Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Are you in danger right this very minute? Do you have a place to stay?”
“Yes, I am and no, I don’t.”
I pull out my phone and tap the article I saved. Wordlessly, I hand it to her.
Mysterious Campus Attack Unleashes Panic as Authorities Hunt for Missing Professor
In a chilling turn of events, the tranquil campus of West End Community College is reeling after a brutal attack last night, sending shock and horror through the community. The assault, which authorities suspect was aimed at locating a missing professor entrenched in a high-profile investigation, has left students and faculty in a state of fear and confusion.
At approximately midnight students and campus security reported masked assailants arriving on campus. Some believe the assailants suspected Professor Aria Cunningham was hiding on site.
The attackers managed to evade capture, disappearing into the night as swiftly as they had arrived.
West End Community College has been placed on high alert, with classes suspended indefinitely, and students urged to stay safe. Officials are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Aria Cunningham or the attackers to come forward immediately.
Finally, she blows out a breath and nods. “My God. Officials. And you’re telling me you found information on said officials that would destroy them.”
I blow out a breath in relief. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
She nods and smiles wanly. “I knew when you came to me it wouldn’t be to set you up on a blind date or to borrow some gas money. How much do you need?”
I exhale. “I need more than money.”
She stares at me as reality dawns. “You need protection,” she says in a whisper. “Someone outside the law.”
“Exactly,” I whisper back.
She rises to her feet and paces the room.
“Holy shit, Aria. Girl…” Her voice trails off as she thinks over the implications of what I’ve told her. “This is too big for me. You’ll need someone who can give you protection and money. You need someone with power. I have money, but money will only go so far.” She mindlessly tugs at the delicate gold necklace she wears. “You could — no, no, that’s too much. Hmm. That won’t work,” she says, as she mentally sifts through ideas. “Could send you to — no. Not this time of year, it’s too busy and they’ll be looking for those records anyway.” She blows out a breath. “You can’t show me what you found?”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to involve you. The more you know, the more dangerous it is.”
And honestly? I don’t know her. Not really. What if she decides she wants to turn me in herself? Suddenly, the thought of coming here in the first place was the worst thought I ever had.
My heart is beating so fast I’m dizzy. I can’t wait any longer. I can’t stay in one place.
I stand up.
“You know, I’m good. I think that I—”
“Aria! I’ve got it!” She reaches for my arm and grips it tightly, her eyes so wide she’s scaring me. “There is someone who can help. I mean…he’s…vicious. He’s scary as fuck. But if you go to him, okay, them…and offer your skills…it just might work. I mean, you’ve got information that law enforcement doesn’t want you to have. Your only choice is to go to someone who’s above the law. Who doesn’t care about niceties or following the rules. Who hates the Feds and would likely love fucking them over.”
I eye her skeptically. She’s right, but…“Okay?”
“The Romanovs,” she says in a whisper.
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. “They rule The Cove and they despise local authority,” she continues. “They’re the only ones above local authority.”
I lick my lips. “How?”
“Organized crime. You know? Bratva.”
Bratva. I do know. When you do what I do, sifting through the vast network of connections and people and places...you know exactly where the most powerful people live.
The Romanovs own The Cove, the large, sprawling “Little Russia” smack dab between Coney Island and Manhattan. That’s all I know.
But I have no safe place to go. I could form another identity, uproot everything, and flee the country. I know enough that I could fabricate a new ID and start from scratch.
But I’d have nothing. No one.
"I've lost everything, Tatiana. I'm willing to pay the price of anything at this point."
She stares at me unblinking. "Anything?"
I swallow. “Anything.” My small apartment is gone. My identity has been leaked. I don’t have a job anymore and had no money to begin with. For the first time in my life, I’m thankful I have no loved ones I could lose.
“The Romanovs are in charge of everything in The Cove. I can tell you right now that whatever you ask of them, it will come at a price. A price you may not be willing to pay. "
My mind goes over every possible price. Debt collection. Forced involvement in crime. Unpaid labor, human trafficking…sexual favors.