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)
“Are you sure, Allie? Do you really know that husband of yours?”
“There’s so much more happening here than you realize. Believe me, Mass isn’t perfect and his hands sure as hell aren’t clean. But whatever Medved told you, Mass isn’t the problem.”
“And Medved is?”
“From my perspective, yes.”
Gabe hesitates. He leans toward me. “What if you’re wrong? What if Mass has you all confused? He’s a liar, Allie. That man’s famous for saying anything to get what he wants, no matter how much it hurts people.”
I bite my lip. It’s hard to disagree with that. Mass kept the existence of Elias from me for a long time, and he didn’t bother mentioning that he’d been keeping an eye on me for years before we ended up in bed together.
“I need to know something before we keep going.” I cross my arms again. “Where’s Satya?” My voice hardens as I stare at my brother.
He returns my look. “I don’t know.”
“Bullshit. You saved me back on the island. You dragged her off.”
“After we got into the boat, I took us out into the water. Satya was livid when she woke up, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Medved’s ship intercepted us and brought us on board, and from there, I was sent back here to the city. I don’t know where Satya ended up and I don’t really care. I went into hiding after that. I figured your husband wouldn’t be happy with me.”
His story makes sense. It’s more or less what Mass told me to expect.
But rage still simmers in me anyway.
That old bitch nearly hurt my daughter, and I’ll never, ever forgive her for it.
“Okay, I believe you. Here’s the deal. Mass is willing to take you in. He wants to talk to you about Medved. You have to agree to tell him absolutely everything you know. And I mean it, Gabe, you can’t lie to him and you can’t hold things back. Full truth or else.”
“If I refuse?”
“I think he’ll kill you. You’re not going to refuse though. I begged him for this chance. I pleaded with him that you’d come in without a fight if I went alone.”
He rubs his face with both hands. “I don’t have much choice, do I?”
“I promise you’re going to be okay.”
“I’m not worried about me.” His gaze is level and steady. My older brother is a strong, brave man. “It’s my family I’m afraid for.”
“I’ll protect everyone. You just need to come in and show Mass you’re playing along. You thought I was in trouble, and you came to save me. He won’t hold it against you.”
“I really don’t think you know your husband as well as you think you do.”
I push back and stand. A part of me worries Gabe’s right. Mass agreed to these terms, but I could tell he wanted to do this his own way, which would have involved a lot more violence and a whole lot of very protracted and brutal torture.
“Come on. Let’s get moving. We have a long flight back.”
But Gabe doesn’t move. He studies me for a long moment. “Tell me something before we go. Are you sure you want this?”
“It’s the only way you walk away unhurt.”
“No, I mean, are you sure you want to be with him? Are you sure you want this marriage to Mass?”
I bristle slightly. “It’s not as simple as you think.”
“But it really is. You two are married, and you get a say in it. Tell me now before we can’t speak openly with each other anymore. Do you really want him?”
“Yes, I do. I really do. Now let’s get moving.”
He sighs and pushes to his feet. “Lead the way.”
I take him back through the house and down the stoop. Outside, the evening looks as gray and cold as it did earlier. But now the block is dead quiet. Nobody moves. Nobody makes a sound.
I notice the people, though. Several are standing nearby. More are sitting in cars. A couple across the street. One on the adjacent stoop.
All men. All big. And all well armed.
Gabe notices them too. His eyebrows are up as he slowly raises his hands. “You weren’t joking. Your husband really does want me.”
I push his arms back down. “You’re with me, remember?” I say it loudly so everyone can hear. “Nobody’s going to hurt you.”
A man comes striding toward us. Mass looks beautiful in a pair of dark jeans and a black sweater. The clothes cling to his muscular body. He’s staring at my brother with a steady, intense gaze laced with hate and anger.
“There’s the traitor,” he says, low and steady. “I hope Allie explained that this is going to go smoothly if you play along. She’s the reason you still have fingers and a tongue.”
“I always knew my sister was a good person.” Gabe’s smile is strained. “I’m doing what’s best for my family.”