Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Today, everything is different. The air in this meeting room on the first floor of our mansion still reeks of tension and an excess of testosterone, but I’m no longer the proverbial bone in the middle, the reason the men in my life are at odds with each other.
Instead, Alexei and I are united against my brothers.
Valery’s expression is coolly inscrutable, as always, but I can tell he’s irritated. “What are you proposing instead?” he asks when I inform him that Birgit is not to be touched under any circumstances. “She’s five minutes and one pointed question away from telling Accardi’s dirty cops all about the Russian girl who stayed with her at the exact time of Bocelli’s disappearance. What do you expect us to do when his goons come sniffing around for answers? Are we going to war for this German you’ve known for all of two days?”
“No, of course not!” The last thing I’d want is for anyone to be in danger, our guards included. “This is why we’re all here, so we can figure this out.”
At my side, Alexei stirs, a dark, silent presence until now. His strong, tan fingers interlace with mine atop the conference table, a possessive hold that draws Konstantin’s gaze and makes his jaw tighten.
“I propose we extract Schwann from custody,” Alexei says. “Right away. Before that pointed question is asked.”
Konstantin tears his gaze away from Alexei’s hand on mine. His jaw is still clenched, but his tone is even. “I suppose you’ve already set the plans in motion?”
To my shock, Alexei nods. “My men are on the way there as we speak.”
I blink. How on earth…? It’s been less than three hours since we found out about the situation.
Valery’s eyes narrow, and then a cold smile spreads across his face. “Bravo. I suppose the purpose of this meeting was to keep us out of your men’s hair?”
Alexei’s smile is just as cold, even as his hand remains a warm, reassuring weight on mine. “Like you said, we get her out now, or she blabs. There was no time to waste on debates.”
I stare at my husband, impressed despite myself. With this one maneuver, he’s forestalled any and all arguments, getting my brothers to fall neatly into line. Because that’s what must happen now: if they don’t want this to go south, they won’t stand in his way. In fact, they’ll support his plan in any way they can.
Already, Konstantin’s thumbs are flying across the screen of his phone, undoubtedly sending off instructions to erase all the relevant footage in the police station and whatever else is required to make sure Birgit’s extraction doesn’t leave any evidence that can be traced back to us.
I’m pondering why Alexei didn’t tell me the plan when Valery’s eyes flick over to Alexei’s fingers interlaced with mine. “A word with my sister, please.” His tone is cool and steady, even as annoyance simmers deep beneath.
Alexei rises to his feet with a sardonic gleam in his eyes. “By all means. I’ll check on the progress of the operation in the meantime.”
He leaves the dining room with a few long strides, giving us privacy that is as much a sham as this meeting turned out to be.
He knows, as we all do, that invisible cameras line every corner of this room, recording every word that will be said. Valery might as well talk to me in front of him.
I sigh and look at my brothers, preparing myself for another pseudo-interrogation. It doesn’t matter what I say about wanting to stay with Alexei—they simply don’t believe me. But they’re not looking at me.
Instead, they’re on their feet, already rounding the long oval table toward me.
I gasp when they grab me, one arm each, and pull me up to stand. “What are you doing?” I whisper-hiss, not wanting to alert Alexei to whatever craziness my brothers are trying.
They don’t answer. Their faces are tense, eyes narrowed as they drag me toward the wall that is a window—currently not enclosed in its concrete slab so as to let us enjoy the afternoon light.
I begin to struggle, still keeping quiet. Whatever they’re planning, I’m not down for this, but I don’t want anyone to get hurt, as is bound to happen if Alexei realizes what’s happening.
My struggles are in vain. Both Valery and Konstantin are tall, athletic men with significant fighting experience; my frantic movements barely register for them.
“Stop it,” I hiss in desperation. “I don’t want this!”
My brothers ignore me. When we reach the window, Konstantin slaps a tiny, cockroach-shaped metal device onto the surface. It whirrs to life, and I gape in shock as it eats through five centimeters of bulletproof glass as if it were paper.
In the meantime, Valery is attaching three more metal cockroaches, and they all move as one, cutting out a man-sized rectangle inside the window in a matter of seconds.