Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
I was there in fifteen, but Vivi didn’t hold it against me.
Brecken came out of her bedroom, Jessa, named after my grandmother, in her arms.
Jessa was screaming her head off, and I raised a brow at her.
Brecken frowned at me and said, “What are you doing here?”
“This one called me.” I threw Vivi under the bus.
Brecken sighed. “She didn’t want to come, because she’s afraid she’ll get sick, and she won’t be able to play in her soccer game on Saturday.”
That was a valid reason…
“I got her,” I reinforced. “What’s going on with Jessa?”
“Ear infection. Again.” She groaned. “It’s the third one in two months.”
I winced. “You do know that ear infections run in our family, right? You lucked out with Vivi here. But I had to have tubes. Maven had to have tubes. And so did Dima.”
“No.” Brecken rolled her eyes. “But one would think that would be something you’d talk about when your daughter gets back-to-back ear infections.”
I patted her on the shoulder as she passed and said, “Shasha is adorable in his own way, sis.”
Brecken snorted. “I’ll be back in about two hours or so. I have to stop by the store. Are you taking her to your place or staying here, so I can let the boss know?”
“I’ll stay.” I laughed. “We’re going to boat watch.”
By boat watch I meant people watch, because it made my day to see all the crazy drunks on the lake waltz around on their fancy boats and tie one on.
“Make sure that she doesn’t swindle you into another dip. Shasha still doesn’t have the path clear yet, and he said he’s seen a snake crossing the trail for the last three mornings.”
“Ew.” I shivered. “We won’t leave the deck.”
“Awesome. Artur, Ivan, and Bogdan are here. If you need them, call.”
I barely contained an eye roll.
My brother, Shasha, was the head of the Russian Bratva.
He was an important person, and there were quite a few people that would like to see him harmed.
That’s where his men came in, always around, and always protecting.
If Shasha had his way, I’d have a constant bodyguard, too.
But that was just something that I didn’t want.
Like my sister, Nastya, I just couldn’t deal with having someone following my every step twenty-four-seven.
“Behave.” She pointed at me, then she was gone, leaving me to look at my partner in crime.
We went out onto the deck, and together we boat watched and played Go Fish.
After I won for the second time, I turned to her and batted my eyes.
“You are my sunshine…” I started to sing, but my niece placed her hand over my mouth and narrowed her eyes.
“Stop,” she ordered. “I don’t like it when you sing to me.”
I pouted. “But I used to sing that to you when you were a baby.”
“I didn’t even like it then,” she deadpanned.
I burst out laughing, my already sore belly from my morning run protesting the movement. “But Vivi, how will you know that I love you if I don’t sing to you?”
“You could just tell me.” She crossed her arms.
God, so much like my brother, Shasha, it made my heart ache.
“Okay, okay,” I said. “I’ll try to remember that for next time, sweetie.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you use that term of endearment?”
“Words ending in ‘ie’ are always so adorable, just like you.” I giggled. “Cutie. Sweetie. Hottie.”
“Die,” she grumbled.
I sighed. “Still in a bad mood, I see.”
“I’d be happier if I could win.”
So we played four more hands before she gave up, and each time I made sure to play to win.
Wouldn’t do to have my niece getting a bigger head than she already had, thanks to my brother.
It’s crazy how no one in this life is perfect, yet everyone is so judgmental.
—Cutter to Chevy
CUTTER
“But this is ridiculous, Cutter. That’s money that we could spend on a house! You’re too fucking old to be living in this shit hole!” my soon-to-be-ex, Dorie, cried out in frustration.
Her hands were in the air, and the one-hundred-and-thirty-five-dollar manicure that I’d paid for with my hard-earned money glinted against the harsh, overhead light.
I stared at her in annoyed anger.
Not to mention, she was wearing my fuckin’ shirt that she knew I didn’t like her wearing.
“First off, take that fuckin’ shirt off. You know how I feel about you wearing it. Second, I’ve already explained it to you, Dorie,” I replied rather calmly, even though everything inside of me was telling me that I should rant and rave. Tell her that she just didn’t fucking listen to me. “This is nonnegotiable for me.”
Dorie yanked down her hands and fisted them at her side, spun around, and grabbed her keys. “Well, I don’t want to live in this hellhole for the rest of my life!”
I crossed my arms over my chest and said, “Before you leave, take all the things that you have here so you don’t have to come back. And if you take off with my shirt, I’m going to come get it, and you won’t like it if I do.”