Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 85089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
That was what I knew. Keeping myself separate.
Above, away. The world happened, and I steered its events—but it didn’t happen to me.
Until Cassie cracked in through my barrier and proved I could feel something again.
I ran harder than normal. I needed to sweat, to work myself into exhaustion.
Cassie would be waiting for me when I got back.
That girl. I loved the way her lips fell open as she came in violent waves, her skin flushed pink with pleasure, her moans echoing out across the room. I wanted her to swallow my cum in thick drops on that incredible tongue, wanted to watch her breasts bounce with every rough, violent thrust of my cock, and wanted her down on her knees begging, pleading with me to keep going, keep fucking that soaking wet cunt.
God, even exercise couldn’t clear my brain of her.
I was no better than any of the other heroin-sick, except my drug was still asleep in my bed.
I ran around a gurgling fountain and reached one of the bridges. I slowed as I approached the entrance and a figure stepped out of the shadows.
A man, about my size, wearing a very nice suit. Understated, quiet, but quality.
I stopped jogging and walked toward him. I wiped my brow with my shirt as Darren came into the light, a smile on his face.
Darren Servant. Another of the Oligarchs. I hadn’t seen him in some time, but I knew he was around, floating at the margins of things. He was in bed with the MacKenna, and eventually I’d have problems with him, but I was surprised it took so long to arrange a meeting.
I didn’t know a lot about him. Most of us kept our pasts to ourselves. The traumas, the heartaches. Any of it could be used as a weapon. Darren was more secretive even than me, though I did know that his family came from nothing and earned their wealth only three generations ago, making his family one of the youngest. He smiled and liked to laugh and had a wild streak, but he was dangerous, so very dangerous.
The others, they saw this as a game. But Darren treated it like life or death.
“Thanks for coming to meet with me.”
His eyebrows raised. “You could’ve gotten dressed up for me, you know.”
“I thought I’d take care of two things at once. I’m a busy man.”
He laughed, waved a hand. “No worries. I haven’t gone home from last night yet. Strange how this is the morning for you, and still the night for me.”
“We’re meeting right at the transition. I like that.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets. I didn’t worry about a gun—Erick would be nearby with a rifle trained on Darren’s chest. Most likely half the junkies I saw lying around in the bushes were his men, and the rest would be mine.
“You’ve been a busy boy, Roman. I’m surprised none of the others have bothered you yet.”
“You know how it can be. We’re all playing for specific reasons.”
“Unfortunately, you encroached on my turf. I have to say, I don’t love that.”
“I didn’t think you would.”
“Why bring the Russians and the Italians together? You realize it’ll never last.”
“To counter your moves with the Irish. Though I found a different way to do that.”
Darren ran a hand through his hair. “I guess you have. Think it’ll work? I’ve never heard of the girl before.”
“Her father’s important. That means she matters.”
“We’ll see about that. Honestly Roman, why can’t you just stick to one family? The Russians are obsessed with you. Always talking about how you’re some kid of long-lost prince or whatever, not that I understand half the shit they say.”
“I have my reasons.” I tilted my head. “Am I sensing some jealousy?”
His eyes hardened. Darren was kind and outgoing on the surface, but inside he was filled with steel.
I would’ve liked him if we weren’t enemies.
“You’re upsetting the balance of power. You know how this ends. We come together and knock you down a peg, then things go back to normal. Why not avoid all the drama?”
“Like I said, I have my reasons.”
“If this is revenge for your father, I’ve told you before, we can arrange something.”
“Will you give me Oisin?”
“No. That isn’t an option.”
“Then we have nothing to discuss.”
Darren sighed, spread his hands out. “I’m trying to be peaceful about this, Roman. You always default to killing, but there are other ways to solve a problem.”
“Maybe for you.”
“God, so dramatic.” He rolled his eyes. “Come on. Seriously?”
I didn’t move. Sweat dripped down my body. I could taste the tension in the air. Darren wanted me out of the way so he could continue to bankroll the MacKenna family and allow them to spread out across the United States. He’d always had the weakest link with the crime families, though he was embedded with the banks—which could be more dangerous.