Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
His jaw tightened.
“We thought it was your father, but we found out Alessio orchestrated it without your father’s knowledge.” His voice dropped lower then, rougher around the edges in a way that sent a cold knot into my stomach.
I stared at him, trying to process the words, trying to understand how someone I’d never even heard of had somehow been tied to the violence surrounding us from the beginning.
Alexei’s expression hardened as he watched me absorb it all. “The difference is that now he’s getting reckless,” he said quietly. “And reckless men make mistakes that cost them their lives.”
His eyes darkened as he leaned forward slightly, his voice turning deadly calm. “The biggest mistake he made was forcing himself into my life… and putting himself anywhere near you.”
My heart was pounding as I stared at my savage, handsome husband.
I let that sit, my thoughts struggling to catch up. A brother I had never known about. A name that should have meant something and didn’t. A piece of my life that had been hidden so completely it might as well not have existed at all until now.
“And he’s dangerous?” I asked.
Alexei’s thumb stilled against my skin for just a second before moving again, slower this time. “He’s reckless and already made enemies,” he said. “And men like that don’t stop until someone makes them.”
Silence filled the space between us. I could feel the air thin, not just from the conversation, but around him, like something had already been decided and I was only just catching up to it.
“You’re sure you’ve never heard of him?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but no less controlled.
“I haven’t,” I said. “I swear to you.”
He watched me for a long moment, searching my face, looking for anything that didn’t line up. When he didn’t find it, he gave a small nod, like that was all he needed. “I knew as much,” he said.
Something cold settled in my chest. This wasn’t just about whether he believed me. It was about what came next. Whether I wanted it or not, that tied me to Alessio in a way I couldn’t undo.
Alexei’s hand tightened slightly at my neck enough to make my breath catch and remind me exactly who I was standing in front of. When I looked at him, there was nothing uncertain in his expression. No hesitation, or question. Only intent.
“This doesn’t touch you,” he said quietly, his voice dropping lower, rougher now. “I won’t let it. I won’t let anyone fucking get near you. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure I fully believed that was possible anymore.
His grip didn’t loosen, but it felt safe, almost comforting. “But I’m putting a stop to it,” he continued, his gaze locking on mine. “And it ends soon and fast.”
A chill ran through me at the way he said it, not because I didn’t believe him, but because I did.
Because I could already see it in his eyes. Whatever Alessio had started, Alexei was going to stop it.
The Butcher—my husband—was going to handle it.
And there wasn’t anything in me that believed he would not spill a whole lot of blood over this.
Chapter Nineteen
Lucia
The silence was so thick I swore it could be cut with a knife. It pressed in on me until it felt like I couldn’t take a full breath.
Alessio. The name still sat in my head, sharp and unfamiliar, and no matter how I tried to make sense of it, nothing fit.
Alexei didn’t move away from me. His hand stayed at my neck, firm and steady, his thumb dragging slowly over my skin like he was keeping me exactly where he wanted. It wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t rough either.
“You’re letting it get into your head,” he said quietly. “I don’t like keeping things from you, but also refuse to let them weigh on you either. But you deserve to know what's happening. Word will eventually get out and I wanted you to hear this from me.”
My breath hitched when his other hand came to my waist, his fingers digging in just enough to pull me closer. The space between us disappeared, his body pressing into mine, solid and unyielding. I was backed fully against the terrace railing, caged in my big, muscular, and tattooed killer. And I’d never wanted anything more at that moment.
I wanted to get out of my head, to stop worrying and thinking about the what ifs. I knew he could give that to me. And when I reached down, rubbing my hand on the crotch of his pants, a soft breath left me at how hard he was already.
I felt the thick, hard length of his cock, and didn’t stop my moan of appreciation. He pressed himself into my palm, grinding that length against me until we were both breathing heavier.