Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 341(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“I wish he was dead too.”
17
LORENZO
Dante put his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll stay with Nikolai if you want to take Rafe and go after Dimitri.”
“No,” Niko said. “Don’t risk your life again. I… please.”
I wanted to end this tonight. Dimitri had come here into my home, thinking he was going to take Niko from me. No one would do that. “He was going to shoot you, baby. I need to track the fucker down.”
Rafe and Dante looked at each other, eyebrows raised, and I realized I’d slipped up by calling Niko “baby,” but fuck it. I didn’t care what they thought about me and Nikolai. They had to know how things would end. We’d set him up somewhere far away so he could live a life free of danger and crime.
“Dimitri will be on high alert tonight,” Rafe said. “He’ll be expecting retaliation. He’s either locked himself in his house to lick his wounds while doubling the men he has guarding him, or he’s gone to ground somewhere else. Without eyes on him now, we won’t know where that is. Our chance of killing him and coming back alive will be much higher tomorrow.”
Dante studied our brother. “Since when are you the voice of reason?”
“Since you decided to take my role and send us into combat with no plan.”
They both looked at me. Nikolai squeezed my hand as I took a deep breath. Having him there calmed me. He did something to the wild, reckless side of me, the one who wanted to break free, find his father, and kill him, even if I died doing it. “He’s right.”
Rafe huffed. “Damn, that’s a first.”
“Sure as hell is,” Dante said. “But yeah, we shouldn’t go in blind. We need to make a plan of attack.”
“And get Remington on our side,” Rafe added.
Dante shook his head. “We don’t have to wait for anyone’s permission. Dimitri hurt Nikolai, and he broke into Renzo’s house. That’s more than enough reason to kill him.”
I sighed. “You know it’s not that simple.”
“You would have killed him tonight if his men hadn’t started shooting.”
“Yes, but that’s not the same as hunting him down.”
Dante slammed his hand down on my dresser. “I fucking hate these rules.”
Nikolai tensed, and I pulled him to me. “It’s okay.”
“I know. I’m just… My heart is still racing from seeing them shooting at you.”
“You shouldn’t have been anywhere near the balcony.”
He scowled at me. “You were in danger.”
“That’s not—”
Rafe whistled, getting all our attention.
I snarled at him. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“You do it all the time.”
“I’m the…” I glanced at Niko. He was frowning at me, eyes narrowed. Shit. I was being an ass.
“The leader. The oldest. The ‘sane’ one,” Rafe muttered.
Dante snorted. “Rafael and I aren’t kids anymore, Lorenzo. Dimitri could launch another attack, and we need to be ready to kill him this time.”
“As much as I’m loving Mr. Snooty Professor showing his unhinged side,” Rafe said, “Dante and I need to check out the cleanup operation and talk to the men we left outside.”
Damn. Once again, he was right. Where was my head?
Fantasizing about what you’ll do to Niko when you get him alone and how much you’ll make his father suffer once you capture him.
“Take care of things downstairs. I’m going to take Niko to my room while our cleanup crew does a temporary fix on the window here. I’ll get Remington to send some more men over, then you two should try to get some sleep. I don’t think Dimitri will be back tonight, and we’re going to need to be on full alert tomorrow.”
Rafe saluted me. “Take good care of Nikolai, or I’ll have to come show you how.”
I took a step toward him. “Niko is mine.”
I felt Niko tense beside me and realized what I’d actually said.
“Trust us. We know.” Dante’s satisfied smile had heat rushing to my face. Great, now I was letting them know too much and… Was I really fucking blushing?
They closed the door behind them, and silence descended.
I was nervous to meet Niko’s gaze. What was wrong with me?
You’re falling for him.
No. That wasn’t going to happen.
It already has. The boy is yours.
When I thought of anyone else touching him, kissing him, comforting him, I wanted to tear the world apart so it was just the two of us and no one else existed. Yeah, I was fucked.
He followed me across the hall to my bedroom. I watched as he looked around, letting his gaze linger on the king-size bed piled high with pillows. “So… um…”
I wanted to join him in my bed, but I would have to find some self-control. “Get some sleep. I’ll keep watch.”
He frowned. “Your brothers get to sleep, but you don’t?”
“You need sleep more than I do.”
He looked disappointed, maybe hurt. I fought the urge to pull him into my arms. “What’s wrong?”