All Chapters of Kiss Me Goodbye, Mafia Don: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

AnnaWhen we finally pull into the clinic parking lot, he sighs. “I’ll help you find a job that’s better than that. Somewhere where they respect you.”“That’s not the fucking point.”I didn’t mean to snap at him. Not really. But now that it’s out, I can’t feel a reason to stop.“That may not have been an ideal job, but it was the first and only one that I chose for myself. That I won for myself, on my own terms and my own credit.” I sigh. “And then you had to barge in and take it all away. Just like how you took my home away from me. My ability to drive myself literally anywhere. Shit, I can’t remember the last time I even got to decide where we go out to eat. Newsflash, Viktor: this is the twenty-first century. I happen to have just as many rights as you.”Something in the back of my mind whispers for me to give him a chance to explain himself.The rest of me doesn’t have the time or patience to wait for some justification of his behavior.I storm out of the car. At least he gives me

ViktorI’m on my tenth attempt to read the same sentence in the Ivanov International Employee Handbook. No matter what I do, my mind keeps wandering back to Anna’s blowup in the car.Do you respect your employees?I know what she was really asking. Do I walk my talk? Do I hold my people accountable? Am I the man I claim to be?I wanted to say yes, just to have the higher ground. So I could proudly be better—far better—than her dickhead employers.But it’s been bugging me ever since she brought it up.That’s why I’m on page seventy-two of this handbook and silently cursing whoever decided we needed a fucking Bible instead of a few simple pages.I’m still irritated that Anna has no problem standing up to me, but can’t do the same to those idiots she calls her bosses. She doesn’t hesitate to tell me exactly where I can stick my overbearing habits—but them? The second they seem even mildly displeased, she bows under their pressure and slinks off to the corner.I was so fucking pissed. Not

AnnaOn the way to the restaurant after a quick pit stop at the cell phone store, I send out texts to give the important people my new number. Blair and Viktor. I download an app that lets me spin up a secondary VoIP number and I give that one to Hermes and Mack, because I'll be damned if they farm my shit out to Collins and Diana again.I hardly trust them to pay me these days. They've been so jumpy, so easily startled, like they're constantly hovering over something top secret.I consider extending an olive branch to my parents—but the thing is, one too many olive branches given away makes a tree bare.So, on second thought, forget that.When we arrive at Chez Moliere, Lev helps me out of the car and holds the restaurant door open for me. It looks like I'm the first one here—aside from the birthday lady herself.Asya beams at me and sweeps across the room to wrap me up in her warm embrace. "Look at you! So radiant!" She gushes and examines me all at once. "How are you feeling? Are y

ViktorGalina is barely a step into my office when I stop her with an outstretched hand. "Whatever it is, I'll take it from here.""But... it's from the board of directors."I flex my fingers so I don't have to look up at her. Breathing around her seems to give her the wrong impression, despite our last discussion. "I can read for myself."She clicks her tongue, but slaps the papers into my hand. I could write her up for insubordination, but I have only myself to blame here. It's my fault for making her think attitude would get her bent over my desk with my handprint on her ass.Those days are long behind us. The mere thought now makes me sick to my stomach.The door to my office opens again. By the sounds of huffing and more tongue-clicking, my sister and assistant are now staring each other down."Put some fucking clothes on," Rina snaps at her.Galina scoffs. "You wouldn't know fashion if it was sewn onto you.""I know a slut when I see one. Go check the mirror and change, suka."I

ViktorI love coming home to the sound of Anna's laughter.I hate knowing I'm about to ruin it."Viktor!" My mother wipes her hands on her apron and nudges Anna toward me. "I hope you're in the mood for pierogi. We're trying to find comfort foods that agree with her tummy.""Solyanka sounded amazing until we popped the can of brined pickles," Anna explains as she slips into my arms, wrapping her own around my waist. It's getting a little more challenging to do now that her womb is growing.I give my mother a look over the top of Anna's head and murmur in Russian, "I need to speak to Anna."Mama, to her credit, doesn't press for details. She shucks her apron, kisses Anna on the cheek, and slips away.Anna watches in confusion, saying nothing until we're alone. Then she turns to me with a hesitant eyebrow raised. "Is something wrong?"I sigh. "Diana Cleary paid me a visit today. In my office. In what was basically themed lingerie."Anna stiffens. Her face falls. "Oh."Fucking hell, I ha