Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
I hear the undertone in her voice even before she leans in to whisper in my ear.
“You can do this. Hold your head high. One step at a time, darling.”
She kisses my cheek and turns back to her friends.
Buoyed by Polina’s and Ekaterina’s presence and their confidence in me, I look over my shoulder to make sure the men are following me. Saul is right behind me, looking increasingly uneasy, and his two stupid friends follow right behind him.
I’ll have to get rid of Marco.
I feel the eyes of the guests on me as I step outside, and I remember then that I’m not alone. I can feel the presence of Aleks’s men, hiding in plain view. They’re ready and able to fight.
“Saul, one of your best friends is here,” I say with a fake laugh.
He narrows his eyes.
I continue innocently. “Mario Rossi. Down by the garden out back. He said he had something to talk to you about?”
That part’s a lie, but I know Aleksandr heard every word and he’ll follow through to make sure Saul goes where we’re planning.
“Rossi? What the fuck is he doing here?”
I shrug one shoulder. “Who knows? I didn’t invite him. I heard he had to talk to you though. Seems like a nice guy.”
The last part was said only to needle him.
I hand him the drink and easily quell my shaking. No one needs to get the best of me.
“I’ll go see Rossi.” Saul leaves and fortunately Marco leaves with him.
I’m alone with the asshole.
“Your drink?” I ask him. “I really can’t shake the feeling that you’re so familiar.”
He grunts. “Yeah, a drink. Beer. Something in a bottle.”
Perfect. Glass cuts and blood will confirm DNA. Easy peasy. All in a day’s work.
I take my drink and his and when I hand him his, I pretend it slips in my hand. It predictably shatters on the ground next to him.
“Oh, no, I’m so sorry.” I clumsily fumble with the broken pieces of glass. I reach over to him. “Did it get you?” I slice the sharp glass against his palm.
He pulls back with a roar.
Pussy.
“Ohhh, you’re cut.”
“You cut me!”
“I am so sorry,” I say, with a shake of my head. The look in his eyes makes me glad he’s hurt. If Aleksandr Romanov wasn’t my husband, I’d be dead meat.
Still, I don’t know if I’ve ever been so happy to see blood.
“Oh no! Oh God, I’m so sorry,” I lie, reaching for a tissue. “You’re cut.”
I dab at his hand with the tissue, but he yanks away and glares at me. “I’m fine. Jesus.”
Nikko, dressed like a waiter, comes by with a tray and helps us gather the shards of glass and empties. He takes the bloodied tissue as well and whisks everything away.
“Let me get you another drink.”
I ignore his scowl as I go back to the bartender and give her a nod, pointing to a particular glass bottle. She’s been prepped ahead of time.
We considered giving him the same type of drug he gave me, but that would cause him to lose memory. I won’t allow that.
He’ll remember every damn minute.
She slips a drug in that will cause physical weakness and disorientation.
“Thanks,” he mutters, taking the bottle and giving it a hard swig. “You said I was familiar?” He leers. “So are you.”
Grossss.
I swallow back the bile in my throat. “Did we date?”
He keeps eyeing me. “In a manner of speaking, yes.”
I pepper him with questions about himself, his job, his friends, his travels. He has three cats, sells used cars, and enjoys long trips to the beach in his free time. Liar. He tacked that on for good measure. I almost ask him if he likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, but I have too much self-respect.
I ask him questions until I have his full interest because this is why I’m here, this is what I came for. He’s going fucking down.
His words are starting to slur. “This is a strong beer,” he says with a grunt. “Do you remember that party we went to, Harper?”
“I don’t in detail,” I tell him, tipping my head to the sky and hoping he falls for the innocent woman trick. “Refresh my memory?”
He leans in closer, and I swear I can hear Aleks growl somewhere. “You were so young,” he says. “So innocent. So beautiful.”
I’ve completely lost the fear of shedding his blood. I will shoot this motherfucker and sleep perfectly fine at night.
“Oh?”
A voice sounds in my ear. Aria.
“DNA confirmed. And babe?” Holy shit that was fast. Did Aleksandr kidnap a DNA lab expert and chain them up in the basement?
Likely.
I clear my throat to let her know I’m listening.
“It wasn’t just you,,” she says in my ear. “I started digging shit up as soon as we got his name, and this son of a bitch has a record a mile long. He’s been accused of sexual harassment, numerous accusations, and there’s even evidence he’s had a name and location change because of an allegation of sexual assault at work.”