LOGINNikolai Besides Dimitri no one has seen me without my mask and lived to tell the tale. If that was why he killed the whole motorcycle club, I couldn't say. When I enter the warehouse, Dimitri is already there leaning against the wall and fumbling with his phone. In the opposite corner with his face to the floor lies Erjon, the man we picked up earlier. His legs are bound with silver duct tape around his ankles and knees. His hands are tied behind his back. A dirty rag protrudes from his mouth.His eyes widen as they land on my now covered face but his pathetic attempt at shuffling away wasn't going to keep him away from me. “How are you here already?” I asked dumbfounded but not at all surprised. Dimitri worked at all times in mysterious ways. “That’s for me to know.” He replies without looking up. “Should I call Pavel to handle the information extraction?”“I'm here already, aren't I?”Dimitri tilts his face. “And you won't mind getting your hands dirty?”“It has its perks once
VeraI stare at my father eyes wide for what feels like eternity but it couldn't have been more than ten seconds. “You want me to spy on my husband?”“Let's not forget who said husband is.” He berates in the same condescending tone I had gotten used to. “That's not something I'll likely forget anytime soon. But what do you think he'll do to me if he fucking finds out?”My words spill out and it feels like I had been slapped in the face with them. Surely I wasn't considering… there was no way on earth I was going to spy on Nikolai. For all his many faults, my head wouldn't look pretty in any kind of delivery bag. “Don't tell me you've grown soft on me.” Sergi pulled out his chair and sat. “They forced my hand with the marriage. I intend to find a way to make it useful for us.”“And how is my spying on him going to help?”“I'll decide that.”Of course he will. “But you also know I’ve only ever done what is required of me when I understand why.” I hold his gaze. “So explain it to me.
NikolaiWhatever Vera does to Anya she'll probably deserve and Dimitri certainly wouldn't let Anya do anything to my wife. So I turn to more important matters. It took a while but eventually I found an Albanian group hidden in a motorcycle club and asked Dimitri to meet up there. The fucker was running late.There’s a sound of an engine nearing, purring softer than a motorcycle,and a few seconds later Dimitri's motorcycle parks next to my sleek black sedan. When he managed to ditch the car after dropping Anya off, I have no idea. Dimitri steps off as I step out of the vehicle. He stares at me for a few seconds, then bursts out laughing. “Are you fucking kidding me?” “What’s wrong?” “What’s wrong?” He motions with his hand in my general direction. “You do not come to a motorcycle club in a fucking three-piece suit. They’ll think we’re the fucking authorities.” “Oh, and what should I have worn to this meeting?” “Jeans, Nikolai. You do know what those are, don’t you?” “I don’t
VeraWithout a doubt Anya was going to remain alive for the foreseeable future if her lurking guards had any say in the matter. Dmitri stepped into view like he had been summoned.His presence stacked the odds against me. He wasn't going to let me do anything foolish to her. “Why are we stopping?” Katya asked from the backseat, her tone light but edged with curiosity.“You wish for her to proceed?” Pavel asked with an eyebrow raised. It was increasingly becoming his favorite mode of communication. Katya shrugged. “I was looking forward to it.”Not bothering to spare either of them a glance, my attention stayed fixed ahead, on the entrance of the hotel.I narrowed my eyes slightly, watching the way Anya moved. She looked exactly the way she had in her pictures. Fucking perfect. My gaze shifted, dragging away from Anya to the men positioned around the entrance.One near the pillar.Two across the driveway.One by the glass door.I watched one of the men turn slightly. His gaze swep
Nikolai Punching him now however wasn't a bright idea. I could have patience for long enough for him to never know I was the one on the delivering end. The things I could do to his face in the dark."Anya used to be a friend of yours, did she not?" Morozov asks, his tone deceptively casual.“Used to. There are reasons why friendships end.”“And I have given you a reason to begin afresh. On a clean slate.”I couldn't think of anyone I wanted to be stuck with less. Anya, with all her glory, wasn't someone I could stand for a long time. "She can't marry a married man," I say flatly."But she's determined to." Morozov leans back in his chair, “Sergi beat me to you. That's a wrong that could easily be remedied.""My marriage isn't up for negotiation.""Everything is up for negotiation, Nikolai." He signals the waiter for another coffee. "Anya has been... fixated on you for quite some time. Certain impressions stay with young girls."My jaw clenches beneath my mask. I remember that night
VeraI am startled awake only to find an empty bed and the faint scent of Nikolai's cologne lingering on the pillow beside me, finding only cool sheets where his warmth should be.He's already gone to meet Morozov.I sit up, pushing my hair out of my face, and notice a note on the nightstand. His handwriting is surprisingly neat, almost elegant.“Stay in the penthouse. Dimitri left breakfast in the kitchen. I'll explain everything when I return.” -NikolaiI crumple the note in my fist. Finding my way to the kitchen, I am greeted with an elaborate spread waiting for me and a cup of warm coffee. I wrap my hands around the cup and settle onto one of the bar stools, trying not to imagine Morozov's smile as he sits across from Nikolai. Trying not to wonder what this peace treaty is about.And I fail miserably. I drain my coffee and pour another cup, but it tastes like ash in my mouth. I need a distraction. Something to keep my hands busy and my mind from spiraling.My eyes drift to the
Nikolai's POV “When can we expect payment from the Morozov’s?” Philip asks as he turns the page of his thick old ledger. “In two days,” I reply approaching the table and take a seat across from him. “Why the fuck won’t you let Dimitri get you a laptop? You can’t keep, documenting our financial
NikolaiThere were three categories of foolish people I did not like to meet, ever. Number one, people who could not remain loyal. The reason for that is quite obvious, if I could not trust you I would rather you stayed with the other billions of humans that I did not personally know. Loyalty took
Vera Dressing up had been nice. I wore long black jeans and a white top with so many ropes. It had one around my neck, on each of my wrists, on my waist, and somewhere on my back. Then I paired my attire with white heels. If I had not become an artist I could have done very well as a stylist. A
NikolaiThe early morning light filters through the curtains, casting soft shadows across Vera's sleeping face. I watch her for a moment longer than necessary, memorizing the peaceful curve of her lips, the way her hair spills across the pillow like silk.Last night, I'd been convinced I'd lost her







