Page 82 of Brutal Reign

Aslan, however, pulls out a roll of hundreds. “Actually, sweetheart?—”

“Get your dick sucked after we finish our business,” I cut him off, my patience officially gone. “The missiles. Yes or no?”

There’s no way I’m spending one fucking minute watching Aslan get off when I could be home tucking Kin in. Or reading him a bedtime story.

The thought stops me cold. When’s the last time I wanted to read to anyone? Not since Kamilla was small and would curl up next to me with her favorite book, insisting I do all the character voices.

Aslan laughs like the psycho he is. “Jesus, Fedorov, relax. Let your cock out of your pants for once.” He leans back with a smirk, giving me his full attention. “You’re a single man. How come you never fuck one of these beautiful girls? You know that’s what they’re here for?”

“I’m done here,” I say, rising and pulling my Glock from its holster, aiming it straight at Aslan. Every guard in the room snaps to attention, hands moving toward their weapons, but one look from me and they freeze. The entire VIP section goes dead silent except for the pounding bass from the main floor. “And for the record, I’m not single. I’m a married man.”

Roman exhales slowly and shoots me a hard look, but I’m over this shit.

Aslan grits his teeth but manages to keep a cool tone. “That’s news to me. Who’s the lucky lady?”

“Are you taking the missiles or not? I don’t have time for any more bullshit.”

Aslan swallows. I’m not known for being a hothead, but he’s definitely pushed me to my limit. “Fine, fine. We have a deal.”

“Half upfront, half on delivery,” Roman says, rising to join me. “Money transfers within two hours. Good doing business with you again.”

Roman shakes the asshole’s hand while I tuck my Glock back into the waistband of my pants and head toward the door.

We walk past the main stage, where three women are doing things with a pole that definitely violate several health codes.

I can feel Roman’s eyes on me as we get into the back seat of the armored Escalade. When I check my watch again, he finally snaps. “What’s your fucking problem?”

“What time do you think four-year-olds go to bed?”

Roman shakes his head in exasperation. “You just pulled a gun during a fifty-million-dollar arms deal because you’re in a hurry to get home and do what exactly?”

“I don’t know,” I admit with a shrug. “Read Kin a bedtime story.”

He looks like he’s ready to pull his hair out. Or knife me in the gut. “Jesus fucking Christ. What happened to ‘the kid is not my responsibility’?”

I cross my arms and watch the city lights blur past the window. “He’s growing on me. He’s a kid. And you read Hope’s messages to Chen. She and Kin were miserable under Simon’s roof. He deserves better.”

Not only does he deserve better, but I want to be better for him, for both of them.

Roman scrubs a hand over his face. “Did you hear back from Maxim about it?”

I sent Maxim, Roman, and Nikolai the messages Dinara found between Chen and Hope, the ones showing Hope wasn’t a willing participant in the Black Company and that she isn’t a threat to our families.

I nod. Maxim is still on vacation with Kira, celebrating their anniversary in Paris, but he did message me back.

“He was pissed. ‘You fucking welcomed the daughter of our enemy into our home.’ His words, not mine. But I guess the messages convinced him she’s not a Black Company operative,because he wants to meet her. We’re all invited for Sunday lunch at their place when they get back.”

Roman chuckles, settling back in his seat. “Look at you, going all domestic. It’s fucking adorable.”

“Shut up.” I glance at him. “But seriously. Is it always going to be like this? Wanting to be with them instead of wherever the hell else you have to be?”

“Pretty much, yeah.” Roman’s expression softens into that gooey look he gets when he talks about Liza. “Used to think work was the most important thing. Now, I spend half my meetings wondering what she’s doing, if she’s eating enough, or if the baby’s kicking.”

“Jesus.”

“And once the kid’s born?” He shakes his head. “I can’t even imagine. Probably going to turn into one of those guys who carries around wallet photos.”

I laugh and shake my head at how fucking fast everything has changed. “You’re going to be insufferable.”