Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Could I really do this?
Paolo was the very spitting image of Pavel. There was no denying it. Same long silky black air and big brown eyes. Same pointed nose and high cheek bones.
If Mama were here, she would squeeze those cheeks and start singing to you the way she would with your father. . .when he was young.
My heart ached. Anytime I thought of her, a constant tugging began deep in my chest. Her death had been the worst kind of pain.
What would she say to my keeping Paolo?
Suddenly, the lamp on the nightstand behind the boy blinked off and on.
Confused, I tilted my head to the side.
Then, the lamp stopped.
I shook my head, wondering if I imagined it.
No more drinking. No more smoking.
Then, I looked down at the empty pillow. Now that I was fully awake, I understood what Paolo was trying to tell me.
My nerves charged awake like a ball of electrical wires.
I growled. “Mysh.”
Paolo looked back up at me and nodded.
“Where the hell is she?”
Paolo shrugged his little shoulders.
Goddamn it! What if it was Lunita who woke up?
Fast, I yanked the blankets from me, left the bed, and stormed away. “Mysh!”
Behind me, a little voice sounded. “Mysh!”
I stopped in mid-step, turned around, and stared at Paolo.
The boy opened his mouth.
I spoke in Russian, “I say mysh. You say Emily.”
He blinked.
“Do you understand?”
Paolo gave me a slow nod.
Then, the door opened, and the love of my life hurried in.
There she is.
Harlem trotted after her.
The door slammed shut.
My mouse strolled over to me and placed her palms on my chest. “Kaz, what have I told you about screaming my name like a crazy person?”
“I do not remember your having a problem with it.”
“I am always telling you to stop it.”
“Then, never leave my side.” I grabbed her waist and pulled her to me, drinking in her image. Those sexy brown nipples poked against the thin white gown.
She was walking around like this?
A low groan left me.
If the boy had not been in here, I would have ripped the gown off and let her hypnotize me with that lovely pussy.
Speaking of the boy, he rushed off the bed and screamed, “Mysh! Mysh!”
What?
I frowned.
I thought we had an understanding, Paolo.
“Aww. Hey, baby.” She tried to leave my arms.
I kept her to me and sneered. “Where did you go?”
Paolo got to Emily and hugged her legs.
“When I woke up, I went to Max’s room.” She looked down at Paolo and spoke in Russian, “Did you have a bad dream, baby? Is that why you were with us?”
“Bad dream.” Paolo touched the top of his head. “Boom. Everywhere.”
“Oh no.” Somehow Emily slipped out of my hold and rubbed his back. “You had a dream about the bomb?”
“Boom, mysh.”
“I’m so sorry.” She bent over, picked him up, and rose. “Don’t worry. No more booms will happen.”
Paolo leaned his head against her shoulder.
Frowning, I watched her walk off. “Why did you go to Max’s room?”
“I had questions about the apartment I grew up in.” She carried Paolo over to the bed, set him down, and switched back to Russian. “Are you hungry, baby?”
He smiled and bobbed his head.
“What do you want?” She raised her hands high in the air. “How about a whole bunch of pancakes?”
Giggling, Paolo bobbed his head again.
“We are going to order all the pancakes in the hotel.”
Paolo opened his mouth in shock.
“With tons and tons of syrup.”
He grinned.
She reached for the phone.
“I have it.” I held my hand up, went to the door, and opened it.
Wassily stood on the other side. Worry creased his face.
“Get us some breakfast. Pancakes, fruit, eggs, and toast.” I rubbed my head. “And coffee. Lots of it.”
Emily called out, “All the pancakes, Wassily. And lots of syrup.”
Rolling my eyes, I shut the door and turned around.
Now Paolo sat in her lap and lay his little head against her breasts.
My breasts.
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared. “You do not leave without waking me up.”
“I told you why I left, Kaz.” Emily ran her hands along Paolo’s braids. “And we can talk about this later.”
“We will talk about it now.”
She turned my way. A warning lay within her eyes.
I sneered.
She smirked. “What made you let Paolo stay in here?”
I gritted my teeth. “We will talk about that later.”
She sighed. “I did something bad last night?”
“Bad is subjective.”
“Kaz.” She gave me a sad smile. “How bad?”
“You would be heartbroken about it.”
She grabbed the end of one of Paolo’s braids and twisted it around her finger. “Blue is alive, along with Max, Boris, and David. I confirmed that the French are fine too. Before I left, Max assured me that I didn’t harm anyone in Harlem Crew either.”
A tight knot of dread wedged in my throat. The very idea of seeing Emily suffering in sadness made me sick to my stomach. I would rather shoot up tons of men, than watch a tear leave those beautiful eyes.