“I wish I had a life-altering answer for you, but I don’t. What I do know is that sometimes hatred is as lasting as the act of love. But here’s something you should know as well or even better than I do. Love can brutalize your soul, but it can also conquer all.”
I threw him a look. “A little sappy there, cousin.”
“Maybe so, but also true. Now, take Lainey and Nina. Grab a suite at Ecstasy. Stay a couple days until you decide where to land at least for a week or so.”
I knew what he was getting at. While I’d yet to see what damage had been done to the house, before I brought Nina back home, it would need to appear as if nothing had happened. Thelast thing I wanted was for her to be afraid in her own home. Plus, taking Lainey with me would prevent her from talking.
“Both he and Nina already have somewhere to stay.” Hearing Lainey’s sweet voice brought another wave of angst.
We both turned toward her and while she was able to look me in the eyes, I could tell where her line of sight had gone.
To the carnage.
I stepped in front of her and she seemed briefly startled. “Why aren’t you inside having a drink?”
“Because I wanted to make certain you were alright.”
“I’m fine.”
“Go with her. Continue celebrating Nina’s birthday,” Mikhail suggested as he started to walk by.
“I need to be here.”
He stopped long enough to smile at Lainey before addressing me. “I’m not suggesting or even asking. I’m telling you as your Pakhan. You’re not needed here.”
CHAPTER 12
Lainey
Death.
I’d never really thought about it before, at least not in the terms of seeing several dead bodies strewn about on a perfectly manicured lawn.
Granted, my favorite television shows were cop dramas, but not the kind you found on the networks. Bor-ring and censored to death. I enjoyed seeing the grisly aspect of violence and the aftermath and always had.
My mother had wondered if I’d turn out to be a serial killer one day. She’d even mentioned it flippantly during a barbeque she and my father had thrown for a few of their friends.
It had become a standing joke in the household, but their guests had been floored, staring at her with wide eyes and open mouths because of her serious tone.
However, since I’d never seen death up close or even from twenty yards away, I’d never had the displeasure of inhaling the stench of copper. Even now when I took a deep breath, I was still able to detect a hint.
Maybe even worse than the lightheadedness I’d gotten from a hint of nausea had been the ugly thoughts swimming through my mind.
Such as…
If I hadn’t ceased taking swings of the softball bat. What would happen then if a head was hit by a woman with extreme anger a dozen times? Would it pop like a watermelon when tossed against a wall?
Seeing the man’s weapon, I’d almost grabbed it and done target practice with his manhood. Just for spite for ruining such a fabulous day.
Okay, that was a little extreme, but after suffering what I had from Damien and after Scott yelling at me for a full five minutes on the phone before I’d hung up on him, I’d arrived at the party with voodoo on my mind. My manager had warned me what I was getting into with raging, violent criminals.
I could only imagine what he’d say after news broke about the attack. And I knew it would since countless photos had been taken.
I’d yet to ask if anything like the horrific attack had ever occurred before. I honestly hadn’t come down enough from the rafters to challenge anything I was feeling.
When I heard Sasha’s controlled but heavy breathing, I realized I’d been lost in my violent fantasies for far too long. I turned my attention to the powerful man. He’d foregone a coat and tie for the party, even wearing short sleeves and light-colored trousers that denoted the sensual side of him.
I studied the chiseled carve of his jaw, the angle viciously sharp, and the goatee a perfect illumination of his dangerous side. With his savage frown and smoldering eyes, he was the epitome of a man embroiled in rage and hunger for retaliation.
