Alle Kapitel von Viktor Blacktop Bride : Kapitel 181 – Kapitel 190

Alexei POV Downstairs, I slip the envelope to the concierge with a crisp hundred-dollar bill on top.“I need this to go out tomorrow morning,” I tell him. “Not today or tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning only, can you make that happen?”“Yes, of course.” He nods. “Anything you want, sir.”“How long is your shift today?” I ask him.“I’ll be here until nine, sir.”“Good.” I slip him another hundred. “If I come back for it, you give it to me but if I don’t, nobody else gets it, no matter who they are. You just send it off tomorrow morning. We clear?”“Clear.” He dips his head. “I will handle it personally for you, sir.”“Very good.”I leave him with the package and make my way toward the exit, but before I get there, my phone rings. When I see it’s Ivan, I dart into a corridor and answer.“Bro,” I greet him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”“You’re in a good mood today.” He quirks an eyebrow at me. “For a man who might not live to see the day through.”“You know how it is.” I shrug. “

Talia POV “Can we swim now, Mommy?”I turn from the window to find that Ethan has stripped down to his underwear and is clutching toy. He’s standing by the door with his hand on the doorknob, and I remember Alexei had promised to take him swimming today.I have to smile when I walk toward him and crouch down so we’re at eye level. I brush hair back from his face and think how much like Alexei it is. How it constantly flops this way or that no matter what I do with it.“Why are you in your underwear, Alexei? Where are your clothes?”“Daddy said he’ll take me swimming.”Daddy, how easily he accepts this and it’s a relief.“Ah,” I say. “I guess in lieu of a swimsuit, you thought your briefs would do. Smart.”I ruffle his hair and check the time. Late morning and the minutes are crawling by as I wait for Alexei to return, fighting back that niggling thought that he might not return.“I’ll tell you what, let’s get you dressed because you can’t swim in your undies and Mommy certainly can’t

Talia POV Ethan and I sit in the back of the SUV while Alexei rides in front. I’m anxious as we weave through rush-hour traffic, the driver was not saying a word and Alexei was texting something into my phone. Since his was switched off, he left it in the room charging and took mine. “I’m hungry, Mommy,” Ethan says.“We’ll get you something to eat soon,” I tell him. He hasn’t eaten since our late lunch, and I don’t have a snack with me.“We’re almost there,” Alexei says, turning a little.I nod, biting my lip. A few minutes later, the SUV comes to a stop, and both Alexei and the driver climb out.The driver opens my door, and I slip out. Alexei grabs Ethan up in his arms and keeps hold of him. We walk toward the two men standing beside the door.“Bag,” the one says to me.I’m confused, and I look back at Alexei who nods and I open my bag for him to look inside. Alexei took the gun and placed it in the hotel safe before we left.After looking through my bag, the man tells me to stretc

Alexei POV “I have something I want to show you.” Dante gestures for me to follow him out back. It’s late, past midnight, and I don’t like leaving Talia alone at the hotel, but at least Damon is in the lobby, keeping an eye out for me.I just hope he stays sober enough to recognize any problems that might pop up. “Don’t worry so much.” Dante waves off my concerns. “I got a couple of my guys parked outside of the hotel. If they see anything, I’ll be the first to know.”It shouldn’t surprise me that he’s already figured out where we’re staying. California is Dante turf, and he’s got eyes and ears everywhere. Still, they are guys I don’t know.“You should have spoken to me first,” I tell him.Dante stops, meeting my gaze in challenge. “Are you telling me I need to ask permission from you to protect my own daughter? My grandson?”I consider my words carefully but refuse to back down on this. “She might be your daughter, but she’s my future wife and I look out for both of them, I don’t kno

Talia POV I quell the hope that creeps up at his words. It’s too early to say yes, so I didn't say anything.Instead, I lie on my back and turn to him. From the light coming in through the opened curtains, I can see his face. I brush back his unruly hair and run my palm along his scruffy chin.He leans down, and I meet him halfway to kiss him. It’s a long, soft kiss, and it makes me think we have time that time is maybe finally on our side.When he draws back, he lies on his side and looks at me, he fingers a lock of my hair. “Can you wash the black out?”“Does that mean it’s safe?”He gives the tiniest tilt of his head as he considers, and I think I have my answer. No ,not yet.“What did Dante want with you?” I ask.He shifts so he’s lying on his back, and it’s like he shutters himself off. He’s done this before, in the very beginning that morning at his house.“Just some business and nothing you need to worry about.”I get up on one elbow and rest my head in my hand. I touch his ch