Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“You’ll all know when I allow it.” Sergei stands, signaling the end of the meeting. “We’ll talk more on Igor’s birthday that I’ll be hosting in his honor. Everyone is invited.”
“Yes, Pakhan.” All the others agree.
Instead of leaving, Sergei faces me, fixating on me with a solemn expression. “Bring Lia, too.”
“She’s been unwell,” I say calmly, even though a part of me is inching to an ignition point.
“She can’t be too unwell to attend the birthday of Igor by the invitation of the Pakhan himself.” He figuratively twists my arm with his purposeful words.
“Yes, Adrian.” Rai joins her granduncle, speaking in perfect American. “Bring Lia. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
I don’t miss the way she says ‘a lot.’ I could bring my gun out, shoot her and her granduncle in the face, and torture her guards for answers. But that would get me killed by the rest of the men here or their guards, and I can’t die just yet.
“Make sure she’ll be there,” Sergei orders in a tone that doesn’t allow for negotiations.
“Yes, Pakhan,” I say nonchalantly, almost as if I’m completely fine with the prospect of bringing Lia when she’s not ready at all.
Sergei leaves, followed by everyone else except for Kirill, who deliberately stays behind. It’s only the two of us, Kolya, and his senior guard, Aleksander, who’s tall but slim and has the face of a woman or a pubescent teenage boy.
Kirill readjusts his black-framed glasses, his lips moving in a sardonic smile. “Asking about dear Vladimir was reckless, Adrian. I don’t know you to be reckless.”
“Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense.”
“And sometimes, straight out offense makes you show all your cards.”
“You don’t need to worry, Morozov. I have more cards to reveal.”
His lips tilt in an ugly smirk. “Don’t threaten me when I can be your ally, Adrian.”
I rise and Kolya moves on standby beside me. “I don’t need allies.”
“That’s what you say now, but there will be a day where you will change your mind.”
“Doubt it.”
“You want to bet?”
“Try again in ten years, Morozov.”
He chuckles. “Save my number, Volkov. You might need it.” His voice echoes after me as I head to the entrance.
As soon as I’m in the car and Yan drives out of the property, I tell Kolya, “I want eyes on Kirill.”
“We already have someone who’s following him.”
“I want someone else. Make it three people if need be.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Aleksander, too. Follow him.”
“Consider it done.”
“What happened?” Yan meets my gaze through the rear-view mirror, then slides it to Kolya before focusing back on the road.
I tap my finger against my thigh. “Kirill knows something, or else he wouldn’t be acting smug.”
Silence falls on the car before Yan says in a low voice, “Do you think he knows about Mrs. Volkov?”
“I’m not sure, but whatever he knows needs to be known to me as well. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” they both say.
I spend most of my day in my office at V Corp checking financial reports to keep my head from spiraling into unwanted directions. But at the same time, I come up with solutions. That’s what I do when I’m overcome by work. I think and allow my mind to go into overdrive.
I try to corner Rai, but apparently, she has a doctor’s appointment today and went home early.
There will be another day and she will answer to me no matter what methods I have to use.
I lose track of time and only realize it’s ten in the evening when Kolya informs me of the fact. I’ve been so focused on finding a solution that would allow Lia to skip Igor’s birthday that I forgot about her.
That’s incorrect.
It’s not that I forgot about her. I merely tried to push her out of my immediate thoughts, because if I keep her there, I won’t get anything done.
Especially after the way she came all over my fingers after a few spankings. She unraveled wholly, without restraint, as if she’s been waiting for my touch all this time.
The sight of blood on her lips won’t leave my mind, the way she muffled her voice still gets on my last nerve.
It’ll change.
She will change.
Kolya, Yan, and I reach home around ten-thirty. I don’t bother finding Ogla, because now that I’m not actively trying to keep Lia out of my thoughts, she’s the only thing that’s occupying my brain.
I go to our bedroom and freeze in the doorway. She’s not there. After searching in the bathroom, I come up empty-handed.
For a second, I remain rooted there on the spot, thinking of where she could have gone. She couldn’t have left the property, because Ogla or my guards would’ve informed me of the fact. I know that, but the possibility is tugging on the vacant place in my chest.
She’s here. I know she is. I can feel her presence in the walls of the house, can see it without having to try hard.