Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57779 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
He doesn’t even get three steps away before the unease the man’s thick beard can’t hide slows his steps. “Do you think this is a good idea? Nikolai said only this morning that the investigation is still ongoing.”
Nero pffts off his first sentence, but he struggles to ignore his second. “And I told Nikolai this afternoon that she has nothing to do with that.”
So that’s who his heated conversation was with this afternoon.
Since his call seemed work based, I stepped back and kept myself busy. Only once it was done, and Nero was on the verge of exploding in anger, did I fumble into the role of caregiver as he has done for me numerous times whenever my confidence dipped below unbearable the past week.
Nero grips my hand so firmly that I almost yelp when the blond retaliates. “Do you think you’re the best man to make that assessment? We’re not meant to fuck the enemy, Nero. We’re meant to destroy them.”
Enemy?
Nero’s smirk is menacing, and it pushes my inquiries as to my status in his life to the back of my head. “You, of all people, are judging my idea of what is right and wrong. Did you forget the little incident that occurred K’s first night here?”
I don’t know who K is, but the blond sure as hell does, and he isn’t happy she’s been brought into this fight. “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.”
The bearded man looks set to rip Nero’s head off with his bare hands, and I’m not the only one noticing. The crowd circles in close, hogging the premium seats.
Nero doesn’t seem worried.
He looks like he has a ton of steam to burn off, and his target is locked and loaded.
I learn why when he spits out, “When you were lighting up her temple bright enough for everyone in Vegas to mistake it as the northern star, did she look like she had been here before, Trey? Did she have any fucking clue that you had the scope of your sniper locked on her fucking head like I did?”
Trey remains quiet, his expression a mix of peeved and pleased.
I tighten my fingers around Nero’s hand before he can race across the concrete to force an answer from Trey, compelling him to use words instead. “Answer me! Did she look like she had been here before, or have any indication of the danger I was placing her in by trying to show you bunch of neanderthals that she isn’t like the rest of them?”
“No,” Trey eventually answers, his expression unreadable. “But Nikolai still won’t like this.”
“Then he can tell me that himself.” Nero’s voice is still dangerous. Still deadly. “Until then, step the fuck aside. This isn’t your kingdom to guard.”
While mumbling something about kingdoms being merely conquered provinces, Trey moves aside as requested.
My stomach gurgles when his soundless permission for us to enter Nikolai’s realm is quickly chased by a man from the sidelines hooking his leg over an all-terrain vehicle and taking off in the direction of the Popov residence.
He wears tattler as obviously as I wear worry.
“I don’t need to be here,” I say to Nero, halving the lengths of his strides.
His narrowed eyes widen the longer they float over my worried expression. “They won’t hurt you, butterfly. They were ordered not to months ago. They won’t disobey a direct order. Not from Nikolai or myself.”
“I’m not worried about me.” Nothing but honesty rings in my tone.
I trust Nero because why would he build me up so high only to stand back and watch me be knocked down? It is the intentions of others I am worried about.
In between the wild, crazy sex, and a sickening number of calories to keep our energy up, we talked—a lot.
Years of stories were spilled in hours. Nothing was off-limits, and the purge brought us so close you’d swear we’ve been dating for months.
If we’re even dating.
Nero scoffs as if he heard my thoughts. It doesn’t match his smirk when he asks, “Then who are you worried about?”
“You,” I answer without pause for contemplation, speaking from my heart as I have numerous times over the past four days. “And how many people Tasha hooked with her nails while she was here.”
I’ve been ruminating over Tasha’s game plan since Nero explained the swiftness of their marriage and how it came about. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her.
I reconsider my analogy after remembering how tiny she is.
I don’t trust her. Period.
Nero’s smile turns genuine, and it makes my knees quake for a completely different reason than my worry that we’re walking into a trap.
“If that’s the case, butterfly, you’ve got nothing to worry about.” He continues walking, taking me with him. “She’s never been here, and she will never be invited to come here.”