Nikolai smiled. “I did. And I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you very soon.”
Hearing him admit it sent me over the edge. Seth’s arms tightened around me so hard that I couldn’t breathe.
“Tell your lapdog I hope he enjoys his liquid diet after what I did to him. I should’ve killed the fucker.”
Nikolai’s gaze roamed up and down my body. “My, how you’ve impressed me, Ms. Langston.”
A low growl erupted from Seth’s chest when Nikolai stepped toward me. “I suggest you leave here before I finish this right here, right now.”
Nikolai turned his cold eyes to Seth. “The war is on, brother. Hope you’re prepared.”
Without another word, Nikolai and the guy with the patch over his eye disappeared behind the elevator door.
Seth immediately let me go and turned me around in his arms, his hands clutching my face. “Are you hurt?”
The adrenaline had already waned, and I could feel myself about to crash.
“No. I’m just furious.”
Benny held up the gun. “She had this on her.”
Seth stared at the gun and then turned his knowing gaze to me. “Fuck, Wren.” When I said nothing, he draped his arm protectively around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I’ll tell you everything on the road.”
Benny followed behind us, and a few seconds later, Joey came through the stairwell door.
“Is it worse than you thought?” I asked as we stopped at the elevator.
His eyes had so much turmoil that my stomach clenched with dread. “It’s much worse,” he murmured regretfully. “And we have to be ready for anything.”
After what happened today, I believed that wholeheartedly. Even when you think you’re safe . . . you’re not.
CHAPTER22
WREN
The feel of my phone vibrating under my pillow jolted me awake. My eyes felt like sandpaper, and when I opened them, I had to shield them from the sun peeking in through the blinds. When I looked at the clock, it was only seven. Who the hell was calling me so early?
Groaning, I slid a hand under my pillow and pulled out my phone. I had to blink a few times to get accustomed to the light. On the screen was the wordunavailable. It was probably a telemarketer.
“Hello,” I grumbled, rolling onto my back.
“Good morning, sunshine.”
The second I recognized the voice, it felt like ice had been shot through my veins.
“Why the fuck are you calling me?” I growled, keeping my voice low.
Nikolai chuckled. “I take it my brother’s not beside you. Smart man.”
“Go eat a dick, asshole. What do you want?”
“I want to offer you a deal,” he confessed.
I scoffed. “Like I would ever take a deal from you.”
“Just hear me out.”
I moved into the bathroom to distance myself from the bedroom door. The last thing I wanted was for Seth to know I was on the phone with his brother.
