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)
We’re ten minutes out.
“What did you need to talk to me about?”
Aleks sobers, which isn’t a good sign. When he clears his throat, I feel my hands tighten on the steering wheel.
“Aria’s been poking around. I’m almost certain she intercepted some texts, and when I looked through yours, they were potentially damning.”
Texts? She intercepted texts?
“What kinds of texts were damning? What are you talking about?”
“You got a text from Tatiana, brother.”
Ahh. Shit. “She knew we didn’t exactly meet in a traditional way…”
“No, but she might not be too crazy about the fact that you arranged for her to be sent to you and the woman you paid a finder’s fee to was posing as her friend.”
It’s how we do things here. I fucking kidnapped her, for Christ’s sake. It’s not like we met in a traditional way by any means. Hell, I didn’t even give her a choice about vows or a baby.
“Is this why she isn’t answering my texts?”
“Could be, but I also don’t want to – shit.”
“What?” I say through gritted teeth.
“I get an alert when there’s been any tampering with security measures. It looks as if she’s been unsuccessful, but Aria’s been attempting to circumvent security.”
She is in so much fucking trouble. I clench my teeth together and push the gas pedal even harder. “How?”
“I need to catalog these alerts before I…”
All of a sudden, he goes still.
“Aleks.” What the fuck?
“Fuck. Mikhail, there’s something more urgent we need to respond to, now. An alert’s come in that says there’s been a security breach at the primary residence – Mom’s home. The fire alarms have been triggered and window alarms as well.”
I will myself to stay calm but even the road in front of me goes a little hazy.
Jesus. Fuck. Volkov and his goddamn sons of bitches –
I hit the steering wheel. “Call Viktor.”
The phone rings and rings.
I systematically go through every one of my brothers and get no response. I turn the corner so hard we’re on two fucking wheels. My mother’s estate looms in front of me, smoke billowing into the sky. My heart hammers in my chest, adrenaline nearly choking me.
“Multiple unauthorized entries at the main gate. Detection of explosives. Fire safety alerted.”
Fuck.
“Check real time family status.” My voice sounds as if it’s coming from inside a tunnel, hollow and echoing. I need to stay focused.
“Jesus,” Aleks says in a choked voice, running a hand through his hair. He blows out a breath. “Polina’s in Mom’s guest room. Heartbeat accelerated. Mom’s detected in the same room with her, but her heartbeat’s well below the normal range. Viktor’s nearby, heart rate accelerated. Nikko as well. There’s…” He’s having trouble continuing. “No reading on Lev or Ollie.”
“And Aria?”
“She’s off our radar.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Aria
I’m under a body. Someone’s heavy, steely body. And it’s not the body I like being under.
Liked.
LIKED.
I think whoever’s on top of me is unconscious. I blink, trying to piece together what happened, when a wave of panic shoots through me.
The baby. Is the baby okay? Oh my God.
The windows shattered, glass shards flying through the air like a deadly snowstorm. The noise was deafening, triggering alarms in the echo of the bomb’s explosion. The air is ripe with the acrid scent of gunpowder.
“Get off.” I try to push but it’s about as effective as trying to lift a small elephant. I look up to see Viktor’s scarred face. He’s still conscious, but there’s a large gash on his forehead dripping blood into his eyes.
He grunts and rolls over but grabs a weapon. I’ve never seen him grab a weapon before. If the fact that a bomb detonated isn’t enough of a clue that something’s terribly wrong, him grabbing a weapon absolutely is.
He grimaces with the effort of moving off of me. I don’t even remember how he got here. There must’ve been something that triggered an alarm and he only had seconds to shield me with his body before the detonation took full effect.
“Where is everyone? Is everyone okay?”
“Stay down,” he growls, pushing himself up. He’s wobbly on his feet. “Do you know how to use a gun?”
“Of course I do.”
He shoves one into my hand. “That bomb was a distraction and a way in. You’re in grave danger. Don’t pull any of your shit, Aria, you stay fucking there.”
I glare at him but hold the weapon anyway and give it a quick glance. You pull the trigger, right? My mind churns with questions and fears.
If I never hear the words “you’re in grave danger” again for the rest of my life, I’ll be a happy camper.
“Polina?” he calls out.
“I’m fine, Viktor. It’s Mom I’m worried about.” I look up to see Polina kneeling over her mother, a look of concern on her face. They’re handling this with such calm, it’s a little unnerving.
Ekaterina’s unconscious, her forehead streaked with blood.