Page 108 of Dangerous Promises

Freddie smiles at me and gives me an impressed look as he gets out of the drivers seat and into the back.

The only thing I can see in my mind is the look on Nicholas's face when he died in my arms. The way his eyes went cold while his lips still held a smile. A smile that was for me.

I won't be seeing that look from anyone else that I care about.

I understand now how Nicholas felt. He would've followed me anywhere, chased me anywhere to make sure I was safe. I was always running. But now I see why he always chased me, and I feel it in my heart, the way he felt. It is warm, inexplicable and simply right.

So I don't care if it's Alexei or Dad. Nobody is dying on my watch today.

I jump into the driver's seat and secure my seatbelt before Anton has the chance to object. I slam my foot on the gas, redlining the engine as the car screams onto the road.

"Now it's out of your hands," I say, glancing at my uncle. Anton, though surprised, gives me a proud smile and nods. I smirk as I shift gears and take us straight into the eye of danger.

Chapter

Forty-Four

Alexei

“What's taking her so long?" Isla says from next to me, her knee bouncing nervously. I take another sip of my drink and say nothing. She's right that it shouldn't take this long to make a simple phone call.

With every minute, my suspicions grow that Angie has done something other than what I've asked her to do. That she's been in the back room making this call for that long doesn't make sense.

When Angie calls, you answer. Even Chet knows this.

I'm not expecting anything from her but to play the middle man. Still that means I am at least expecting a response to my offer. But there is something tense in the air and I don't like the minutes that tick by as we wait.

The longer this takes the more likely it is that Angie is doing something, Chet is doing something, or alarmingly, both of them are doing something.

Angie's security staff eye us off and talk into their radios, watching us like they're reporting on our movements. I know exactly what that looks like and so does Isla. That's why her hand starts to inch towards her belt where she keeps her gun. With my eyes, I warn her away. Her gut tells her that something is off. Mine says the same thing. But starting a fight here won't achieve anything.

I find myself even more tense when I finally see Angie walk out of the back room. I tense my jaw to hide my anticipation but I'm sure I fail, just as I'm sure that something isn't right here.

"It's done," Angie says.

"Did you speak to Chet?" I ask.

"I delivered your message."

My eyes narrow on her. Her body language gives nothing away. Still, I don't trust her. Isla presents a hard front too but I can feel her eyes burning in the back of my head in warning.

"Why does that not sound like the same thing?" I say, raising my brow.

"I delivered your message, Rushkoff. Take peace in that," Angie says. She walks away, going about her business. "Feel free to fuck off or stay for a drink. I'll give you the choice." A saccharine smile coats her mouth.

Before I can stop it, Isla reaches out and grabs Angie's arm, causing an alarming amount of people in the bar to draw weapons and aim.

"You did something," Isla accuses.

"Isla let her go," I say, breath hitching as I watch the people who have their guns trained on my best friend. To my surprise, Angie waves them off.

"Did you speak to Chet?"

"I did what you paid me to do."

Isla throws Angie's arm away in anger. "You either spoke to him or not, he either responded or he didn't. Stop being so fucking cryptic."

"I spoke to Chet. I delivered your message. I didn't give him the chance to respond."