I closed my eyes tight, feeling like a horrible fraud.
To Andre, for desiring him but unable to embrace him fully.
To Esmeralda, for wasting time I should try to focus on appeasing our uncle with stolen intel from Andre’s office.
And to myself—caught between duty and desire. Between the hint of security and bliss from the dangerous man my uncle saw as a rival… and the heart-wrenching guilt and loss of knowing my cousin would ultimately pay the price for my mistakes.
7
ANDRE
Two weeks after the night I shot Yusef and stained the carpet in my office with my blood, that night Sofia had come into my life, I begrudgingly came to an honest admission that some pithy generalizations about this world were true.
“Good things come to those who wait,” I said as I sat with my cousins after a birthday party we’d had for Claire.
Roman huffed and shook his head as he reached for his drink. “Well, I’mnotwaiting.” He finished his drink and splayed his free hand at the rest of us. “I’m not waiting and moping that it’s not my turn to do something as stupid as fall in love. And settle down.” He snorted.
We’d had a nice night so far. A dinner. Now just hanging out on the large patio space. Claire insisted that she didn’t want anyone to make a big deal out of her birthday. Mikhail heeded her warning. But my sister, Anya, hadn’t gotten the memo. She was to blame for the actual party effort of the evening, but it was still toned down. This wasn’t a grand ball or anything like whatsociety would expect of us with how wealthy and powerful we were. Tonight was about family. Just being together.
I wasn’t sure how the conversation had shifted to our nagging Roman about being such a player, but it had.
“There’s nothing stupid about letting a woman matter in your life,” Sergei said as he glanced at Maisie dancing to music with Anya on the other side of the room. Then he dragged his gaze to Natalie, smiling at her as she talked with Claire.
He’d come back from his honeymoon a few days ago, and he didn’t look like he was suffering from the “mistake” of loving a woman.
My father strolled by, holding Owen in his arms. “The only stupid thing about it is when it happens whether you want it to or not.” He shot me a stern look.
Sergei shrugged. “None of us would ever be so distracted as to not serve the family,” he replied.
My father didn’t respond, merely watching me.
“I don’t get why you’re harping onme,” Roman protested. He pointed at me. “Tease him about being next in line to give up his freedom and be shackled down.”
Sergei rolled his eyes. My father shook his head at Roman’s carefree and non-committal attitude.
“He’s already on his way,” my father decided dryly.
“What?” Roman whipped around to face me again. “You met someone? When?” He barked a laugh. “You’ve been hell-bent on finding that mole for so long, you did nothing else. I thoughtyou’ve been recovering and healing at home—oh…” He grinned. “That short and sassy maid?” he guessed.
I stared him down.
“I knew there was something else going on there.” He chuckled. “You couldn’t keep your eyes off her when we met at your place yesterday.”
Guilty as charged.I lacked the ability to shut off the need to know where Sofia was at all times. The closer she was to me, I could relish the increase of electric need. And the further she was from me in the building, the more I fell into the desperation of wanting her close.
That was why I’d come to the realization that patience was the name of the game I had to play with her.
Good things come to those who wait.
And I’d wait out Sofia until she wanted to cave to me.
“A maid, though?” Roman shrugged with a salacious smile as he glanced at my father. “It’s not like we haven’t all helped ourselves to the staff over the years. They’re around. Convenient.” Another shrug. “It’s not like he’ll marry her.”
I looked off to the side, not commenting.
Of course, I wasn’t fucking marrying my damn maid. That was a reach. But I also wasn’t giving up onsomethingwith her.
Sofia had yet to take the initiative with me. Each time I found her, she’d kiss me back. Every chance I had to talk to her, she carried on a conversation without asking for more. She was careful, holding back and not submitting to me, and yes, it was slowly driving me crazy.
