Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40446 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“Do it in Evansville.” Sting appeared alongside Wylde on the team conference, leaning over the other man so he was in camera frame.
“You sure?” All the presidents must have been close by because Rocket now came into camera behind Crush. “Grim Road is as private as it gets. Bit far, though.”
“I’m sure,” Sting said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Bring him here to the barn, Venus. Take as long as you like.”
“Appreciate it, Sting,” I said, sincerely.
Sting raised his chin, a cocky smirk on his face. “Got purely selfish reasons for the offer, Venus. We’ll talk later.”
“Good.” Ripper waved us on, not inviting Sting to elaborate. “We’ll set up a meeting with him in London, then transport him to Iron Tzars once we have him.” He did something on his computer before continuing. “As each stage in this takeover is complete, let me know in the chat window. If anyone needs help in their area, communicate that to me in the chat also. Questions?” When there was none, Ripper turned it over to me. “Whenever you’re ready, Venus.”
I looked at Piston for reassurance. He gave me nod of encouragement and I punched in number, putting call on speaker. Call was answered on second ring.
“Da?”
“Victor Zaitsev,” I said in a silky purr. “So glad I caught you. I hope I’m interrupting something very important.”
There was a pause. “Ulyana?”
“You were expecting someone else?”
“I’d hoped you’d be dead by now.” His voice sounded strained, which was good. I wanted him to know what he’d unleashed.
“Hope in one hand, shit in other. See which fills up first.”
“Suka. What do you want?”
“I want you dead.”
“Good luck with that,” he snapped. “I will kill you before you even know I’m around.”
“Word is you’re in US to get Katya back.”
“She’s my daughter. My property. You took what didn’t belong to you and you’ll die for it. Give her back to me and I might let you and Millie live.”
I bared my teeth on instinct but kept my breathing smooth and even. Last thing I needed was to let Victor know he’d gotten to me. That threat to Millie had been to get reaction from me. I absolutely would not give it to him.
“Millie can take care of herself. I’m calling you now because, for reasons she won’t divulge, Katya says she wants to go back with you.” A blatant lie, but I knew Victor well enough to know, if I stroked his ego hard enough, he’d fall for any trap I set hook, line, and sinker. He was intelligent, but always thought he was smartest man in room when he was nowhere near.
“Because she knows I can give her whatever she wants. She misses her creature comforts.”
“You and I both know you terrorized her. Katya was isolated in what amounted to prison cell when we rescued her from you. Whatever you’re holding over her head, don’t. You’ll only piss me off and that’s not something you want to do.” Too late, but I wasn’t telling him that.
“No. Give me my daughter. She wants to come home. If you love her like you say you do, you’ll honor her wishes.”
“She is child, Victor. She’s scared. If not for her fear, she’d never want to go back with you. I’m asking you to let her go.”
“No. Now, we can do this easy or hard way. Choice is yours.”
I’d never wanted to kill someone so badly in my life. Ripper, still in the background but ever alert, started tapping at his keyboard with an increased urgency, the clicks sounding like rapid gunfire. I winced, hoping Victor didn’t hear. Piston muted the volume on the conference call before I could indicate he should. Giovanni’s face was mask of concentration mixed with determination as he watched on in background.
I let out a slow breath, keeping my voice steady. “Victor, you’re not understanding. This isn’t negotiation. Is ultimatum. Leave. Katya. Alone.”
Victor laughed loudly, his humor laced liberally with disbelief. “You really are full of yourself, aren’t you? You’ve tried several times to take me down and missed, Ulyana. What makes you think anything will change?”
“You can only run for so long. Eventually, I will find you. When I do, I’m going to kill you.”
“You’re as delusional as you are stupid,” he snapped. “Give me Katya and I’ll leave you and Millie alone. You can live your life as you wish, not looking over your shoulders anymore.”
I didn’t respond for a moment, giving the illusion I was thinking when I was really stalling. I glanced at Ripper on video call. He held up one finger, indicating they were close. Moments later he gave me thumbs-up. They were in.
“Fine, Victor. She wants to go with you, I’ll bring her to you. But I want your word you won’t harm her.”
“You’re in no position to demand anything, girl.” He was angry now. Likely because he knew he was on the verge of getting what he wanted, but thought I was holding back his prize out of spite. “Now, bring her to me. I’ll text you a location.”