"Good. I will make arrangements for the officiant myself."MiaI didn't watch the car drive off but as soon as I could no longer hear the tires on the gravel, my legs gave out. I sat down on the gravel beside the pre-dug grave, trying to steady my breathing. The reality of the situation was setting
AlbertThe city lights seemed to blur past as I sped down the road. Nikki was the best driver. He and Sasha had pulled off a number of heists for the Volkov in the past without ever getting caught.He was also the only one who knew the city well enough to get us there quickly. The drive went quickly
"Mrs. Warren, how are you feeling?""Where... am I--""You!" I looked up as Sophia came storming toward me.I frowned what was she doing here. Either I wasn't at Albert's mansion or I was hallucinating. This wasn't exactly the worst nightmare I'd ever had, but it was definitely up there. And what wa
AlbertAfter Mia left Lorenzo's, I returned to the penthouse, the weight of everything that had transpired pressed heavily on me. The house felt too quiet, the calm almost mocking in its stillness after everything. I needed to do something to channel the frustration and anger coursing through me.Dm
I did that on purpose, knowing what kind of man he is."That's true, but I know what kind of man Dmitri is. I'm going to have to sign that paperwork, but I'm going to sign it on my terms."Ivan nodded in agreement. "That's the spirit."I rolled my shoulders. "Get a team together to clear the penthou
PolinaI followed him further into the penthouse and tried to ignore the knot tightening in my stomach at every glint of the ring on his finger.Ivan was there, head bowed over paperwork. I sat and Albert got me a glass of water before joining the table, sitting across from me."We need to discuss t
I needed to find who this woman was quickly. The second I got in my car, my anger flared up. I drove out of the parking lot, fuming. The ring on his finger, the way he had seemed so preoccupied flashed through my mind.Mia, whoever she was, better watch out.No one got in the way of Kulak and what t
MiaI almost laughed as my eyes stung. My mind was a mess.“I've been kidnapped twice, pistol-whipped, beaten, almost raped and drugged all in the span of a week since Albery came into my life, and while I know that he's not responsible for it, getting that close to the criminal underground isn't wo
She leaned against the bar.“Thank you for the flowers,” she said quietly. “What did you want to talk about?”I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't expect it to be easy, but I had hoped for a slightly warmer reception.“There’s a lot we need to discuss. About us, about what happened, and
MiaNearly a month had passed since the raid, and life had settled into a new routine. I was working as a nurse, and the steady rhythm of the hospital shifts was both grounding and exhausting. Mom was at the penthouse on bedrest, recovering from her surgery, but her spirits were high. She had a job
"Everybody on the ground now!"Agents burst into the room, guns drawn. The attendees opened fire on them but they were overwhelmed.In the midst of the chaos, I spotted Dimitri, clutching his shoulder. Glaring at me, his face twisted in a mix of anger and fear. He tried to get toward the backdoors a
AlbertPolina was mingling with various guests, a smile plastered on her face that took over her whole face. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration when I thought of her. She really thought this was going to go a certain way.I moved through the crowd avoiding her. I noticed several of Dimit
It was bittersweet and lonely and not the mood I needed to be in the day before all my plans would come to fruition.Ivan came into the study nearly an hour later, already dressed for bed. He poured himself a cup of whiskey and sat across the table from me.“I’ve been looking for places for Katie an
AlbertThat night, I found myself sitting across from a few government operatives in a discreet, dimly lit office. The atmosphere was tense as we went over the final elements of the plan, including the layout of the Kulak Estate.The operatives were efficient and to the point. Things were going well
I shook my head. "I don't have to explain myself to you."She set her jaw. "Because you can't.""Because it's none of your business. My relationship with Mia, whatever it is or was, has nothing to do with you. Leave her alone, Polina. I mean it."Polina’s face twisted with a mixture of hurt and disb
AlbertI set my jaw at the sound of the knock. It might be the whiskey, but I really wanted to kiss her. I was almost sure that she'd let me. I turned to answer the door. It was one of my subordinates with a report from Ivan.Definitely more important than almost kissing my soon-to-be ex-wife.Mia s
“How did you get here?” I asked. "I didn't think you had a casino in the city."He glanced around briefly before responding. His tone clipped but informative. “It was Elio’s. I'm doing my rounds.”I winced at that. I wanted to know what that meant and I didn't want to know. Had Elio just paid Albert