Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78264 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I thought we were safe. I thought the hits were canceled.
I could’ve died today.
Only when we reach St. Monarch’s do I ask, “What the hell just happened?”
“Someone tried to blow your brains out, sweetheart,” Alek mutters from the passenger seat.
No. Fucking. Shit.
Aurora pulls me into a hug. “You’re okay. It’s all that matters.”
When Armani stops the SUV in front of St. Monarch’s castle, Alek shoves his door open, snapping, “Next time you want to spend your daddy’s money, think twice. You’re such an easy fucking target.”
“Me?” I gasp.
Then it sinks in – the hit on me wasn’t canceled.
Was it only canceled for Aurora?
Why the fuck didn’t they tell me?
Jesus, I really could’ve died today.
Chapter 11
Nikolai
I’m sitting in Uncle Carson’s office, reviewing all the open contracts, when a call comes through on his cellphone.
I don’t take note of what’s being said until I hear him ask, “Who stopped the hit on Abigail Sartori?”
My head snaps up, my eyes locking on my uncle.
“Christ,” he mutters. “I’ll deal with it.”
The instant he ends the call, I ask, “What happened?”
“Abigail left the grounds with Aurora and the bratva trainees. Someone tried to eliminate Miss Sartori, but Misha and his friends stopped it. Viktor is going to lose his shit.”
I stare at my uncle as his words sink deep into my gut. “What?” I mutter like an idiot. “Wait.” I stand up from the chair, a dark frown forming on my forehead. “Abigail left St. Monarch’s? Why?”
Why the fuck would she do something so goddamn stupid?
“Where is she?” I bark.
“The SUV just pulled up to the castle, sir,” the head of the guards informs me from where he’s standing by the door.
“Nikolai?” Uncle Carson gives me a worried look.
Without another word, I stalk out of the office. When I step into the foyer, and my eyes lock on Abigail’s pale face, I fucking lose my shit.
There’s no way for me to keep my voice calm as I shout, “What the fuck were you thinking leaving the grounds?”
I grab hold of the infuriating woman and first make sure she hasn’t been shot before I lay into her. “You know there’s a fucking hit out on your life! Are you fucking insane or just plain stupid?”
“Excuse me?” she snaps as she yanks her arm free from my hold. “Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?”
Christ Almighty.
The urge to strangle her is overwhelming, and I fist my hands at my sides so I don’t give in to the need to force her into submission.
Abigail lifts her chin in defiance as she meets my eyes, and at this moment, she’s never looked more beautiful.
I fucking worry because you’ve crawled so deep beneath my fucking skin I can’t get you out!
Instead of telling her the truth, I growl, “You’re one of my students. It gives me the right to fucking worry.”
She stares at me for a moment, then her gaze narrows on me as she fucking taunts me, “Yeah, keep lying to yourself.”
Lifting up on her tiptoes, her breath fans over my jaw and ear, then she whispers, “It’s only a matter of time before I’m assassinated. My dying wish is to be with you, so stop lying to us both, be a man, and take what you want.”
I’m about to burst a fucking vein from anger as she pats her hand on my chest before walking toward the stairs.
God, help me before I kill this woman myself.
With rage burning in my veins, I watch her sexy ass sway as she climbs the stairs before I stalk back to my uncle’s office.
He’s already on a video call with Viktor.
I glance at the screen that shows my cousin sitting at his desk as he says, “I’ll be there tomorrow morning to deal with my men.” He tips his chin at me. “Hey, Nikolai.”
“Wish we were talking under better circumstances.” I lock eyes with Viktor. “Cancel the hit on Abigail Sartori.”
My cousin’s eyebrows raise, then he shakes his head as he glances between my uncle and me. “What the fuck do you put in the food at St. Monarch’s? This is the second request in less than a week concerning those women.”
Uncle Carson shrugs and waves a hand through the air. “Fuck if I know.”
Viktor turns his eyes back to me. “Why?”
Why?
I don’t fucking have an answer, so I say, “Call it a favor.”
“That’s not an answer, cousin,” he mutters, an impatient look flashing in his eyes.
Letting out a sigh, I reluctantly admit, “The woman fucking annoys me, but I don’t want her dead. I’m only asking for the hit on her. I don’t give a shit what you do with the rest of the Sartoris.”
Suddenly a wide smile splits over Viktor’s face. “Now I understand.” My cousin stares at me for a while, then nods. “Cancel the hit on Abigail Sartori,” he gives the order to Uncle Carson.