Page 9

“Don’t apologize again,” I say, letting her go.

She finishes her blini. I wouldn’t mind one, but… I’m fucking hard and she’s too close.

“Relax. You made a mistake. Someone should’ve seen you to your room.” And heads will roll, which isn’t her concern.

That’s mine.

One I look forward to.

“But you’re a welcome distraction.”

“I am?”

“You, the bath? That’s either a distraction or an attention grabber. Definitely the latter when you’re in there. The former now, because, damned if I try not to, my brain keeps snagging on that.”

She drains her champagne as her pupils dilate, and bless her innocent heart, she drops her gaze to my crotch where I’m sure she can see what she’s doing to me. I’m not advertising it, but I’m not hiding it, either.

“Are you sure you’re not going out and I’m stopping you? The tux…”

“No,Lyubimaya, it arrived tonight, rush job from one of the finest tailors in town. Not Milan or Paris or even the UK. This is one who’s hidden in Chinatown, who does the most exquisite suits. And the rich and famous who go are always asked who they’re wearing, but they never tell.”

“The same one who made the suit you’re wearing?”

I loosen my tie. “Da. My little sister’s turning eighteen, so it’s a big-ass bash. And I got that for her.”

“She wears men’s suits?”

I smile. “Funny. No, she’s got some slinky number that’ll hopefully give the old man a heart attack.” I’m still smiling, but the steel that’s pierced my tone isn’t.

I fucking hate my father.Demyan, you’re never good enough. Demyan, you disappoint me. Another scandal, Demyan?

The list goes on. The asshole never acknowledges the work I do. The money I make him, the order I keep when people like Aleksandr try to rise up.

And the more he pushes me, not to be better, stronger, deadlier, but to be more like him, the more I fight back. I’ll do things my way. He’s a fossil, a dinosaur, last of the old guard.

There’s a reason the bratva is changing; the different factions are splintering or joining. The power shifts are something he’s got to feel but clearly refuses to let it in.

I wish I could walk, but it’s my birthright and I want it before he destroys it all. But until that time comes, I enjoy my scandals that work twofold. One, they piss my father off, and two, they make friend and foe alike underestimate me.

Only those close to me know the ice in my veins, my utter ruthlessness and razor ways with business. I don’t give too many chances. Exactly three. And then goodbye forever.

To life.

She looks at me, a slight frown marring her brow. “You don’t mean that.”

I do. But I flip the subject. “It’s been a long day for me, too. But you’re here and you’re… lovely.”

Thing is, I love the scandals and I’m half thinking of convincing her to stay and come with me as my inappropriate date; however, scandal to fuck my father off is one thing.Scandal that’ll have the potential to ruin Alina’s party is another.

But I have a reputation; I move through these scandals like a fucking hurricane. I sleep with whatever sexy woman I want, whoever catches my attention.

And this one…

I top off her champagne.

Maybe she’s the distraction I need. For tonight. And maybe she’ll save a head or two of the staff along with their jobs. “Do you have a name?”

“Oh. I’m sorry. It’s Erin.”