“you to really worrying about that right now?

My eyes sapud to Elena’s face, incredulity heavy in my voice. Shey beside me, her body wrapped in the soft linen sheets, hands still bandaged and resting uselessly at her sides. But her eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked up at me,pletely unbothered.

“Wel, i de have a contract to uphold,” she said, brow fumowing in mock seriousness.

Theofed, tuming away to stare at the ceiling “Do you take me for an asshole or something? I wouldn’t force an injured person to have sex, Elena.” The

tasted bitter in my mouth, the thought alone disgusting. But then theard herugh.

“Rx, dude” she said, still grimming, “I was just teasing. I know you’re not that kind of person,”

i swallowed, forcing mysed to breathe. My heart thudded louder than it should have. This wasn’t good. Not good at all

Bet when nced back at her, she was already closing her eyes, a faint smile still on her lips as she settled back into the pillow. The moonlight c sorglow over her face, softening her features.

cast a

And as i watched her fall asleep, the knot in my gut only tightened. Ishifted, rolling onto my back, staring up at the ceiling while her breathing evened

The room felterthan usual, Or maybe that was just the chill that had settled inside me.

This was bad. Really fucking bad.

The next morning came too quickly.

by the time I’d showered and dressed, Elena was still asleep. I stood by the bedb, /badjusting my cufflinks, watching her. Her bhair /bwas a wild mess, spread over the plow, and her bandaged hands twitched every so often, like she was still dreaming

exhaled slowly, fists clenching. I couldn’t let my guard down. Not now. Not when things inside me bwere /bbalready /bfalling apart.

So let her a note, reminding her to take her painkillersb, /band headed out.

The drive to the office was silent. Too silent. The kind of silence that makes your mind start to bwander/b,

And mine wandered straight to Elena in her bod.

The moment I stepped out of the elevator and binto /bmy floor, I knew something was off.

Felix, was practically vibrating with anxiety, hisce red as she struggled against two massive, burly men blocking the entrance to my office. Russian. Tattoo of wolves and serpents winding up their thick necks

Fuce

Trecognized them instantly. Fucking Morozov’s men

voice cold

The guards stepped away without a word, and Fristhet me a helpless look. I shook my head, a silent border /bfor him to stay out of it we

to happen, he didn’t need to be involod.

Inside, the room reeked of prune. The sceni hut me instantly staring down at the city below

ly as i stepped in, eyesnding on the man standing before the hoorsa

ΗΠ

ss of blonde, his broad shoulders hamed in a charcoal suit that. He was the kind of man who could look like a king in alleyway. And right now, he looked like both

uniled. A slow, dangerous smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

To what do lower the pleasure I drawled, moving to the s and leaning back. I already knew why he was here. There was only one reason Sergei

1 xhem his face in Velhaven.

Sergni ficked the end of his cigar into the ashtray on my desk, grinding it out with the kind of force that spoke volumes. He crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze roving over me like he was sizing me up

Tou have some audacity, Niki Vitrex”

“Say the

barges into my office unannounced,” I shot back smoothly, crossing one leg over the other.

twitched. “Like you didn’t do the same? Showing up at my house, unannounced?”

scle in my jawi ticked. “So? Why are you here now?” But I already knew.

“You know why” Serpol said, reaching into his coat. “I’m here to ept your offer.”

He pulled out a photograph, the edges creased and worn. He tossed it onto the table between us, and itnded face up. I didn’t need to look at it to know

who it was

But I looked anyway.

My jaw clenched

Apr Fre years of age. Short pixie cut hair and a bin /bwhite dress. Dull eyes and sunken cheeks.

Serge leaned forward, his eyes boring into mine.

“Stop ying dums, Vetrov,” he growledb, /bvoice low and dark.

forced myself to breathe. To keep myce neutral. Even as my pulse roared in my ears.

“Toote, Tsaid, leaning back. “I already took back my offer.”

For a moment, then was silence.

Then Sergeughed. A sharp, cold sound that echoed around the office.

“On, you think you’re funny?” he said, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “You really think I’m going to let you do this?”

His hand moved too quickly for me to track. One second it was empty, the next it was holding a gun, almed straight at my head.

idio Didn’t finch. Just stared back at him, my mind swirling. My chest a hollow, echoing cavern.

Because all I could think about was Elena

She had stayed.

When the bomb had been ticking when she bcould /bhave pumped off, she had stayed. There was a better chance of survival if she had person in my he would have left me to die, China had stayed.

supposed to be daperable. Expendable

But she won’t. Not anymo

Thad mared her not just bees wanted to fuck her out of my system but because me marrying her would benefit me in ways she had no idea about.

And if i actually Acorpted Serpe’s offer now

I’d be hurting her in was the couldn’t even imagine.

ting her in wins the

Sempoi cocked the gun, his eyes shing. “You better rethink that decision, Vetrov. Because I swear to God, if you don’t

vpw clenched tight

But the decision had already been made.