LOGINNATALIA“Earth to Natalia.”The statement pulls me out of the place in my head I’d withdrawn to and back to the present.I blink, clearing my blurry vision. My brother’s face appears in front of me and the concerned frown he’s wearing makes me frown. “What?”“I should be asking you that,” he says, eyeing me carefully. “Where did you go? You’ve been like that all day.”“You got here like an hour ago.”“And you’ve been absent for that entire hour. Tell me what’s wrong.”Sucking my lower lip into my mouth, I consider confiding in my brother about the clusterfuck that is my life at the moment. He’s the least judgemental person I know--asides Bianca, of course--and he makes me feel safe enough to tell him anything.He knows about every guy I’ve gotten involved with, down to the one night stand I had once with a guy I met at a party I wasn’t even supposed to attend. I know he would never make me regret talking to him.But the situation with Aleks is a whole new level.I’m not so sure he wil
ALEKSANDR“He’s on the move, Boss,” Kirill informs me, one hand braced on the handle of the gun at his hip.I just got off an online meeting with Wilson Cross, owner of one of the largest logistics and freight companies in the country. After getting word that he’s looking to partner, I waited until the perfect moment to strike.A partnership with him would be very lucrative indeed. It would also make some of my operations smoother. It’s looking promising so far and as long as I keep him in my corner, everything should fall into place.Slipping my phone into my pocket, I head into the room designated to my tech team. Lined with screens of different sizes, all displaying CCTV footage from different locations in the compound, it is undoubtedly the most interesting room in the house and barred from access, save for a small number of people.I make a gesture for Kirill to follow me in. “Is the tracker active?”Two chairs sit facing the monitors in front of them. One occupied by a dark-hair
ALEKSANDRCommotion outside the office where I’m having a meeting with some of my staff snaps my attention from the plan in front of me to the glass doors. The receptionist is running in this direction. Fast on her heels is Natalia, her eyes narrowed and face tight with anger. Her hair billows around her shoulders, her tits bouncing with her movements. She looks like she’s about to kill someone, and I have a feeling that someone is me. The receptionist is panting by the time she knocks once on the glass doors and steps in. “Mr Volkov, there’s a woman here to see you. We asked her to wait, explaining to her that you’re in a meeting, but she’s adamant. She’s coming up here as we speak.” My eyes trail to the fire-breathing goddess trying to get past the two men I’d situated in front of the door to prevent any interruptions. They’re doing a good job of holding her back but judging from the look in her eyes and the way her lips keep moving, she’s giving them a hard time. I cover the
NATALIABianca rushes into my arms when I arrive at the hospital.I squeeze her into a tight, comforting hug, the sight of her puffy eyes and tear-streaked face breaking my heart. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay,” I whisper, gently running my fingers through her hair. “I’ve got you.”My top is wet at the spot where her face presses into my shoulder and we’re both on our feet in the middle of the waiting area, probably causing a scene, but I don’t stop holding her. Neither do I stop running my fingers through her hair soothingly.When she stops crying, sniffs and pulls away, I lead her over to the steel chairs resting against the wall where we sit, huddled against each other. “What happened to him?”She wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I think he got jumped.”My stomach drops. “Oh shit. Is he--” I swallow. “Is he going to be okay?”Her face crumples like she’s about to burst into another round of tears, but then she fans her face with her hands and blows out a breath, fighting
NATALIAI spot her immediately I enter the cafe, the bells still chiming to announce my arrival.She glances up, looking almost as nervous as I feel, and when her eyes meet mine, shock reverberates through me. For a moment, all I can do is stand there and gawk, my feet stuck to the ground like they’re anchored by two lead weights.The same shock seems to be mirrored on her face, and it’s a bit of a relief to know that I’m not the only one who has been thrown off kilter.It takes a man approaching the door to get me to snap out of my trance. “Sorry,” I murmur, forcing myself to place one foot in front of the other as I make my way over to the back of the small shop, where she’s sitting.I consider making a u-turn and running out of here while I still can, but then I think about all the effort I’ve put in just to be here. What I had to promise Leonardo in order for this to be possible.And when I think about all of it, I push my shoulders back and close the remaining distance between u
ALEKSANDR“Get out.”The soldier sitting in the driver’s seat pales as he looks up at me, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. He shrinks back in his seat, reeking so strongly of fear, I can almost taste it.Can’t really blame him, can I?I’d yanked his car door open so hard, it’s a miracle I hadn’t ripped the damn thing clean off it’s hinges. And to add to the startling appearance, I’m pretty sure the sneer on my face is the furthest thing from welcoming.Wisely, he keeps his mouth shut as he quickly slides out of the car, stepping down to the pavement while I take his spot behind the wheel. “Join Kirill. You will have your car back tommorrow.”I’m already halfway through slamming the door shut when I catch sight of a man bounding in my direction, his steps as urgent as the look on his face. The soldiers standing outside the car block his path before he can take another step, some of the stealthier ones appearing out of the shadows, gazes alert.My men are now watching him closely,