Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 177397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 887(@200wpm)___ 710(@250wpm)___ 591(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 177397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 887(@200wpm)___ 710(@250wpm)___ 591(@300wpm)
My hand instinctively moves for my gun, doubling his contrite grin.
I hate having my authority tested. I fucking loathe it. But just like my head knew it would never win the battle of my heart if I were to turn up to my pre-arranged meet with Zoya last night, it knows it won’t triumph in this fight either.
I shouldn’t be surprised. I taught Konstantine everything he knows. The first lesson was that the result of the battle doesn’t matter. It is knowing that you’ve never walked away from one that truly counts.
Another battle presents when I notice a flashy sports car gliding down my driveway. It isn’t in a fleet, and there are no flags flapping above the side mirrors.
My jaw firms when Maksim slides out of the driver’s side, removes his sunglasses, and then drags his eyes across my home. This is the only property in the name my mother called me. The rest are under KADOK Industries, meaning he shouldn’t be here.
“Zoya,” I murmur to myself when he pulls a duffle bag from the back of his convertible. It isn’t the same duffle bag my father handed Zoya days ago, but it is just as plump.
“Do you want me to get rid of him?”
I shake my head at Konstantine’s offer before giving him a look that says our conversation isn’t over.
Maksim smirks when I exit the front door of my home. “I guess we got off on the wrong foot.” He tosses the duffle bag at my feet like disrespecting me comes with no repercussions. “Maksim…” When I leave his handshake hanging, his smirk doubles. “Our deal is off. If you can’t be honest with who you are, I don’t want to work with you.”
“It is too late to negotiate after the deal is done. You don’t pay for an hour, blow your load in thirty seconds, and then ask for a refund. That isn’t how it works.” With Zoya already in the forefront of my mind, my tactics naturally veer toward her. “You also can’t keep the promise you made to your wife last night if you back out now.” Maksim hides his interest well. He looks bored. “My son needs a heart.” That gains his interest. He knew I was seeking a vital organ, but he had no clue who it was for. “If he doesn’t get one, he will die.”
“What’s that got to do with me?”
He plays the devil’s advocate well. It is a pity the numerous surveillance images Konstantine stole from his servers last night show a different man. He will do anything to keep his new wife safe. He will even side with Satan.
“If Zakhar dies, you will hurt Zoya.”
He pffts me. “She’s never met the kid, so I doubt she’ll care.”
“She will when she discovers they’re related.”
Maksim’s steps to his car slow. “Related how?”
It is the fight of my life to not fold in two. “How doesn’t matter. DNA doesn’t lie. She is his blood relation, and as such, she will be devastated if she learns that you did nothing to help him.” I only have him partially over the fence, so I give him a tug. “Another senseless death of the innocent children your wife is endeavoring to save.”
“Leave her out of this!” His roar rumbles through my chest. “Or the only heart your son will receive will be yours.”
I laugh like I haven’t already sought advice on an adult donor’s heart being placed into the chest of an almost five-year-old. It was the first thing I researched after picking out the shards of glass that embedded in my cheek when I fired at my reflection.
That’s how fucking sick I felt when I couldn’t discount the honesty in my father’s eyes.
“I will never mention her name again, and it won’t be uttered by anyone on my team. But I need more time. My son needs more time.”
I don’t know if it is the pure angst that gets me over the line or the promise to rid the world of anyone who speaks his wife’s name in vain, but I am grateful no matter the premise.
“You have a month. After that, it won’t be just Myasnikov Private’s gizzards being dissected. This entire fucking rort will be torn down.”
Since that is all I’ve ever wanted, I dip my chin in understanding.
53
ZOYA
When I spot a familiar face in the crowd, I tell Aleena that I will catch up with her in a minute. Maksim hired a stretch limousine filled with security guards to take us to our concert, so it isn’t like our transport will leave without me.
“Do you want me to wait?” Nikita asks when she realizes who has caught my eye.
It isn’t the man I’ve been trying to rile into making contact all day.
It is his younger brother.
“No. It’s fine. I’ll only be a minute.”