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“I told you I could set you up with someone from my family. We could make this alliance official.”

“I don’t care that she’s Russian,” I bite out. “I just care that she’s not a Marinov.”

Anton’s nostrils flare. The others look like they want to rip me apart. Let them try.

“On suma saydot kakda on uznayit,” Kirill mutters, but it sounds more like a cryptic threat.

I definitely need to learn the language.

Konstantin chuckles dryly, eyes still on me. “We’ll see ourselves out. Have a good evening.”

Once they’re gone, I slam the door behind them. “We need a new supplier.”

“We’re not switching. The Russians are the best.”

I shake my head in disgust. “How the fuck can you work with them after what they did to our family?”

Tynan’s face hardens. “He’s not Sergey. He didn’t do it.”

“They’re all the damn same!” I dig my fist into the desk.

Without waiting for his response, I storm out, ignoring my brothers’ calls.

The Marinovs are pure evil. And I’d rather gouge my own eyes out than ever get involved with one of them, let alone marry one.

CHAPTER12

DINARA

Boris and my new bodyguard,Artem, drive me to the private airport Cillian arranged for me. The moment we pull up, I see him.

He’s standing at the bottom of the steps leading down from the plane, and as soon as our eyes meet, he starts strolling toward me. His grin spreads wider the closer he gets, and damn, does he look good. Expensive gray suit, black dress shirt with a button casually popped open, every muscle on display even through the fabric. The sunlight catches his large silver watch, making it glisten as he reaches for my hip and leans in to kiss me on the cheek.

“Goddamn, you smell good,” he murmurs, his hot breath grazing my nape. “And you look sexy as hell too.” His voice is low and seductive, making my skin heat in an instant. “Can’t wait to get you to my place and take you right up against the window.”

His words hit me like a bolt, zapping straight to my core. As he backs away, his gaze slides down my body as if he can’t help but admire my short black strappy dress and nude stilettos. And even with the heels on, he’s still way taller.

His attention shifts momentarily, and I notice it flicking to the two men behind me.

“Oh, this is another one of my bodyguards. Cillian, Artem. Artem, Cillian.”

Artem gives a nod of acknowledgment, and Cillian returns the gesture. Friendly bunch.

Cillian grabs my rolling luggage from them and looks at me, his lips twitching in that confident, teasing way. “Babe, did you pack for two weeks or two days?”

I shrug a shoulder, strutting beside him and offering him a mischievous glance. “A girl never knows what she needs until she needs it.”

He laughs, and I love the sound of it. With a playful smile, he helps me up the steps.

I follow him onto the plane and settle into the soft cream leather seats. He stows my luggage in the overhead bin and takes the seat beside me, buckling in. Boris and Artem head to the back, giving us some space. This day’s looking better and better.

Cillian reaches over, and before I know it, his fingers brush mine as he straps my seat belt around me. A jolt of electricity shoots through my limbs.

He stills, gaze locking with mine, and for one fleeting moment, the rest of the world disappears. His hand gently cups my cheek, and it’s as though time stands still again with me and Cillian at the center of it—a big, brewing storm.

And in this moment, I know we’re both ready to drown in it. Together.

* * *