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CHAPTER SIXTY - SEVEN ROSE AMARA POV I curse inwardly, but I pause when Abe laughs, wrinkles forming around his eyes, then speaks in a subtle Japanese accent. 'Always a black sheep, Pakstan." "I will drink to that." He swallows another gulp of his vodka, then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. "Now, spare us the suspense, and let us know why we're here." 'Patience, young man." Abe sits beside Pakstan, and the asshole doesn't even attempt to give him room. Kai smiles at me in greeting before he kneels beside me in an upright posture that somehow appears reverent. He places a hand on my thigh. 'Have you been well?" 'Yes," I murmur as I remove his hand. 'And that question doesn't need to be asked while you touch me, does it?" He chuckles softly. 'I didn't expect anything less from you." After the food arrives, a mixture of soups, noodles, and an exquisite fish dish, Abe and Kai unhurriedly dig into their meals. Pharaoah and I join, mimicking their pace. Uncle River taught me how to use chopsticks a long time ago. He said respecting other people's cultures goes a long way. Pakstan digs in with his bare hands, still sipping from the bottle every other bite. We need to finish and get out of here before he disrespects them. 'Uncle River sends his regards," I tell Abe. He merely nods, still focused on Pakstan. 'Say, are you betrothed?" 'What's that? Some type of food?" Pakstan asks between mouthfuls of fish. 'Marriage. Ever thought of it?" 'Why would I?" 'Maybe you should." 'Well, maybe you should." 'I am married." 'No kidding. And here I thought you were single for life." 'I'm going to propose something." "Why are you looking at me?" Pakstan motions at Pharaoah and me. "They usually do the talking thing." 'I'm not interested in talking." "Then why have you brought me here amid my busy schedule? I have people to kill, old man." Abe smiles again. 'What if I said I have an offer to make?" 'Then make it already and spare us the bullsh-t." 'Pakstan," I scold under my breath. 'What?" he shoots back. 'I have sh-t to do." 'It's fine, fine." Abe motions at me with a dismissive hand. 'Pakstan?" 'Yes?" 'I'm offering you my daughter's hand in marriage." 'Why would you do that to her?" Pakstan stares incredulously, then whispers, 'Is she not really your daughter, so you're punishing her?" Abe laughs, the sound genuinely amused. 'I like you, Pakstan Orlov." 'Believe me, your daughter won't," I say before I can measure my words. 'Yeah, I agree." Pakstan is still chewing on his food while he speaks. 'Let me be the judge of that." Abe takes a sip of sake, a traditional rice wine. 'The marriage is part of the deal. Take it or leave it." 'Leave it." Pakstan attempts to stand up, but I grab his thigh and force him to sit down, my nails digging into his pants. I smile at Abe. "He meant to say that we'll think about it." 'We will?" Pakstan asks. 'Yes, we will." I give him a knowing look, then direct it at Pharaoah, who takes his time savoring the fish before he speaks. "We would be honored by such an alliance," Pharaoah says in a suave voice. "I'm sure Uncle River will be thrilled." "Yes, yes." Abe slides a cup in front of Pakstan and pours sake into it. 'No thanks, old man. I prefer vodka." I pinch Pakstan's thigh, and he groans, but I don't let go, mouthing, "Do it." It's highly disrespectful to refuse a drink, especially if it's from someone older than you. Pakstan rolls his eyes and takes the cup, downing it in one go before he shakes my hand away and stands, clutching his vodka bottle. "I'm out of here." When neither of us moves, the brute grabs Pharaoah by the collar. "You waiting for an invitation or something? We have sh-t to do." Pharaoah follows Pakstan's lead and bows. Dammit. They're leaving together. No way in hell. I follow their lead, bowing before I stand up. 'I apologize for Pakstan's behavior." 'No, no." Abe Roseses his hand dismissively, a small smile on his lips. 'He's an interesting man, yes?" 'You could say that," I speak slowly. 'May I ask why you wanted Pharaoah and me to join?" 'Kai said you and Pharaoah are more rational and would convince him." My gaze slides to Kai, and he smiles at me with a knowing nod. I don't know if I should be thankful or wary of his ulterior motives. 'Thank you for the meal." I nod and slowly retreat out of the room. As soon as I'm out of Abe and Kai's view, I sprint toward the parking lot. Thankfully, I glimpse Pakstan and Pharaoah heading to the latter's car, followed by their horde of guards. Katia rushes in my direction, but I shake my head. Then, I retrieve my phone and shoot a text in the group chat. **Rose:** You and Ruslan follow me from afar. I need to go back with Pharaoah and Pakstan. My guard nods and retreats to join Ruslan. 'Auntie!" I freeze, the phone nearly clattering to the ground at the small voice. My head jerks to the left, and my gaze lands on my nephew's little face. On his dreamy green eyes and delicate features. Gareth. He's a few feet away, smiling at me with pure innocence, showing his baby teeth. Sh-t. Fvck. My eyes frantically search around. If he's here, Reina is too. Pharaoah and Pakstan cannot, under any circumstances, know she exists. Especially Pharaoah. He would destroy me and her. My fingers tremble when Pharaoah's closest guard, Aleksander, stops. He stares at me over his shoulder, his critical gaze sliding to Gareth. I want to do nothing more than shoot Aleksander in the face, grab Gareth, and run away, but that will only hurt him and his parents. 'Auntie?" he repeats, tone unsure. Aleksander stops walking and turns around entirely to watch the scene. Any move from my side will cause a disaster. If I talk to Gareth, Aleksander will make it his job to find out exactly who he is, and that will lead him stRoseght to Reina. If I leave, my baby nephew will be alone and unprotected in this place. I can't tell Katia and Ruslan to take care of it because that will lead back to me. A man crouches and picks Gareth up. 'There you are, troublemaker. I told you not to call strangers auntie." A breath heaves out of me at seeing Asher. He gives me an impersonal smile as if it's the first time he's seeing me, and he nails the role so well. "Sorry about that." 'Don't worry about it." I make sure Aleksander sees my fake smile. Seeming to lose interest, he turns and joins his boss. 'I'm sorry," I whisper to Asher, who nods in understanding before he takes a protesting Gareth inside. My chest aches at the inability to hold my nephew or kiss him. It's better this way, for his sake. Once again, I type in the group chat. **Rose:** Gareth and Asher are in this restaurant, and Reina must be here, too. Follow them from afar and ensure they get home safe and no one suspects anything. Do not under any circumstances make direct contact unless they're in danger. **Ruslan:** Yes, boss. **Katia:** On it. I half-jog to Pharaoah's car just before Aleksander closes the door. I push past him and sit beside Pakstan. "What the fvck are you doing?" Pharaoah watches me as if I have grown a second head. 'Take me back with you." 'You have your own car." 'It's broken down. Ruslan is trying to fix it." 'Do I look like a taxi to you?" 'Well, you could be one." 'Leave, Rose." Pakstan sips from his vodka. 'Pharaoah and I have a meeting." I'm well aware, but they need to be corrected if they think they can get rid of me this easily. 'Then do it after you drop me off." Pharaoah shrugs a shoulder. 'Or I can just throw you out." 'You just wasted a minute. We would've arrived faster if we'd taken off already, besides…Abe told me something after you left." 'Who cares what that delusional old man says?" Pakstan mocks. Pharaoah does because he motions at his driver to go. Aleksander gives me a peculiar glance from the passenger seat, then immediately conceals it. Please tell me he doesn't suspect anything about Asher and Gareth. I try to get comfy as soon as the car rolls out of the parking lot, followed by another vehicle full of Pharaoah and Pakstan's guards. As comfortable as it gets, with two prominent men dwarfing the back seat. 'What did Abe say?" Pharaoah asks. 'It's about Pakstan," I say, slowly gauging his reaction, but he appears completely uninterested. 'Don't you want to know?" "I want to know why you said I'll think about it. You want to marry me off, Rose?" 'If it benefits the brotherhood, why not settle down?" 'Settle down? What are you, my mother?" 'First of all, eww. Second of all, just go with it." "Just like you went with your own marriage? It's so boring if we're all sacrificial like you, Rayenka." 'Does that mean you won't do it?" 'I don't see why I should." 'You can't disrespect Abe that way, Pakstan. He's one of the strongest allies we can have." Pharaoah readjusts his glasses. 'And he will become our worst enemy if this bull kills his daughter in one of his violent episodes." 'You hurt women?" I snap at Pakstan. He continues sipping from his vodka before he lowers his mouth to my ear. 'When they get close, yes. Why? You want to test it?" I push him away, glaring. 'You will control that side of you and treat Abe's daughter well, and if I find out you hurt any woman, you'll have me to answer to." He grins. 'Will it be kinky?" I'm about to gouge his eyes out when the car swerves and comes to a screeching halt. The force is so strong that I bump against the back of Aleksander's seat. 'What is it?" Pharaoah barks at his driver in Russian. 'Don't know, sir. There's something on the road—" His words cut off when a shot lodges stRoseght in his chest. Aleksander gets his gun out, cursing, but it's too late. Gunshots erupt from all directions. We're under attack.