Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
She hated my presence. I sensed her anger and disappointment. Her day at the shelter had gone so well. I’d surprised her with how much I loved dogs. It had been too long since I had a dog of my own. In fact, after my father’s dogs had died of old age, one by one, I hadn’t replaced them. Their passing had been the worst kind of feeling I’d ever experienced in my life. I missed them so much, but as with all passing, time had helped. I’d not gotten another dog.
Love and emotion were weakness. I didn’t have time for weakness.
My cell phone rings again. Glancing down, I see it’s an unknown number. Gritting my teeth, I end the call. This happens, two, three, four, and five more times, until I finally accept the call.
“What the fuck do you want?” I asked.
“To say surprise.”
I tensed up.
“Ivan?”
“The one and only, back from the dead.”
“But … you’re supposed to be dead.” I sound so fucking stupid.
“I know, and hopefully, you’re very happy to hear from me.”
“I … yes, of course.” I was happy. Fuck me, I was.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
I explain everything. How my territory has the MC back, trying to fight for turf as well as the mafia. My section of mafia is not the same as Slavik’s. Aurora was the daughter of one of their head guys. The whole arrangement had been organized by Ivan. As it happened, the guys from my territory were enemies of Slavik’s guys. They fought amongst themselves rather than band together. That’s how Ivan had brought about his power. He’d made sure to bind us, to make us stronger.
I told him about Ive’s Cartel issue. How Victor had an uprising amongst the soldiers, Peter’s issue with the law, and then Oleg’s perfectly organized territory.
“I fucking knew it,” Ivan said.
“Are you going to tell me what is going on?”
“One day, but for now, my sudden rise from the dead will be a secret. What are your plans for Demon?”
“He has a daughter,” I said. “I think it’s only fair that we take from him what he considers the most precious.”
Ivan laughed. “I like this. Make the arrangements. I’ll call you soon.”
I hung up my cell phone and smiled. I have no idea what is going on, but Ivan would tell me what I needed. This was his job as the boss. I could only imagine he was sniffing out a snake. Was Oleg his target? I had no idea.
Leo followed me up to my penthouse suite when we arrived in the building. Opening my front door, I paused at the sound of music playing way too loud. This was new. Adelaide rarely made any sound.
Reaching for my gun, I saw Leo do the same, out of the corner of my eye. We close the door quietly, and move through the penthouse, and I come to a stop when I catch sight of Adelaide. She’s not under attack from anything other than liquor.
She’d never been in my office before, but it would seem since I left, she had decided to go and sneak inside. There was nothing there for her to find.
The music blasted too loud, and she held the whiskey bottle in her fist. Her eyes were closed as she swung her head, left to right, jumping up and down like a crazy person.
Looking back at Leo, I nod for him to leave.
Adelaide still hadn’t seen me so I reach for the remote, and press “pause” on the music, sending the whole room into silence.
“What the fuck?” Adelaide asked.
She whirled around to look at me, and she was a little unsteady on her feet.
“Liquor does that.” I nodded at the bottle.
“Oh, please, this is the best feeling I’ve ever had. The taste is so damn nasty. I don’t know why anyone drinks it but then I got to thinking, maybe that’s what can keep me locked up in here. Drinking and partying.” She stumbled toward me and reached for the remote. I hold it out of her reach. “Stop being a stupid party pooper. It’s not like you care about what I’m doing, or who with.” She giggled like a little schoolgirl. “That is so funny to think of you even caring. No, you leave that to Bethany. She got to have whatever she wanted. I bet she didn’t have to kiss you for it.” She tilted her head to the side. “Nah, she probably did a whole lot more than that, and was even good to you in bed.” She wrinkled her nose. “Gross. I have to have sex with a man who put his dick in my sister first.”
I had no idea Adelaide could be so free with speech. The drink was having the effect. She’d spent a great deal of time ignoring me. Rather than find her outburst annoying, I thought it rather refreshing and cute. She swayed to whatever music played inside her head.