Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
I cover her hand and give it a squeeze. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
Her eyes harden as she looks past me. “He is here. Remember the plan. We will triumph.”
I nod my head and lick my lips. Picking up my menu, I begin to look it over once again. The weight of my bag at my feet brings me comfort.
“Nelson, my friend, that you?” Ivan croons as if he’s surprised to see my brother here.
I school my features, so he doesn’t see I know he’s full of crap. Ne plasters a smile on his face as he allows Ivan to pull him into a hug. He deserves an Oscar if you ask me.
“Ivan, what are you doing here?” Ne stands to greet Ivan as he comes to our table.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you face-to-face. When we spoke and you said you were having lunch with your sister, I figured I’d have lunch with mine. I’ve always liked this place.
“The food here is great. I had time today, so here I am, and I’ve run right into you. Two birds, one stone, da? You know Tatian, don’t you, my friend?” Ivan replies.
“Yes, I remember her. Hello, Tatian.”
“Hello, Nelson, good to see you.”
“Come, sit, join us. I insist,” Ne says. “You both know Yui. Do you remember my sister, Carmen?”
“Ah, da, Carmen. You are all grown up. It has been so long.
“And having baby. You look beautiful. How have you been?” Ivan says as his gaze falls on me and he gives a wide smile.
“I’m well, Ivan. It’s good to see you. How have you been?”
I want to hiss at him that it doesn’t matter how he is because I’m going to take his head off for coming here to try to take my brother’s life. I already know I’m the one who takes his life.
I even know exactly how. In fact, I’m itching to do it. Yui gives my knee another squeeze and I relax my expression.
Ne pulls Tatian’s chair so she can sit between him and Yui. Ivan takes the seat beside me as Sammy told us to make sure he does. In the version of this day where my brother loses his life, it’s because the seating is wrong.
I wasn’t able to save him because of where I sat. In Sammy’s evolving visions, as we made plans and changes, this is the right order. My brother doesn’t survive when we do this wrong.
Not this time.
We fall into a little amiable banter after everyone is seated. Placing our orders, we all play our part and make Ivan comfortable as Ne looks relaxed and as if he has his guard down.
“Tell me, how are things going with the Alliance? Business still good for you and your family?” Ivan suddenly asks out of nowhere.
A frown comes to my face and I reach for my bag by my foot. I was looking forward to that salad. It looks like I’m not going to get a chance to eat it.
“Business is business.” Ne shrugs.
“Interesting, because those of us who didn’t confirm or resisted ended up with shit end of stick,” Ivan bites out.
“You sound as if I made that happen. I told you my thoughts before any of it was a reality. Your family chose their path. My family chose ours.”
“You could have put in word for me. You were supposed to be my friend. You have place at table,” Ivan snarls.
“Actually, my father and brother-in-law have seats. I am a silent member for now.”
Ivan roars like he has lost his mind and pulls a gun to aim at my brother. Before he can get out of his seat, I have him by his hair as I pull a blade across his throat.
I drop his body to the floor as I stand over him and look down at him bleeding out. Tatian drops to her knees beside him, screaming. There’s no point; I can already see the light leaving his eyes.
Ne sits back in his seat and folds his arms across his chest with a grin on his lips. I have one blade dripping with Ivan’s blood at my side as my chest heaves. The few people dining here for lunch have broken into hysterics and fled screaming.
We picked this restaurant on this side of town at this time just for this. Everything about this meeting has been controlled. As the patrons run out, Ivan’s men run in.
“Don’t stand there. Kill them all,” Tatian screams at her brother’s men.
Right at that moment, Ren Takahashi and his dog Nanami enter behind Ivan’s men. My blood begins to boil. However, I gather that Yui is more enraged than I am as a growl rips from her chest.
From there, everything begins to move so fast I can only react. A window behind me blows out as a bullet enters the head of Ivan’s guy pointing at my brother.