Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
The other man, Justin, who was seated at the island, was a lot harder to read. He looked taller and had a much wider frame of all muscle if his massive biceps were anything to go by. His blondish brown hair and handsome, open face deceptively made him look like a nice guy. He was the stranger you went to for directions if you were lost. Everything about him screamed trustworthy and kind, but it was all a façade. There was a calculation to those blue eyes.
With Gabriel, a person knew he was plotting their death. With Justin, the target never saw it coming.
Yeah, he was swimming with sharks.
But it was hard to remember when Alexei looked so genuinely happy to see his uncles. He and Gabriel hugged tightly, and then Alexei was circling the island. Justin rose and grabbed Alexei, nearly lifting the smaller man off his feet, but Alexei’s wild laughter was filling the room.
Soren looked at Gabriel to find that the man was watching him closely through narrowed eyes. His lips were pressed into a forbidding thin line.
“Don’t!” Alexei said sharply, drawing their attention to him. The young man darted over to where Soren had sort of frozen near the stairs. He snatched up Soren’s sweaty hand in both of his and led him over. “You are not allowed to give him those looks or threaten him.”
“Why would we threaten him?” Gabriel asked, sounding as if he were talking through his teeth.
“Yeah, we could clearly hear how happy he makes you,” Justin teased.
Soren groaned when Alexei’s expression turned smug. “You have no idea.”
“Yes, I think we do,” Gabriel grumbled.
“I am sorry. It was not how I imagined meeting you for the first time,” Soren apologized.
“Well, I appreciate you not imagining our first meeting that way,” Justin replied with a smirk while Gabriel grunted and said something in Russian.
“No,” Alexei snapped. “No Russian. You’re not allowed to say anything in Russian when Soren’s present. It’s rude, and you know it.”
Gabriel glared at his nephew for a moment, and then those cold eyes snapped up to Soren. “I asked, why him?”
“Because I like him a lot. Soren is funny, resourceful, and sweet. He likes me exactly as I am. He accepts the makeup, guns, and bossiness without blinking an eye at it. He doesn’t want me to be anything other than I am.”
“My Angel is perfect exactly as he is,” Soren added. “I wouldn’t change a single thing about him.”
Justin barked out a laugh. “You hear that, G Love? Angel.”
Soren twisted around so he could look Alexei in the eye. “G Love?”
Alexei giggled. “The pet name Justin has called my uncle since the first day they met.” He pointed at Gabriel. “He’s G Love.” His finger shot over to point at Justin. “And he’s Special Sauce.”
“Like that old band?”
Justin laughed again. “Not bad, kitty cat. You might have bought yourself a reprieve.”
Gabriel sighed loudly. “Would you like some coffee? Or shall we get down to business? Right now, it feels like we just traveled many thousands of miles to get an update on your sex life.”
Brushing a quick kiss to Alexei’s temple, Soren finally felt comfortable enough to release his shield and jump into action. The two assassins had traveled a ridiculous distance in a short amount of time. They had to be exhausted, and it certainly couldn’t be helping their mood.
“You sit and relax. I’ll get some coffee for Alexei and me, then start on something for lunch. We’ve got all the fixings for a nice charcuterie. I can also make a frittata,” he offered as he pulled down a pair of mugs.
“Yes,” Justin immediately said. “Yes to all of that.”
Soren poured the first mug for Alexei and handed it to him to finish doctoring. “Angel, why don’t you grab the laptop so your uncle can check on the progress of the decryption software?”
Alexei flashed him a beautiful smile before pressing a slow, deep kiss to his lips. “You’re amazing,” he whispered and then rushed off to grab the laptop from where they’d left it in the bedroom they were sharing.
Gabriel’s low, cold voice slithered through the room, sending a chill along his spine. “I hope you appreciate what you’ve found in Alexei.”
Soren placed his own mug of coffee on the counter and met the man’s eyes. “As an accomplished cat burglar, I can assure you I know exactly the value of the incredible treasure I’ve found. And I promise you, I will fight until my very last breath to keep him safe. No one is ever going to take him from me.”
He meant every word of it. He’d die for Alexei if it meant keeping him safe. And he’d happily kill anyone who tried to take Alexei from him. In a matter of days, the assassin had become his entire world. The greatest shiny object of all. It was more than simply possessing him. He needed to be worthy of Alexei, and Soren was ready to do whatever it took to prove that he was.