Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83818 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
The driver approaches. “Welcome home, sir. Ma’am. May I help you with your bags?”
“I’ve got them,” I tell him. He should know that.
Renata shakes her head and gives the driver a curious look, not meeting my eyes. “Were you already given the location of the safe house by security?”
We aren’t going to—
“Yes, all set, ma’am. Your location is secure.”
Renata smiles sweetly. “Perfect.” She turns to face me and beckons for me to come closer. Her sweet, warm breath on my cheek, she whispers, “He’s not your driver.”
I whisper in her ear, “No shit. I’m going to kiss you like we’re in love, then pull my gun. You dive for cover. Do not fuck around.”
She nods.
I kiss her cheek, her soft, sweet skin to my lips like honeyed butter.
I want her.
I want all of her. It’s like the first hit of an addict. One taste, one touch of Renata Carerra, and I need more.
With reluctance, I pull away, my weapon drawn.
The driver takes one look at me and dives into the driver’s seat. I pull the trigger.
Glass shatters as he peels away. Adrenaline courses through my veins as I toss Renata my phone. “Call Mikhail, get eyes on him!” I shout as I chase after the vehicle. I shoot again and again, hitting one tire, but the exit is so close, he turns sharply, and all I see behind him is a cloud of dust.
“Mikhail?” Renata’s eyes are wide beside me.
“Who are you, and where the fuck is my brother?” Mikhail thunders.
“I’m here,” I shout so he can hear me. “I had Renata call you. Our driver was replaced by someone and he tried to kill us. I tried to get him, but he got away. We need eyes on him.”
“Aria, did you get that?” Mikhail asks his wife. With Aria’s skills, she can find anyone, anywhere, anytime.
“On it. We’ve got a drone on Seventh, and I can tap into the security cams on the interstate in one… two… Come to Mama, baby.”
I look wildly around the parking lot. I need to get her the fuck out of here immediately.
“We need a car.”
“Viktor’s ten minutes out. Keep her covered until then, Ollie.”
Renata frowns. “Wish I had a gun too.”
“There’s no fucking way I’d give you a gun.”
“Well, what the hell am I supposed to do? Stand around and look pretty?” She looks down at herself in disgust. “As if I even could, covered in blood, my clothes all ripped, my hair like a neglected, abused Barbie doll.”
Jesus. Women. They focus on the wrong damn things.
“No,” Mikhail snaps on speakerphone. “Do what he fucking tells you. Hang up and get cover. Now.”
He disconnects the call, and she throws her hands up in disgust. “My God!”
I scan the area.
“There. Over by the hangar. Follow me.”
“Yes, sir. Whatever you say, sir.”
Not drunk anymore. Good. She’ll feel every smack when I give her the spanking she so obviously deserves.
“Why are you being so miserable?” I ask her, tugging her hand down so she sits on the pavement beside me.
Frowning, she doesn’t answer. I didn’t expect her to.
She’s not usually so difficult. While I’d hardly call Renata Carerra submissive or compliant, she’s rarely so exhausting.
She sits beside me cross-legged on the pavement, playing with her hair. Fuck, but it’s sexy watching her delicate, graceful fingers sweep the hair off her neck and begin to braid it.
“I don’t want to talk, Ollie. You have no idea what I’ve just been through. Let’s stop with the third degree.”
I grit my teeth. “You’re right; I have no idea what you’ve been through. Our only goal right now is to stay alive until our ride gets here.”
“Why?” she snaps.
“Why stay alive?” I look at her in surprise.
“Jesus, no,” she says, shaking her head. “I’ve got that sorted out. I like being alive.” She gives me a sidelong look and swallows hard. “At least most of the time, anyway. I’ve had my moments.”
What does that mean?
I nod, listening, but I’m still hung up on I’ve had my moments. It’s a stark reminder that there’s so much more about Renata that I don’t know, and I want to know it all. I have to.
“I meant, why do we have to wait for a ride? We’re sitting ducks here. My brother’s not like Javier, you know. I mean he—he wasn’t like Javier.”
A look of panic flits across her face. I play it off like she didn’t just fucking admit he’s alive.
“What was your brother’s method?”
“Javier was all about strategy and manipulation. He had his tentacles far and wide and thankfully burned all his shit to the ground before he got to power. My brother was wild and reckless.” She stammers a bit. “He’d…he’d strike hard without thinking about the consequences, and anyone who’s taking over for him would be the same.”
“I get your point about us being sitting ducks and all that. I don’t want to sit here any longer than you do. But I trust Mikhail with my life and now yours. So I’m not interested in doing anything that will put either of us in danger.”