Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 93506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Viktor appears stunned for a second, but then recovers. “That’s impossible, Boss. Even the government and its intelligence agency couldn’t figure out much about them, which is why they called for outside help to eliminate and get rid of their influence.”
“Dig deeper. Call your friends in the KGB, the Spetsnaz, and the military. I don’t care what you have to do in order to get me information.”
“I can try, but I’m afraid I can’t promise any results this time.”
“Just make it happen, Viktor. If we don’t know who’s after me, how can we stop it?”
“Got it.”
“Don’t get anyone else involved.”
“Not even Yuri?”
“To an extent. Don’t disclose all the information to him. Make it look like you’re still digging into the setup from the final military mission.”
He nods, then, after making sure I don’t need anything, steps out of the room.
My mind is left bubbling with different possibilities. I wasn’t in the military when the Belsky Organization was annihilated, but I’m apparently involved in some way. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been targeted.
It must be because of my genetic relationship with Roman. That old man was always up to no good. Not that I’m any better, but I at least know which battles to pick and which to steer the fuck clear from.
One thing’s for certain, though. Aleksandra and her lover have something to do with that scheme.
A foul taste explodes in my mouth at that thought.
Lover.
I should fucking kill her for betraying me, but that’s just too light a punishment. She has to wake up every day and fall asleep every night tasting the bitter pill I’ve been surviving on ever since I woke up in the hospital.
With another flick of my finger, I destroy the half-built house of cards and stand up.
My physical strength has been slowly coming back, but I still have to be careful or else I’ll suffer a longer recovery period, and that’s just not something I need.
I step out of the office and go down the stairs.
“Kirill!” Karina catches up to me halfway to the entrance and interlinks her arm with mine.
She’s been joining me for my daily walks around the garden ever since I was able to start getting around.
Now, I only do them because she actually willingly leaves her room, usually dressed in some princess dress and boots, as if she’s going to a fashion show.
I don’t like the way some of my men look at her, which is why I had Viktor threaten to gouge their eyes out of their sockets if they ogle her again.
What? My sister is still too young.
She’s the same age as Lipovsky and you’ve been fucking her regularly for almost a year.
I shut down that sinister voice as a muscle works in my jaw.
“Are you better today?” Karina asks in a super cheerful voice that’s a reminder of her younger self. It’s reminiscent of a time when she either rode on my shoulders or hung onto my and Konstantin’s pants.
She used to ask him to carry her, too, but after she was yelled at by Yulia for being a spoiled brat, she’s never done it again.
“I’m fine.”
“You look so much better.” She strokes the stubble on my cheek and grins. “I like this look.”
“Should I keep it?”
“Yes! I’m going to get you the best suit that goes well with this look so when you get back out there, people will think you’re a model, because, duh, you totally are—” Her humor disappears as Yulia comes inside the mansion, followed by her ‘only’ son.
Karina subtly cowers behind me, her hand gripping my bicep hard. That woman not only failed as a mother, but she also made her own daughter scared and wary of her—for reasons unknown.
She lifts her head high like an arrogant monarch and doesn’t speak to us as she passes us by. It’s almost as if we don’t exist.
“It was nice to see you by my bedside, Mother,” I say out of pure spite.
She whirls around and narrows her eyes. “Oh, I was by your bedside, but only to make sure you finally died. I even prepared a funeral dress for the occasion. Unfortunately, you survived like the devil.”
“Aww, were you worried about me? I’m so touched.”
“Worried about you?” She laughs, the sound so venomous that even Konstantin cringes. “You are nothing to me, Kirill. Nothing.”
“Glad we feel the same.” I step closer to her, and Karina tightens her grip around me. “Since we mean nothing to each other, I’m happy to inform you that I have allies in your bank, dear Mama. Your own brothers and sisters prefer me in business matters. After all, I’m part of their family, too, no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise.”
“You—” She lifts her hand, probably to slap me. Karina forces her eyes closed, but the hit doesn’t come.