"Her name is Mrs. Joy," Viktoria informed Anika, looking at her with pride as she showed off her stuffed giraffe. It was Friday morning, and she had finally found a way to meet with Adeline Wagner on her own terms. The woman had contacted Anika, just as Viktoria had planned in the beginning. Sonya and Peter had kept their promises, and although her new friend had initially been unsure of her motives, seeing the little girl and her obvious resemblance to Anika and Klaus had convinced her to go along with it. The meeting was taking place at the boutique, with both women using it as an excuse to distract themselves. Sonya had arranged for them to have a private room and would occasionally bring samples of clothing for the little girl, which was just an excuse to keep an eye on Anika. Adeline, on the other hand, seemed willing to do anything to prevent Anika from giving her daughter a gift. "She's very pretty," Anika said, smiling at the little girl. She truly adored the way Adeline took
Klaus looked at his brother, feeling the familiar anger raging inside him. Ixander had hurt Anika, not to mention he had also sent Igor to the hospital for longer than he had expected. H is friend was still recovering, but his brother was swaying in front of him in his club office like a lucky bastard. Although Klaus knew from experience that his father had trained Ixander in a similar way to how he was training Alenna, so the man knew perfectly well how to hide his injuries. Appearing now in front of Klaus, strutting around as if the place was his own, was simply a way to taunt him. "What the hell do you want?" he asked, leaning on his hands on the desk. His brother, dressed like a gigolo, watched him with a mocking smile. "Isn't it obvious?" he asked, dropping onto the leather sofa where Edgar Nightingale had been sitting just seconds before, trying to negotiate a deal that was satisfactory for both parties. "You're making the same mistakes as Kolya. What the hell does that woman
Anika felt ansious and a little bit sick, Klaus was takin her to met his family, and it wasn't precisely a family meeting, it was in fact, a legitimate talk about business, and the most recent issue that everyone seemed to have been deciding to ignore, her and her relationship with Nikolay, which until then, she had never considered as important enough for an entire house of mobsters to have to discuss. "Although it may not seem like it, the Bratva is a family, and since my father took control, the Petrovs have to appear strong, Nikolay's death was a hard blow," Klaus had explained to her, looking uneasy. "Tonight you'll hear a couple of unpleasant things." "Will your father be there?" Anika asked, swallowing hard. Klaus nodded. "He's the boss, tonight will be something interesting, but hopefully nothing violent, Ixander promised to behave." Anika paled slightly at the mention of Klaus's brother. "Ixander?" she asked nervously, feeling a chill run through her body, but Klaus had re
"Let's be clear, I'll get straight to the point," said Mikhail, joining his fingers in a gesture Klaus made every time he was concentrated. In Mikhail, it felt threatening. "This... relationship between you, whatever it is... I'll allow it, with one condition." Anika looked at Klaus, who raised an eyebrow in his father's direction, expectant, but Mikhail focused his attention entirely on Anika. "I know what Nikolay did to protect you, but Klaus is not stupid enough to really defy me, not if he truly appreciates his lifestyle." Klaus clenched his jaw but looked away, which for a moment made Anika feel afraid. "Nikolay stole something important to me, and you know where it is, my wife's ring. Give it to me, and I'll leave you alone." "I don't have it," replied Anika. "And is all this really for a ring?" she asked, confused. "Mother's ring is not worth as much as diamonds," Klaus pointed out. "Why do you care so much?" "It's an offering of peace," the man said slowly. "I already lost
Klaus was angry, even though his plan to get his father's attention had worked, now Anika was mad at him, and his brother Ixander had definitely noticed. As usual, no one mentioned the bloodstain on his shirt or the wound on his forehead. Everyone knew what had happened. It wouldn't be the first or last time. A part of Klaus had really wanted to pull the trigger, but he knew that doing so would be more of a headache than it would be productive. Klaus and his brothers knew that doing something like that required more than just bravery. They had learned it the hard way."How's business with the Urich?" his father asked, looking at him from across the table."It's done. Constantine withdrew his men, but we still haven't found the stolen container," Klaus replied, taking a sip of his whiskey. Anika barely touched her food, playing with it while avoiding her brothers' gaze but still attentive to the conversation."We need a shipment for next week," Dmitri informed, clearing his throat. "I
Klaus pushed Igor against the wall, angry, pressing the gun against his friend's jaw, it was still hot, after all, his father had had one last surprise waiting for him outside the house, and Klaus had had to get his hands dirty, which he hated."If you take her away from me again, I'll kill you," he growled, going after Anika after noticing she had taken too long in the bathroom, Ivan had finally informed him of how Igor had not only avoided telling him how the woman had been sick minutes before, but had also taken her without his authorization outside his father's mansion. "If anything had happened to her...""But it didn't," Igor growled back, gritting his teeth, his nose bleeding slightly from the punches. "She's your wife, I have to follow her orders, remember?"Klaus narrowed his eyes, threateningly, annoyed at seeing the amused glint in his friend's eyes, who was evidently enjoying seeing him irritated.Annoyed, mainly because Igor was right, Klaus had ordered him to take care o
Anika kissed the man affectionately, Klaus's strong hands held her tightly, gripping her waist with force. The warm breath of the man mixed with hers as he savored every inch of her mouth. Her hair was slightly damp, and the gentle soap scent was intoxicating."Come to bed with me," he requested, biting his lower lip as he felt the man's erection forming under her weight. Klaus took a deep breath."You're going to drive me crazy," he growled. Anika was about to reply, but Klaus quickly sat up, taking her in his arms. Smiling shyly, Anika wrapped both arms around his neck."I hope crazy in love," she added, resting her head on Klaus's chest as he carried her to the bedroom, moving easily. It took only a couple of strides to reach the bed."Crazy in every possible way," Klaus assured her, laying her down on the bed and positioning himself over her immediately, pressing her with his weight. The sensation of the suit against her naked skin was exciting, but the man propped himself up on h
Klaus handed the little girl a stuffed toy, feeling like a stranger in the middle of the park, dressed in a suit and surrounded by his guards, while at a playground with his niece staring at him with that typical look of amazement in children's eyes."Giraffe," she said, smiling as she took the toy in her hands, hugging it tightly and looking at her adoptive parents for approval, reluctantly, they both smiled.After some tough bargaining from Klaus and surprisingly compelling extortion from Edgar, they had managed to convince Horace to hand over the girl. His visibly affected wife looked at Klaus with resentment."That's right, sweetie, it's a giraffe," encouraged Klaus. The little girl was the spitting image of his younger sister, which made his chest tighten. He hadn't been able to protect Alenna at that age; he was too naive, too inexperienced. But now, he would do whatever it takes to have his niece back.Although he knew his role would be that of a father, knowing that this littl