Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“He’s my boyfriend,” I lie. It slides so easily out of my mouth. Becky bursts into laughter.
“Fucking liar.” She suddenly shoves me hard. I collide with another student before hitting the ground. I let out a yelp of pain. Do cheerleaders lift weights or something? She’s freaky strong. Becky stands over me. I want to reach out and kick her, but her minions join her, surrounding me. “I want his number.”
“I don’t have it.” That isn’t a lie.
“I thought he was your boyfriend.” Becky laughs harder, then her smile slips away in the blink of an eye. She might be a sociopath. "Well, you better get it by lunch, or you’ll see I’ve only been doing child’s play when toying with you.” The smile lights up her face, but it doesn’t meet her eyes. “Laters.” She wiggles her fingers in a wave at me before strutting off with her minions.
Yep, a total sociopath.
9
NIKOLAI
Iglare at Matteo, who I know is suppressing a laugh. Sal, however, is not. I push his feet off, which he has kicked up on the table in front of the couch in Matteo’s office.
“Don’t hulk out, man.” Sal says this through laughter. Matteo’s lips twitch. I run my fingers through my hair, frustrated.
“They didn’t have a bigger size.” I grab the sleeve of my white polo shirt and try to stretch it out so it doesn't dig into my biceps. Sal isn’t wrong. I do look like I’m about to hulk out. At least I can wear my own black slacks. There is no way in hell I am wearing fucking khakis.
All right, that’s bullshit. I would have done so if I had no other option. I’ll do what I have to do to protect Riley. Something is going on at that fucking school, and I’m going to figure out what it is. Riley is going to learn that when I want something, I don’t stop until I get it. Right now, I want to make sure she’s okay. I have this burning need to take care of her. To not let anyone else ever hurt her again.
“Nikolai.” Matteo’s face grows serious now. “There are a lot of powerful people’s children at that school. Let's not make a bigger mess than needed. I prefer to keep the favors I’ve earned.” Matteo does love to collect his favors. I’d call them more debts owed to him. It’s how he remains so powerful. The high-powered men he’s talking about like things taken care of, but they don’t like to get their hands dirty.
“I’m not making any promises,” I tell him. I’m not going to lie to Matteo. “You don’t want people to think they can fuck with your sister and get away with it. Do you?” It might be his sister-in-law, but it still matters. I know my words hit the mark because I see Matteo’s clenched jaw. There is no way in hell Matteo would allow such disrespect toward his family.
Matteo isn’t one to really have any tells, except when it has to do with something surrounding his new wife. His emotions run higher. I get it. I've been a hothead since Riley came stumbling into my life. I am always itching for a fight. It helps burn off whatever is inside me that she’s brought to life.
I thought I’d gotten it under control, but I was proven wrong Saturday night when I went into the club to work. I made myself go, knowing it was the only way I was going to stay out of Riley’s room. Going in when I shouldn’t be there has now become a habit. I ended up in a few fights before Matteo made me leave. I didn’t go home. It had been too early, but luckily for me, Church was working, and he's my favorite to join on the job. Even if he fucking hates it.
“Well, make me proud. I expect a 4.0, or I’ll have to ground you.” Matteo says this with a straight face.
“Fuck you.” I grab the paper off the desk with my new schedule. Both Sal and Matteo chuckle. “And stop buying Riley fucking breakfast,” I tell Sal before I make my way out of Matteo’s office. The sound of their laughter follows me.
I wanted to take her to school, but I had to finish up my enrollment at my new high school. It didn’t take much for Matteo to get me into Riley’s school. Well, not much to him. He donated a new library. The dean was practically salivating when Matteo called him for a meeting Sunday afternoon.
When I make it to the school, they buzz me into the front office. I ignore the people who turn to glance my way with confused expressions. That makes two of us. I barely remember the schools I went to when I was a kid in Russia. It wasn't long before I was running the streets. Those were my real teachers in life.