“I know Adam did something to offend your family,” Maddox says, leaning in to be heard over the music. “He’s my best friend but more than that we have money tied up together. I want reassurances that my business won’t be affected by whatever it is you have going on with him.”
Reassurances? Is he making demands of us? Does he think because his name is Whitmore that it gives him some sort of power here? Rolling my shoulders, I look him over for a few beats.
“I admire someone withguts,” I say and probe his reaction. When he swallows and his eyelashes blink a few times, that tells me Adam informed him of what went down at Viktor’s with me spilling Levi’s insides.
And yet he still was brave enough to come here…
“I’m not your enemy,” he says quickly. “The opposite in fact.”
“Is that so?” I muse.
“It can be,” he promises.
I run my hand along my mouth and chin before placing both hands in my pockets to seem disarming. “Here’s the deal. Buy Adam out of any stake he has in your business, and we will take his place. We'll cover all the costs and even provide additional funds for expansion.”
Stripping Adam of all his revenue streams and creating a rift with his best friend is more extreme than we need to go, and notwhat we planned to do, but he laid his hands on Alyona,teeth in fact. And he will learn that our bite is much bigger than his.
“I won’t be convinced into giving up controlling shares,” Maddox declares, a severity I can appreciate.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” I pat his shoulder. “Just give us what Adam has.”
He looks back at Vika, lost in conversation with Alyona, the tendons in his neck tightening. “I’ll have my lawyers draw up an agreement.”
Excellent.
“If you’ll excuse me, our next fighter is here.” My eyes cut across the room and a twinge of pure fucking joy sparks in my chest when strong arms wrap around Alyona from behind and spins her.
Her scream is so loud people close by startle from it. When he puts her on her feet tears burst from her stunning blue eyes and she hugs him so tight I fear she may cut off his circulation. Vika stares up at him with a dislocated jaw, then turns on her heel and stalks off. I reach them, extending my hand and tugging him from her grasp into mine.
Slapping his back, I say, “Vas, thanks for coming.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it.” He grins with a perfect dental ad smile. Rodion hugs him next and then Alyona throws herself back into his arms.
“I can’t believe it’s you,” she says, sniffling.
“It’s so good to see you too. I’m so fucking proud of you.” He beams and she pulls away, nodding and swiping at her eyes.
“Darya?” she asks.
“Tending to things back home. Yuri’s death and all.” He winks. “I’m only here for the night.”
Pulling Alyona into my side, I clasp his shoulder. “Then let’s make the most of it.”
Chapter Forty-One
Alyona
Viktor tries his hardest to hide his amusement, but I see it there all the same.
“Is it the color or the bow?” I ask, batting the thing from my face. The bow she added is the size of a small car.
“It’s both.” He winces. But like a good sport, he’s wearing a tie that matches the color.
“Are you sure Vika knows you’re coming to this thing?” I try to lean to the side, but I can’t freaking move in this thing and am tilting at an odd angle.
“I’ll wait in the car for the nuptials and join you for the reception.” The car pulls up the drive of an estate the size of a castle, and my stomach does a little nervous dance. The twins only agreed I should attend because Viktor was accompanying me. Adam and his family are going to be here, and I didn’t want to sit alone, fending off their glares.
“Text me when everyone is settled at their tables,” Viktor says, his arm casually draped along the back of his seat in front of me.
