Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
She was too pretty for words.
Who were these people?
What was this world? I mean, it’s not like I wasn’t accustomed to money, my uncle was loaded, but it’s not like I lived in his mansion or on his yacht. My mom worked as a VP for his company, and my father was a surgeon. This was next level beauty, next level money, the kind that makes the world go round.
Or people disappear?
“Um, it’s good…” I found my voice just as Asher pulled away his hand, Thank God. “We have US History together.”
“Have you gotten to our chapter yet?” Dante asked with an innocent smirk.
I gawked.
“He’s kidding.” Asher laughed as chuckles erupted around the table, more wine was poured, more questions asked.
And I ate.
Or I tried to eat while all the powerful men and women around me asked questions.
More wine was brought an hour later.
A knife was thrown toward Tex’s face, he moved out of the way then threw a fork back, nearly hitting a guy named Sergio who caught it without looking up.
“So,” another one of the uncles, one who made me so uncomfortable that I almost hid behind Asher, spoke. “What are your intentions with Marco?”
Right. Marco. Not Asher to them.
“You do mean after I found them naked together, right?” Chase piped up.
Humiliation complete, I groaned into my hands; nobody seemed upset instead they seemed, excited? Could that be right? Parents who encourage wild, crazy sex with a relative stranger and pour their eighteen-year-olds wine?
“Dad…” Asher’s tone shifted, it sliced through the room, the way he said Dad, his voice rasped, his tone dropped. And I realized, I was very much in over my head. These people were killers. This wasn’t Marvel, more like Suicide Squad.
“I really like him.” I interrupted the tense moment.
The guy across from me grinned. “Mmm.” He reached down and pulled out a folder; it was black, and it had my name on it. “Understand that men like us are curious.”
“Because I’m not Italian?” I wondered out loud.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile. “Nah, Claire, it’s not because of who you aren’t… it’s because of who you are.”
“Come again?” I wondered out loud.
“Step. Away.” A familiar voice sounded. Meanwhile, I hadn’t even heard the door close, what in the world? Slowly I turned.
A gun was held to Asher’s head.
My uncle, on the other end of it.
I jumped to my feet, knocking my chair on its side.
His eyes raked over me, then he nodded to Nixon. “Thanks for the text.”
“Figured the jet would get you here faster.” Nixon just grinned like he was enjoying himself.
“Nikolai?” Asher craned his neck around.
“Uncle Nikolai?”
“Were you or were you not just having sex with my niece?” His finger pressed the trigger.
This was not happening.
Uncle Nikolai was stupid rich.
Famous.
Incredible.
My mom’s boss.
I would do anything for him.
“Right, was getting to that part.” The other guy smiled. “She’s a Petrov… surprise!”
“It’s like this family just can’t stay away from Russia,” Sergio said under his breath earning stares his way and a kiss from his wife.
“Um, can someone explain…” My voice trailed off when Asher winked at me and then gave Nikolai a playful shrug.
With a sigh, Nikolai lowered his gun and stared Asher down. “You’re lucky you’re one of my favorites.”
Asher rolled his eyes. “We’re all your favorite, you can’t help it.”
“Wine?” Nixon held up a bottle.
Nikolai took the entire thing, not taking my eyes off me. “Do your parents know?”
“What do you mean, do they know? It’s been like four hours!”
“Five.” Asher coughed. I glared at him; he just shrugged with a smile. “Sorry, I’m a numbers guy.”
“Just don’t ask him to go past ten,” Violet said sweetly, earning an eye roll from him.
I was having a hard time wrapping my head around any of this.
My uncle.
Russian.
I mean, I knew that we had Russian blood in us, compliments of Nikolai and his wife, but still.
I frowned down at my hands. “Is this a problem?”
Nikolai burst out laughing while the rest of the guys at the table snickered.
“Yes, because Italians are a pain in the ass to deal with at Christmas, so loud… never any vodka.”
“He lies,” Sergio said in a bored voice. “We always have vodka; he’s just pissed because it’s Tito’s…”
Nikolai made a face.
“What are you even doing here?” I blurted. “I haven’t seen you since I left for school!”
He just grinned that good looking grin that got him on the front cover of People magazine and shrugged. “We all have our connections, don’t we?”
Asher raised his hand. “Question, when were you guys going to tell me that her uncle has a scary amount of kills to his name? Anyone? Anyone at all?”
“Oh, that’s why we called him.” Chase flashed us both a grin. “You know, figured it was smart to have a legit doctor do the whole reasons why you don’t have sex in your dorm room talk, then again I realized I didn’t have a leg to stand on, neither does Nixon, Sergio, don’t even get me started on cousin Vic…” A tall, brooding guy with enough guns strapped to his chest, rolled his eyes. Had he seriously been standing by the door the whole time? “And Tex well he just plowed right through—” A gun was pointed at Chase, “HEY! No weapons at the table!”