Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 45957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Instead, I used my shoe to push out the chair to my left. Nodding my head toward it, I quietly said, “Sit. You need to eat.”
Igor watched him, his head cocked to the side the slightest bit as Adrian contemplated if he wanted to follow my order. But finally, he clenched his jaw and stalked toward the chair I’d pushed out, taking the seat I’d instructed him to.
Good boy.
Leaning forward, I grabbed his empty plate, then placed bacon, eggs, toast with high protein peanut butter, and a few sausage links on his plate. Wordlessly, I set it back in front of him. Feeling his gaze on me, I lifted my eyes to meet his and arched a brow at him, waiting for him to bite my head off for making his plate for him.
Instead, he blew out a soft breath and lowered his gaze to focus on his food. When I leaned back in my seat, Igor arched a questioning brow at me, but I just shook my head slightly, hoping he took the hint not to push it.
I was finally making some headway with Adrian, and I would not let anything fucking ruin it. If Igor decided to open his big, fat mouth, I was going to wring his neck. Because if he did, I’d have to start all the way back over with Adrian.
And fuck, I did not want to have to do that. I’d waited long enough to have the man I’d been obsessing over for years. It was my time now.
“What did James say when you called him?” I asked once Adrian had cleared about half his plate.
He shook his head. “Didn’t get to talk to him. I talked to Darren instead. I don’t know what their plans are, but Darren told me he’d sit down with Jaxon and James to fill them in. I’m sure I’ll get a call from James once they figure out a course of action.”
“Let me know when you do,” I told him.
“There’s got to be bigger players involved,” Igor said, setting his fork down and grabbing his coffee. He leaned back in his seat and drummed his fingernails along the side of his mug. “Ninel doesn’t know anything about this life. I’m sure she’s only with Boris for the promise of wealth.” I snorted. That woman was as vain as they came, and the moment I’d put a bullet through her late husband’s forehead, she’d become broke and destitute.
“Boris isn’t smart enough to pull something like this off on his own,” Mark said, shaking his head. While he might only be my driver, Mark was around me enough to know the ins and outs of this family. I’d tried promoting him once, but he rejected it, claiming he didn’t want the responsibility.
Boris had always just been a lackey for the family, nothing more. Just a little foot soldier that knew nothing about the family except trying to protect it when called to action. He hadn’t even been on anyone’s private team. Easily disposable. Which was why I’d gotten rid of him after I’d dropped Leonid, Inessa’s father.
“No, but he may have made connections while he worked for us,” Igor reminded us. I scowled. “He was around just enough to know who was who. To know which fish were the big ones and to know who we had good relations with and who we didn’t.”
“Fuck,” Adrian swore. He dropped his fork to his plate with a loud clatter and pinched the bridge of his nose. I didn’t like how stressed he seemed. “I don’t understand why he’s turning against the Jacksons though. The family didn’t do anything to him or Ninel.” He looked at me. “All their grievances are with you.” His words were coated with bitterness.
“True, but our alliance wouldn’t have even happened had Jaxon not agreed to marry Inessa,” I reminded him. “And with Adrik dead and my own father gone, James is the only person he has left to lash out at. All I did to him personally was relieve him of his duties as a soldier, and he got a pretty good severance package just so I could get him out of my face.” I shrugged one shoulder and took a sip of my coffee. “Besides, I don’t think it’s just your family they’re after, Adrian. They took down my plane, my pilot, and my flight attendant.”
He shook his head. “But they waited until I was on that plane, too. Take out the consigliere, and you leave my family reeling. And I’m practically a brother to James. Taking me out would be personal.”
Anger burned through my veins at his assessment, and I set my coffee down so hard, the scalding liquid sloshed over the sides and splashed onto the table. I leaned over, bringing our faces so close together that every breath he expelled washed over my face.