Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
He stood at the window, overlooking the city. Rumor had it that Zaitsev had a fear of heights, and the reason he put his office in a tall building was to combat that fear. Roman doubted the man had many fears.
“Enjoying the view?”
Roman turned to see Zaitsev entering his office. The office was a front for where they helped to process money.
“It’s a good view.”
Zaitsev came to stand with him. “Ah, yes, you can see far and wide.”
Roman kept his hands in his pockets.
“I suppose you’re curious as to why I called you in?”
“Yes,” Roman said.
“I want to know how things are going with your bride.”
Roman felt every single part of his body tense, but he didn’t show it. In their world, loyalty kept you alive, but also power. He had never upset Zaitsev. He’d not even been upset with him when he declared that he was marrying Chloe.
“Everything is fine,” he said. “Chloe is no longer a concern.”
“You’re right. I had a call last night. One of the cops told me someone has reached out to them, insisting they have information on the Zaitsev Bratva. They were willing to meet in person.” Zaitsev pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Roman.
“This isn’t Chloe.” Last night, he had Chloe beneath him all night long. Even once he had finished with her, making her scream and beg, he’d held her in his arms, breathing her in. Roman took the few moments when she had fallen asleep, when sleep seemed impossible to him, to just hold her, feel her, and love her.
“This is your area of expertise.”
“Man or woman?”
“They wouldn’t say. They covered up their voice,” Zaitsev said. “If this is your woman, Roman, you can’t give her any more chances. She’s a liability, and has to be removed.”
The very thought of killing his wife sent a punch to his gut.
“It’s not my wife, but if it is, for Zaitsev, I will take care of it.” Roman didn’t know what he would do, but he had to believe it wasn’t his woman.
There was no opportunity for her to call, to betray him. Chloe loved him. He knew that and knew it would be difficult for her to turn her back on him. If she didn’t love him, she wouldn’t have been able to take care of him, and he imagined after several months of marriage, the truth would have finally come out. She didn’t want to know any more than she had to.
Leaving Zaitsev’s office, the piece of paper in his fist felt like it was burning a hole straight through his hand. He stepped out onto the street. People went about their day, and he watched them go. None of them seemed to have a care in the world. Staring down at the piece of paper, he understood why Zaitsev had his doubts.
The park where they wanted to meet was close to where Roman lived. His apartment building was less than ten minutes away. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed Chloe’s number.
She answered on the second ring. “Hey, where do you want me to meet you?”
“What?”
“I got a text five minutes ago. Someone told me to meet you, I’m heading to a café, ugh, stupid phone. I don’t know which café it’s supposed to be.”
“You’re not heading to a park?” he asked.
“No, and your men were happy to follow me and allow me to go.”
Roman clicked his fingers as he listened to his wife. “Chloe, I want you to turn around and go back to the apartment.”
Shit. The person was supposed to be meeting the cops at the park in less than twenty minutes. He didn’t have a lot of time.
“But, you wanted to meet me?”
“No, that text isn’t from me. I’ve got something to do, but I’m begging you to trust me, and to go back to the apartment.” He didn’t know if this was a test from Zaitsev. If he picked Chloe, then his loyalty to the Bratva was in question. He couldn’t put Chloe’s life at risk.
“It’s not.”
“No, so go back to the apartment. You’ll do that, right?”
“Yes.”
“Great, put Steele on.”
“Steele?”
“He’s the guard on the door,” Roman said.
His hand was tightened into a fist. Roman didn’t get chance to talk to Steele as the call came to an end.
“Shit! Fuck!” He slammed his hand against the steering wheel.
Chloe or the Zaitsev.
This shit wasn’t fucking right.
In his mind he saw Chloe from the moment he walked into the bar. She had offered him a smile, but it had been empty. He saw the sadness in her eyes, the loneliness. Yes, he’d known that she had lost her whole family because of him. That night, he was supposed to kill her.
It would have been a quick and easy kill. In fact, he’d followed her home, intent on taking her out, but he hadn’t been able to do it. Instead, he made sure she got home safely. She’d been so lost in her loneliness, she hadn’t even realized he’d been following her home. How fucked up was that?