If I saw any sign that he knew about my meeting with Yuri, I’d need to manage that breach. That could prove difficult, considering we were standing on a public street.
He blinked, unprovoked by my tone. “I’ve got issues with you trying to mess with my opportunity to go to Vancouver.”
I tried to hide my relief when I realized he was only here to hash out his grievance about my infringement on his territory and not because of my double life.
I decided to taunt him to keep him focused on that, not on my activities in this neighborhood. “Talk to Grisha. He’s the one who gave me his blessing with Mila this weekend.”
Sergei couldn’t hide his confusion. “That’s bullshit. They were in Zavidovo for the family weekend.”
“Which I was invited to as Mila’s guest.” I knew this would burn because he had been assigned to stay home and watch over the property. Something he had failed to do.
He stared at me without emotion. There wasn’t a flicker of rage or hurt behind those eyes. Just a cold, calculated stare. “You think Grisha has given you his approval. Everyone is convinced they are good with Grisha, right up to the point when I have my weapon on their temple. They never believe me when I tell them that Grisha has turned on them. They don’t know that he lies better than the rest of us.”
I refused to let him bait me. “I guess that’s why he put Mila and me in the same hotel room.”
This time I saw hatred in his eyes. A dark, hot flash of something dangerous. Something predatory. “She was promised to me just like Vancouver was and I don’t let men take what belongs to me.”
“Take it up with Grisha.” And without looking back, I walked off.
I didn’t wantto marry Mila, nor did I want to replace Sergei in Canada. In fact, I had been looking forward to Sergei leaving Russia and giving me the opportunity to get closer to Grisha. I understood that it would be catastrophic if Sergei took over in Vancouver. Grisha used him like a relentless hammer that beat everyone into submission. I could only imagine the level of violence that would break out if Sergei were given free rein to retaliate against the Volkov family, but the alternative was for me to somehow replace him.
I didn’t want to do it. I had no desire to try to convince Mila to marry me and I wasn’t interested in moving to Canada.
I was tired. The thought of starting over in a new city seemed overwhelming at the moment.
My phone rang.
It was Grisha. He started to speak without preamble. “You’re being summoned for dinner. It’s a small family tonight, with just my cousins and a few other folks.”
“That sounds great.”
He paused, in a dramatic fashion. “Because Mila is in love with you and she doesn’t want to marry Sergei, I’ve been toying with the idea of sending you to Vancouver. Do you think that’s something you can manage?”
Grisha was handing me the keys to his inner circle at the same moment Mila was threatening to blow everything up. “I can handle Vancouver.”
“How did I know you would say that? But the real question is, can you keep my niece in line?”
“Mila is another story.”
He chuckled softly, then spoke. “Tell her that her choice is between you and Sergei, but either way she’s getting married.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
MILA
I was halfwaydown the staircase from the family wing when I saw Axel standing at the bottom. He looked sharp in a dark suit and crisp white dress shirt that was open at the collar. I thought about how he had walked around our hotel room with a relaxed, dangerous vibe, his shirt unbuttoned and a drink in his hand. He was confusingly masculine and attractive, and I didn’t like it. Not when I had decided never to talk to him again.
“What are you doing here?” I said bluntly, wanting him to know I wasn’t happy to see him.
“Grisha invited me to join the family for dinner.”
I stared at him with defiance. “No one told me.”
He stood there, with his hands in his pockets, looking more like a fashion advertisement than the fixer I had seen dismantle a team of dangerous men. “Are we good?”
My tone was tart. “Are you worried I’m going to humiliate you in some big dramatic fashion between the main course and dessert?”
His expression didn’t change, but his jaw tightened. “Should I be?”
