him, crushing me into a fierce embrace. “Do not forget about our signal.”
“I won't.”
His gaze burrowed into mine until I was sure he could see deep into my soul. “Do not let yourself get into further harm.”
“I won't, baby.”
Finally, Kaz let me go and kept his gaze on me.
David stepped to my other side. “I will walk you both up to Fela. Our men have already checked him from head to toe, but I will check him again before leaving.”
I nodded.
Worry etched deep into Kaz's features. “Perhaps, I should walk up with them too and check him myself.”
I frowned. “I see you strangling his neck.”
The line of his jaw twitched. “Would that truly be a bad thing?”
“I bet Fela has something prepared if we renege on the deal.”
With another twitch of his jaw, he pursed his lips together and narrowed his eyes.
I looked down at the sand and used my free hand to slip off one heel.
Kaz narrowed his eyes. “Lunita?”
“What?” I blinked.
“Why are you taking off your shoes?”
“I can't walk in the sand with these heels.”
Kaz studied me as if unsure about my honesty.
“Seriously.” I handed him one heel and then gave him the other. Warm sand smoothed against the bottoms of my feet.
Still, Kaz watched me.
“Relax, baby. It's me.” I looked in the direction of Fela. He remained gazing at the shoreline. I turned back to Kaz. “Okay, baby. Time to get this over with.”
It was damned near impossible to drag myself away from him, yet somehow I did.
In the gray sand, Blue, David, and I trudged forward, passing the intimidating crowd of our heavily armed men.
Blue spoke, “If you cannot pull the trigger, I will.”
“I can pull it. I just don't want Fela coming through with any surprises.”
David shook his head. “We are ready for any surprise he brings out.”
Are we?
I blew out a long breath. “Thank you, David.”
It didn't take long for us to get to Fela.
As if sensing our approach, he turned around and stood before us, arms outstretched. A diamond ring adorned each finger.
To be a man close to death, his eyes were electric and alive. Meanwhile, for some reason, his voice sent shivers down my spine. “Emily, you came.”
I studied him.
Last time I met with Fela on the beach, he had a youthful look. Today he appeared to be a different person entirely. He had more gray hair on his head, and a wild grey beard covered most of his face.
He must have done that video weeks before?
He didn't have a beard in the video. Was the video edited? Or had he guessed Kaz would target Nigeria with the nuke?
An unsettling fear poured over me.
I spotted the long scar going from his chin down to his neck.
“Emily.” He lowered his arms. “Our deal included conversation before I die.”
Keeping a neutral expression, I moved my gaze to the table. “What's in the briefcase?”
“No hello?”
“No hello, Fela.” I put my view back on his face and gripped the gun at my side. “Only goodbye.”
He moved his gaze to the gun. “Nice weapon. However, I would have preferred you to shoot me with a yellow gun.”
“Then, you should have put that in the deal.”
“Speaking of the deal.” Fela placed his hand in his pocket.
That was when David rushed to him. “Not so fast.”
Fela chuckled. “I am merely reaching for my phone.”
“Hold your hands up.” David stood in front of him.
Fela eyed David. “Checking me for weapons again? This will be the fifth time since my walking on the beach.”
David patted him down in the front and dove his hands in Fela's pockets.
Keeping his hands up, Fela smirked. “What am I? A magician able to make guns appear out of thin air.”
Silent, David walked around him and patted down his thighs and legs.
“Russians always worry about nukes, guns, and bullets.” Fela placed his view on me. “When there are more simpler ways to bring greater harm.”
Terror sliced through my body. My hand holding the gun shivered a little.
David finished checking him.
Fela stared back at him like he was a little kid. “Shall I take off my shoes for you to see if I am carrying a missile inside of it?”
“Yes.” David frowned. “Go ahead and give me your shoes.”
I waved my hand. “That's unnecessary, David. We're good.”
King David and Fela squared off, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills. I swore the air between them crackled with palpable tension.
Fela twisted his mouth into a sly smirk. “You heard her, little one. Go on now.”
David's words dripped with menace. “Take off your shoes. Now.”
I gritted my teeth.
Chuckling, Fela began taking those polished shoes off one by one and handing them to David with a mocking grin. “What next, King? Do you think I have weapons in the toe or perhaps under my arms?.”