Page 63 of Cruel Juliet

It doesn’t excuse him, but it makes me wonder what things would have been like if he hadn’t been Bratva. If we’d been just two people meeting over coffee.

Simple. Normal.

But that’s not what we are. And it doesn’t matter how much we want to, we can’t escape our pasts. We can only try to make our future better.

With that thought flitting through my head, and Petyr’s warmth at my side, I finally drift off to sleep.

27

PETYR

I don’t like leaving her alone. Not after last night. The image of her pale and trembling on the bathroom floor is carved into me.

But business doesn’t wait, and this deal with Misha has been weeks in the making. If I want to push the Danilos out, I need every advantage I can get.

Before I leave the house, I call Luka into the hall. “You and two men stay here. No one gets near her without my say.”

He gives a sharp nod. “Consider it done, boss.”

“Good,” I say. “I’ll be at the club. Keep me updated.”

Only then do I head out.

Even in the car, I keep checking my phone, half-expecting Luka to call. I’m hoping for nothing but silence. No news means she’s safe.

When I get to the club, Misha is already there.

He lifts his chin just enough to acknowledge me. No wasted movements or empty words. It’s what I like about him. Hedoesn’t play games. After the stunt Sidorov pulled, I’d rather do business with men like Misha Lykov. He’s true to his word. That’s worth more than gold these days.

I sit across from him. A bottle of Macallan 25 waits on the table between us, glasses already poured. He pushes one toward me.

The burn goes down easy, the kind of drink that settles in the gut and keeps you sharp.

“Shipments first,” he says. “I have two crates to move through the docks by Friday.”

I nod once. “The routes will be clear. My people will handle the port authority.”

“Good.” He takes a drink, sets the glass down. “Your twenty percent will be delivered once my goods reach their new homes. Not a moment sooner.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

I take another swig of my drink. Misha’s business benefits my Bratva immensely, both by reputation and cash flow.

But lately, I’ve been thinking of what happens if I’m betrayed. This money—I’m the one who put it on the table. I brokered the deal. None of myvorywill reap the benefits. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be a problem.

Too bad these aren’t ordinary times.

“One more thing.”

Misha lifts his brow. “Let’s hear it.”

“You deal with me and only me.”

Slowly, Misha’s lips curl into a smirk. “Does this have anything to do with what I’ve been hearing about the Sidorov brothers?”

“I don’t care for rumors.”

“Too bad. Because word on the street is, they got into bed with the wrong side and took a swan dive for it. I take it they were chattier than you liked.” His smirk turns wolfish. “Guess that’s why you want me all to yourself.”