Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Have you spoken with Alexei?” she asks.
“I’m his attorney,” I say softly. “I believe you already know that fact.”
“Yes, I do. What are his plans?”
I blink. “His plans?”
“Yes. Did he say anything about Hologrid Hub?”
I stare at her, having just learned that Hologrid Hub can heal wounds. I’ve always considered the platform to be a lot of fun. It uses a 3D holographic social media platform where people actually feel like they’re in the same space together. I’ve enjoyed meeting friends in faraway, unreal places. The AI that Hologrid Hub utilizes can put a group on the moon for a short time with their friends—and apparently heal members of the Sokolov family. One member, anyway.
“He didn’t say a word about Hologrid Hub,” I mutter. “You have to know that anything he says to me is covered by attorney-client privilege.” Although, truth be told, the guy hasn’t said a thing. “I would assume, and again I’m assuming here,” I say quietly, “that his main focus is proving himself innocent and not returning to prison.”
“That’s the wrong outcome here,” she says, leaning slightly toward me and smelling of gardenias. “Hendrix is the rightful heir, and I can’t see him be killed. I can’t lose another son.” Her voice breaks at the end.
I stiffen. “What do you mean?”
She sighs. “Please. Alexei will kill sweet Hendrix. Everybody knows that Alexei murdered David Fairfax. Alexei was brutally in love with Blythe, even though I’m sure he was one of many. She always kept a stable of young hunks to play with.”
“Do you truly believe Alexei killed David?” I ask.
“Of course he killed David. Alexei had a terrible temper. I’m sure he still does. You might want to stay on your toes around him.” Tears pool in her eyes. “You are quite beautiful, even beneath the frugal clothing.”
The clothing is actually expensive, or at least it was before I purchased it second hand. “I’m thinking you have a crush on me,” I retort, trying to hold on to my mad and not feel sorry for her.
The mammoth man next to me shifts his weight, and I can’t tell if it’s out of amusement or irritation. “Please get to the point, Mrs. Sokolov.” I use my best lawyer voice.
“This is just a warning so you can keep yourself and, hopefully, Hendrix safe,” Lillian whispers.
I allow both of my eyebrows to slowly raise since I’m not going to show this woman fear, even though her bodyguard could probably snap my neck without taking a deep breath. “What kind of warning?”
“Alexei is dangerous, and worse yet, he’s obsessive. If he becomes fixated on you, he’ll kill everybody around you to isolate you, the same way he tried to do with Blythe.”
“Are you saying there are more murders besides David Fairfax?”
She pales until even her lips look blue.
“There are plenty more murders. The best thing for everybody is to contain Alexei in prison, and that means safety for you and everybody you care about.”
I study her. “He’s your stepson. Last I heard, Hologrid Hub isn’t in the lead of the four social media giants. Undoubtedly, Alexei has skills beneficial to your company.”
She blinks once. “You shouldn’t know about that.”
Yet I do. How the social media servers run is a secret to most people, but I’m on the inside on this one. They run on crystals, and there’s a reason the same families have been in power through the beginning of time. These people have an affinity with certain crystals that grant health and strength and power. This health helped them to avoid plagues during the early years and thus prosper. It’s only recently that the four families learned how to take those crystals and use them to power their social media servers.
I wonder idly what would happen if Alexei and Hendrix both charge the crystal at the same time. “You might need Alexei.”
Her face goes slack for the briefest of seconds. “We don’t.” Her gaze flicks away, and she presses her lips tightly together, showing deception and a healthy amount of fear.
So they do need Alexei.
I think idly about the death of Cal, Alexei’s half brother and Lillian’s son. Had he been the one to charge the amethyst crystals that power their servers? Has his death actually hurt Hologrid Hub? Lillian seems terrified of Alexei returning.
“You and Alexei don’t like each other, do you?” I ask.
“He doesn’t like any of us,” she says, showing a hint of a southern accent.
I perk up instantly. This is new. I really don’t know anything about her, except she married Alexei’s father and became one of the most powerful women in the entire world. I’ll need a background check on her. Perhaps Alexei going to prison was exactly what she had wanted. The result she seems to want right now.
“How’s Hendrix doing?” I ask. “He’s in charge of Hologrid Hub, isn’t he?”