Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“You’re not ambitious anymore?”
His lips press together. I recognize it as his thinking face. It looks angry, but actually he’s just concentrating. It startles me that I’m beginning to recognize things like that about him.
“My ambitions are very different these days. Age changes a man.”
“You’re getting old, huh?”
He smiles vaguely. “We all do eventually. But I’ve achieved everything I’ve ever dreamed of. Now my dreams are different.” He looks at me and puts a hand on my knee. I feel a shiver run down my spine at the touch, and I lean closer to him instinctively.
“Why are we here in Turkey? I feel like I only know parts of what’s going on with you.”
Mass rubs my legs before abruptly standing. “Let’s walk while I explain. I’ll show you the neighborhood.”
I stay very close to my massive husband. I keep wondering if we’ll have any trouble wandering around out in the open, but nobody bothers us. Mass seems utterly confident and at ease.
He tells me about Medved, about how the Russian crime lord has been trying to become a Dragon for a very long time, and now he’s after Mass’s spot. He talks about the struggle they’re trapped in and how the Turkish smuggling trade is an important part of Mass’s operations.
“I’m here to clean things up. I’ve been lax in my administration of this place, but that ends now.” He pauses outside a quiet restaurant. While we’re standing together, an older woman comes out and greets Mass like he’s an old friend. I watch in astonishment as she talks to him in Turkish, and he replies with surprising fluency. The woman disappears inside before coming back out with pastries and more coffee, which Mass seems to reluctantly accept. The old woman hugs and kisses my cheeks, and she’s gone a moment later.
“Who was that?” I ask, trying not to laugh at the look on Mass’s face. It’s like he was just hit by a bus.
“This is my neighborhood. That’s one of the families I help sometimes.”
“Wait, this is your territory?”
He frowns at me. “You think I’d allow you to walk around anywhere else? I have about two dozen soldiers and thugs watching us at all times.”
“I had noticed a lot of scary guys lurking around. I figured that’s just what Turkish men look like.”
“Only the killers.” Mass offers me his arm. I take it, nibbling on a delicious bread called acma, something like a cross between a bagel and a croissant.
“Can I ask you more questions about your business?”
He seems slightly uncomfortable with that. “You’re my wife. But my business isn’t your concern.”
“I liked talking about it with my father. He’d say he indulged me, but I think he found me useful. Maybe I can help with your Medved problem.”
“Do you know where I can acquire a large amount of automatic rifles and men willing to kill and die while using them?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then you probably can’t help.”
I elbow him lightly. “Just let me talk about it, okay?”
“Fine, ask me your questions.”
I grill him for the next half hour as we leisurely stroll around the block. It’s a beautiful area and the sun’s shining. Mass tells me about the boats he uses, the overland routes his people take, and the way Medved has been targeting his people.
“There are different factions, and Medved’s playing them against each other.”
“That’s his goal at least. For now, I’m managing to keep everyone from breaking down into all-out war, but that won’t last long. I’m meeting with a business partner tomorrow to settle these issues for good.”
“Perfect. I’ll come along.”
He stops walking, face serious. “Not possible.”
“Why not? I have experience with this stuff and I’m good at reading people.”
“You don’t understand. These men, they’re patriarchal. Women aren’t allowed at the table.”
My eyebrows rise in mock surprise. “Oh, sorry, I thought you were a Dragon. I didn’t realize you followed rules set by lesser men.”
I struggle hard not to break out in a massive grin when his face instantly goes hard. “I play the game, wife. Same as anyone else.”
“Meaning you let them dictate the rules.”
“I’m a Dragon. The board is mine.”
“What about Lucy? Are you going to let them keep your second-in-command away from your negotiations?”
“Of course not.”
“Then it’s not about my gender.” I grin victoriously at him. “It’s just about me.” I lean in closer. “Who cares what they think? You’re a Dragon. You can allow your wife to tag along.” I put a hand on his chest, smirking right in his face. “Or are you afraid you’ll make them upset?”
I shouldn’t challenge and tease him like this. But I’m feeling confident and good about myself for the first time in a while. I feel like his problems in Turkey make sense. They’re something I can wrap my head around and maybe help solve.
At least, if I can’t actively do anything about it, I can distract myself with his work.