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)
Her heartbeat suddenly accelerated, sounded like a drum to him. Hard. Fast. The rhythm of a prey animal knowing the predator was focused on her. Her tongue touched her lips again, her mouth suddenly dry. He knew all the signs. Her eyes showed shock. Knowledge. The dark chocolate deepened. Swirled with amber. With gold. Her leopard was close.
“Rafe Cordeau. The rumors about him were true. He was a crime boss, wasn’t he?” Her voice quivered and she slowly, inch by inch, started to slide her hand from under his. The one in his hair was gone. She made herself very small, curling into her body, but her gaze never left his, as if mesmerized by a viper – or a leopard.
Joshua nodded. “His territory was very large.” He had to let her hand go, although every instinct told him to hold on to her. When it slipped through his fingers, he felt as if she were slipping away from him.
“There were rumors that you took his territory over, but because you work for Drake Donovan, no one, not even Bastien, believes them.” She paused. Swallowed hard. “But they’re true, aren’t they?” She whispered the last. Her voice shook. A tremor went through her.
“Baby, you’re safe. Know that you’re safe. I can take care of Nikita Bogomolov.” He needed to reassure her. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he’d struck a bargain with Nikita to turn her over to him, or even that he’d sent word to him. But of course she’d think that. He would have thought that in her place. Her eyes had changed color. They were dilated with the pain of betrayal. Not just any betrayal, but a visceral, soul-shredding betrayal.
He tried to take her hand back, but she shrank back against the headboard, looking at him as if he were a monster. Which he fucking was. But not to her. Never to her.
“Sonia, I didn’t know Bogomolov was your father-in-law. You never told me who they were. There’s no way I would ever call that son of a bitch and tell him you were here. I didn’t know who you were involved with, remember?”
He tried to keep his voice low and even. Soothing. Calm. He willed her to be calm and listen. “You have to know I wouldn’t call Bogomolov and let him know you were here. The meeting was already set in advance of Shadow ever finding Gatita – and me discovering you.”
She was shaking almost uncontrollably, and she’d made herself so small, he doubted if she’d be able to untangle herself if she didn’t relax soon. Her limbs would be locked in that position for eternity. Her skin had grown cold to the touch, something rare in a leopard.
“What other business could you possibly have to be meeting with a man like Nikita Bogomolov?” She whispered the question, but she didn’t need an answer. “Unless you’re one of them. Unless you’re like him. You really did take over Cordeau’s territory, and you’ve got some deal in the works with Nikita.” Her mind was allowing her to take in what he was saying and what it meant a little at a time.
He nodded. “I’m not like him, but yes, I have a deal in the works with him. Technically, yes, I did take over Cordeau’s territory but…”
Sonia couldn’t breathe. There was no breath. None. All the air in her lungs had been used and there was no more in the room. That dinner. That sensual dinner and the hot, wild sex after, that had been Joshua, her Joshua leading up to this moment of absolute triumph. He had tricked her. Used her. Just as Sasha had. It was one thing to have sex and keep it that way, but he’d deliberately tied her to him. Deliberately made her fall in love with him.
She knew she loved Joshua. She’d felt gratitude and affection for Sasha, but she loved Joshua and he’d deceived her. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he had sold her out to Nikita. The two men were in the same business. They were criminals, and they cared nothing for the people they hurt.
Gatita. What’s wrong with me that I attract horrible men? I can’t breathe. She couldn’t think, only curl into a ball and wish the earth would open and swallow her. How do I get away from him? From Nikita. Now they know I’m alive and they’ll hunt us to the ends of the earth.
Her entire body shuddered with pain. She couldn’t hear anything Joshua said over the screaming in her ears. She wanted to scream. To shred her vocal cords. Her heart was shredded. He had eviscerated her. No sound emerged. Everything she felt was locked inside. Deep. Where no one could see or hear. She was locked there, unable to cope with another betrayal.