Letting her change, I slip out, coming face to face with a staff member.
The maid scurries away, but not before I saw recognition flare in her eyes from which room I emerged.
Fuck. I’ll take Dahlia to my place tonight, where we’ll be unbothered. I am so deep in shit, what is one more lie.
At the breakfast table, her mother glances from her to me as she eats her salmon avocado toast. “Did you have fun last night?”
Dahlia chokes on her toast with strawberry jam. I am on my feet and by her side before she can even blink, patting her back and offering her a glass of water.
“I’m okay, thank you,” she says, our eyes locking.
For a moment, I forget we’re not alone.
Dahlia shrugs, but the blush betrays her. “We just stargazed.”
“Mm-hmm,” her mother says absentmindedly.
I don’t like at all how Marcella doesn’t even pretend to buy her bullshit before she excuses herself.
I can’t stop thinking that this will be a recurring thing.
Dahlia and I stare at each other. The pretense stretches between us like a viper ready to pounce. I am so done with this shit.
“We’re going to get caught, maybe,” she sighs, looking sideways.
My fingers fist around the fork so hard that it might bend under the pressure. “No. I’ll deal with it.”
“One more week,” she murmurs, the corners of her lips pulling down.
I rake a hand through my hair. “One more week.”
It sounds like a truckload of shit. Everything changed.Ican’t go back. Destiny. Weakness. Whatever it was, it caught up with me.
There is only one way—ahead, whatever ahead means.
“I’ll pick you up later,” I say and bend over to kiss the top of her head.
As soon as I reach the office, my phone doesn’t stop ringing.
There is a problem at the warehouse that is delaying transportation, threatening to call my word into question.
“Find the missing container or you’ll wish you had a heart attack before I come down there.” I hang up, and half an hour later, the missing container is found.
Then I hop on a conference call with Demyan, Alexei, and Lew, my three right hands. I had to seize the power for myself quickly after my father died. Each of them got one favor from me and the promise of being allowed to rule their cities in return for their support.
They come once a month to pay their respects, discuss business in person, and to keep a close unit. That day is approaching.
When we joined our forces and resources, Enzo and I created BRACON, but each of us leads our family empires separately. I trust no one fully, but him. But we must keep up appearances, so we give the people in our close circles the impression we trust them implicitly.
“You look stressed as fuck. When is Enzo coming back from his honeymoon?” Lew asks. Of the three of them, I respect him most. He’s a ruthless asshole and doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
“In one week. And I’m not stressed,” I grit out.
“Sure, Pakhan.” He gives me a pointed look. “His marriage proved quite beneficial to us.”
That’s what interests him. He’s pragmatic like that.
“I’m sure the Pakhan can find you a suitable bride,” Demyan grins, loving to stir shit up. Of the three of them, I like him the most because he’s a damn chameleon, charming one moment, slicing your neck the next.
