Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
The dark plumes of smoke rising from the Pakhan’s villa rose into the baby-blue sky. I stuffed his skull into the gym bag I’d taken with me for that purpose. I’d bring it to my preparator. He’d worked on all of my trophies and did marvelous work. By now, he hardly blinked when I took human remains to him.
“Did you send Remo a copy of the video that we sent to every Pakhan in Camorra territory?”
Niccolo looked up from his phone, then glanced past the gates toward the street. Sirens were coming closer. “We should leave.”
Taking the gym bag, I got into Niccolo’s car, and he took his seat behind the steering wheel. The fire trucks and police cars arrived in the street when we turned the corner.
“I sent Remo everything. He hasn’t reacted so far.”
“Drop me off at home, and take the head to Freddy.”
Niccolo’s lips curled. “Not sure why you want the ugly face of the Russian in your home.”
“I skinned him. His face was eaten by the pit bulls he kept as pets.”
“You know what I mean.”
I ignored him. The skull would make a fabulous trophy, and my enemies would fear me even more for having it.
My phone rang. I didn’t have to look at the screen to know it was Remo.
“You sure know how to piss off the Russians,” Remo said by way of greeting.
“Mainly, I know how to make sure they never dare to set a toe out of line again.”
“Yakov certainly won’t, considering you cut them all off.”
“I also skinned, gutted, and decapitated him.”
“Indeed. I watched the entire video. Of course, I fast-forwarded the less interesting parts. I never understood why Nino favored skinning our enemies. I prefer less arduous ways to cause agony. You apparently have attention to detail like my brother.”
“I wanted to make a statement they understood.”
“I’m sure they did. It never gets boring with you. That’s for sure.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
Remo chuckled, then he hung up.
“Let me guess, he’s happy with your work?”
“I wouldn’t call any of Remo’s states of mind happy, but he appreciated my work.”
Niccolo scoffed and shook his head, shooting me a sideways glance. “You look like you went to hell and came back.”
“Not for the first time.”
“And probably not for the last time either,” Niccolo muttered.
He was right, but now all I wanted was to find solace in the arms of my personal paradise: Amelia.
After breakfast alone because Nestore had already set out to get retribution on the Bratva, I told my bodyguards to drive me to Flavia and Luciano for lunch. I needed a distraction, or my worry for Nestore would drive me crazy.
It barely worked, and I kept checking my phone, but Nestore simply wasn’t someone who texted cute messages or even notices of his survival.
In the late afternoon, when I still hadn’t heard from Nestore, I decided to return to the mansion.
When we pulled up in the driveway, my breath halted in my throat. Nestore stood in the center of the staircase, unmoving, his gaze distant. He was naked except for boxers, the bone crown, and his fur coat, but his skin was covered in blood and dirt. I got out of the car, but my bodyguards didn’t. They pulled away slowly and parked the car down the small slope, which was probably a clever decision on their part. I took a deep breath and watched him in silence. He knew I was there, watching him, but he didn’t acknowledge me.
He looked regal, not because of the fur coat or bone crown. His face had always reminded me of a prince, and his gaze now, as he regarded the premises of his manor, only manifested that impression. I had a feeling I knew why he was covered in blood, but I didn’t dare ask. Just like I’d never ask him where the last remains of my father rested. I didn’t want to know.
I took one step after the other closer to him, and finally, his gaze settled on me. The rage and chaos in his eyes were gone. They weren’t calm or peaceful, but as if he had arrived.
I stopped on the step beside him. I waited for him to say something. I didn’t want to break the silence, not if he needed it to gather his thoughts.
Nestore smiled in a strange way—a little sad, and a little wistful. “When I’m with you, I remember him. In the eternal darkness of my existence, you shine a light on the terrified boy hiding in the darkest corner of my soul. I won’t lie to you. What’s left of him won’t ever come out again.”
I nodded, because I knew. Sometimes I’d tried to lie to myself, but I was done lying. I needed to face the truth so Nestore and I could build a future together. “He deserves to rest,” I whispered, tears clogging up my throat.