“Because she’sfucking Soraya.She’ll figure out where you are in seconds.”He’s clearly annoyed that he’s having to explain himself.“Come on.Quickly.”
“Will a voice message from me do?”
“Sure, fine, whatever.”He taps around on his phone.“Okay, go.”
“I’ll bring your prinsesstårta soon, my pretty little liar.Promise.”
Pavlov throws me a resentful glare, then hurries off with the masked man.
A smile starts to tug at the corners of my mouth, little by little, until I’m full-on grinning.All of a sudden, I’mstarving.
I stuff my mouth full of fresh fruits, buttery croissants, and tasty cold cuts.I fuckinghatebreakfast.But man, breakfast has never tasted so damn good.
I’m in love with a woman who would wage war for me.
For half my life, I’ve been dubbed a “king.”
But this…
This is the first time I’ve everfeltlike one.
And I can’t wait to hold my queen.
~
SOME TIME LATER, while the staff clears the table, Mask Dude appears and takes me on another head-tripping trek.Door to door, hall to hall, until we’re in a stark white space with a single hunter-green Hummer parked inside, engine running.
When my escort opens the passenger door, Pavlov’s waiting in the back seat, attention fixed on his tablet.
I hop in.“Do I get to see my woman now?”
He flicks me a glance.“You will.But not how you think.”
Enough with the fucking games already… “What does that mean?”
He sets down his tablet.“I’m always in Soraya’s corner.Always on her side.Yet she didn’t trust that I wouldn’t kill the only other person she loves.And that fuckingcuts.“ His tone is flat, but there’s a sharpness under it.“She’s shown that she’s willing to go to war with us,for you.And I’m still not convinced you’re worth it.So, there will be consequences for what she did today.”
All this fucking family drama.I just want to see my girl.“What kind of consequences?”
“You’ll know soon.For now...”He pats a black pouch sitting between us.“Open it.Put it on.”
I unzip the pouch.A VR headset and earphones.“The fuck is this about?”
“Watch a movie.Play a game.Listen to some classical music.Or read some poetries—heard you like that stuff.I don’t care.”
A chuckle falls from me.“What happened to good old-fashioned blindfolds?”
“Old-fashioned is old-fashioned for a reason.”He locks his gaze to mine.“Put.Them.On.”
Yeah...judging by the murderous look he’s giving me, he’s in no mood for my bullshit.And I might’ve been willing to dieyesterday, but not today.Not when I’m so close to seeing her again.
Like a good little lad, I put on the damn headset.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Stefano
ONE WEEK LATER
