Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“You still think you’re going to survive this.”
“You will not kill me.” It was a statement.
“You’re pretty damned sure of yourself.” Joshua flicked his coldest gaze over the man. “I could kill you myself for making Sonia believe you married her when you didn’t.”
“I will not apologize to you for saving her life. I couldn’t marry her, but I could make her my mistress. She wouldn’t have gone for that.”
Joshua studied the man’s face. “You really think I’m going to believe that after all this time you really plan to get rid of Nikita?”
“I have everything in place. I came here for Sonia. He knows that. He knows I will do anything to keep her alive, so that means I’ve declared war. If you’re thinking of aligning yourself with him, know that killing me might buy you a favor, but it won’t be keeping Sonia alive, if that’s what you really intended all along.”
He knew. Nothing gave Sasha away. Not his quiet tone. Not his stony features, not those dead eyes. Nothing. But Joshua knew the man intended to kill him, and Sasha fully expected Joshua’s bodyguards to kill him. He moved fast, using his leopard’s speed to leap toward the Russian, hitting him hard, driving him over backward, one claw of his big leopard raking down Sasha’s arm to strip the gun from his hand.
“Don’t shift,” Joshua hissed. “You shift and you’re dead. There’s nothing I can do to save your life.” More than anything, that act, trying to kill Joshua, told him that Sasha loved Sonia and wanted her free. Wanted her out of the business. “You didn’t think this through. I love her. No one’s going to take her away from me. You love her too.”
He held the Russian down, pinned beneath his body, feeling the other’s struggle for control as his leopard rose to try to save him. “If we’re both dead, no one will save her. No one will be left alive to fight Nikita.”
“Dmitri will see to her safety.”
“He doesn’t love her. We do. Together we’re stronger. Don’t you see that?”
“I see that you’re in this business. Ruthless. Ready to kill at a moment’s notice. It is not the life for her.”
“Don’t,” Joshua hissed again when the body beneath him began to expand and contract as the leopard pushed against the human form in an attempt to emerge. “You’re dead if you do. Your leopard’s dead. Don’t be a fool, Sasha. She loves you. She counts you as family. Don’t you think she’s had enough losses? You don’t have to like me, but you should know, I can keep her safe. No one is going to love her more than I do. My leopard staked his claim on hers and she accepted. They’re mates. There could already be a child. Think, man, before you throw your life away.”
He’d frantically signaled to both Evan and Kai to keep them from shooting Sasha. Both bodyguards had their weapons out. Evan had his pressed against the side of the Russian’s head.
“Prekratit’ bor’bu,” a voice rang out. “Ne bud oslom. Oni ub’yut tebya.”
Joshua held Sasha down, the words ringing in his head. Stop struggling. Don’t be an ass. They will kill you. He recognized Fyodor’s voice. He didn’t turn his head, but continued to stare down into Sasha’s face, watching for signs of surrender.
“These men are my friends, Sasha,” Fyodor said, moving into view. Flanking him, but with guns ready, were Timur and Gorya. “No one wants you dead, least of all me. Relax and live to fight another day, hopefully with us.”
It took a few seconds for the adrenaline to fade before the coiling tension had eased in the Russian. Joshua let him up immediately. It was Fyodor who extended a hand to his distant relative and pulled him to his feet. Joshua noticed that Evan had stepped back, but his weapon was still out. He held it against his thigh in readiness.
“I didn’t expect to see you alive,” Sasha greeted. He hesitated and then stepped close to Fyodor to wrap him in a bear hug, patting him on the back. “You look good. Healthy.”
Fyodor returned the hug and patting without hesitation. Joshua stepped back to allow the two Russians space. Timur and Gorya stayed close, both watching Sasha carefully. Even when the Russian turned his attention to them, they were much more wary than Fyodor appeared to be. Joshua wasn’t buying the act. He knew Fyodor. The man had been an enforcer for years. He could kill Sasha in seconds if the Russian made one wrong move.
The men exchanged rapid greetings in their native language. Joshua could follow along fairly easily. Like most of the leopards employed with Drake’s security company, he had learned multiple languages. Most shifters had an ear for languages.
“Don’t have time,” Joshua said. “Catch up later.”