MasukLELLAI kissed him back desperately, and the last of my doubts evaporated into the heat of his skin. Every ounce of the fear I had carried over the last twenty-four hours melted away. Even while I was furious with him, the relief of knowing he belonged only to me made me completely defenseless against his touch.Viktor growls against my lips. God! I missed him so much Without breaking the kiss, his hands slid down to the back of my thighs, parting my legs and lifting me off the floor. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, clinging to his broad shoulders as he carried me across the dimly lit room.I felt him sit on the edge of the mattress, keeping me securely on his lap. I opened my mouth and our tongues clashed. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me so close against his chest that I could feel the rapid pounding of his heart. We were completely lost in each other, breathing each other’s breath, feeling each other's rapid heartbeat.Viktor’s lips slowly traveled away from m
LELLAKaterina’s eyes widened, darting to the heavy drapes as if praying for anyone to burst through. “Speak.” I gritted my teeth.When she realized no one was coming, she swallowed hard as the arrogance she had displayed in the lounge completely vanished under my grip."I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered as she tried to twist her arm out of my hold. "I'm a guest here–"I pressed my forearm directly against her throat, cutting off her air just enough to make her gasp. "Don't play dumb with me. You were bragging to your friends that you were untouchable because you had already climbed into Viktor Volkonsky's bed in Moscow. Clearly, I am his wife. If you lie to me, I will make sure the next place you visit is the bottom of the Hudson River."A tear of terror leaked from the corner of her eye, ruining her mascara. “It was a script! It was just a script, I swear!” Her hands came up to claw weakly at my jacket sleeves. I didn't loosen my grip. "Explain.""
LELLAI stared down at my screen as the news unfolded before my eyes. It hadn't even been an hour, and yet headline after headline was flashing across the global syndicate forums.’Spanish Heiress Steps Out with Conrad Volkonsky in New York.’‘A Split in the Empire? Viktor Volkonsky’s Wife Spotted in the Arms of His Nephew.’And the last one I am now reading is a completely informative article.‘Lorelei Volkonsky was seen attending an exclusive event with her ex, Conrad Volkonsky, who is also the nephew of her husband, Viktor Volkonsky.’ Wow! Just wow.The paparazzi snapshots from the entrance of the Diamond District lounge were already circulating like wildfire. My phone was vibrating so violently in my palm and Viktor's name flashed across the screen over and over again with a relentless barrage of nonstop incoming calls. He knew exactly where I was, and I knew, with terrifying certainty, that he was absolutely furious.But I didn't care. I let the phone ring out as the buzzin
VIKTORThe conference table was lined with the top executives of Russia’s largest energy conglomerates and the highest-ranking members of my own inner circle. But I couldn't focus on a single word they were saying.Beneath the edge of the table, my fingers are pressing the redial for the fifth time with my airpods intact to my ear.It just keeps ringing.My jaw clenched.I disconnected and immediately dialed Lev's private line. It rang out to the very end before cutting off. I tried the secondary security detail stationed at the New York penthouse. No one was answering. The entire grid around my wife had gone completely dark.Worry is starting to grow in my gut.Lella never kept her phone off, not after everything that had happened. Thomas and Lev knew that missing a call from me was a punishable offense. For the connection to be severed like this meant only two things: either my security protocols had been violently breached, or Lella was intentionally hiding from me. Both option
LELLAConrad leaned back against the velvet booth, and a smug smile spread across his face as he gestured to the empty seat opposite him.“Please, sit."I simply slid into the booth and immediately reached into my bag. Without a single word, I open my phone and find that one photo Sofia had sent me from that night at the club. A candid shot of the gorgeous woman who had targeted Joaquin and bragged about my husband.I slid the phone across the marble table, planting my finger firmly on the glass."Do you know her? Or more importantly, do you still have access to the roster of every pretty girl hanging out in that specific VIP lounge? Because I know nothing happens in that district without your name attached to it."Conrad looked down at the screen, and for a second, his smug expression wavered into surprise. Then, he let out a chuckle, shaking his head as he looked back up at me."Well, well." He leaned his chin on his hand as his eyes glinted with amusement. "I have to admit, Le
LELLAThe lukewarm water of the bathtub swirled around my shoulders, but it did nothing to wash away the suspicion settling deep into my chest. I stared at the ceiling as my mind spun out of control.Viktor.My own brother’s words from earlier kept echoing in my ears, shattering the peace I had found after the family dinner. Why would he? The question tore at my throat. Viktor was fiercely protective of me. He had given me his unspoken devotion. Was I just being naive? Is he really telling the truth about wanting to build a family with me?I sat up instantly, causing the water to splash against the porcelain. I grabbed my phone off the marble ledge, but my fingers paused and stared at Viktor’s name in my contacts.I wanted to press the call. I wanted to demand the truth, to hear it from his voice, but the phone call was cowardly, and Viktor was too smart. He could mask his tone over a line. No. I will demand a face-to-face confrontation. I needed to look into his eyes to know
LELLA“En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo...” The priest began in a resonant voice as the ancient Spanish liturgy filled the cavernous space. (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…)I felt like I was in a trance as the ceremony followed the tradi
VIKTORThe panic in her eyes was exquisite, which told me exactly where her mind had traveled. She was thinking of the very first time we met outside the ancestral home, the first time we touched at the penthouse, the heat, the way she had looked at me with a vulnerability that ‘Lella’ was never su
LELLAI groaned and clutched my head as it felt heavy. I slowly opened my eyes and glared at the curtain, which couldn't even cover the sunlight proper– I sat up abruptly as the panic hit me faster than the hangover.The room was vast, dominated by cold charcoal tones and the scent of expensive san
LELLA"No, no, no..." The panic started to claw at my throat as I dropped to my knees.Where is it? I remembered having it in the hospital. I remembered them in my hoodie pocket while on the rooftop. But in the chaos of meeting Conrad at that restaurant, the fever, and the kiss… I had lost track







