Page 24 of Desperate Crimes (Mergers & Acquisitions #6)

L ater That Night–The Whiskey Bar, Montclair

The noise of the bar is welcome.

Laughter. Music. Clinking silverware.

The scent of lemon and rosemary in the air.

Familiar.

My cousin Sammy loves this place. He’s a big fan of Whiskey Neat, the artisan whiskey label that belongs to the owner of the bar.

It’s become a haunt for us Volkovs.

I sit between Clementine and Cora, across from Jade and Aella, sipping a cocktail that might as well be magic.

They’re all talking at once—catching me up on everything I’ve missed the past two days.

Accepting my half-assed excuses that I was just catching up on some needed me time .

Still, I’m only half there.

The other half?

It still burns with the weight of him.

“Okay, I know we said we wouldn’t ask,” Aella says, eyes narrow as she sips from her martini like it’s truth serum.

“But Lee-Lee, tell the truth. Where the fuck were you the past two days? And don’t try to sell me that ‘I needed a nap’ bullshit. You don’t nap. You never have! And not for a whole fucking weekend.”

Caught.

Clementine leans in, her dark curls bouncing with her exaggerated gasp.

“Yeah, what she said. Also, you’ve got that look.”

“What look?” I ask, trying to feign innocence, but my voice is already shaky.

“That post-sex, maybe-I-sold-my-soul glow,” Cora says, raising her brows. “They have it too. Now, Lee-Lee, you’re practically vibrating. Spill.”

Jade just stares, biting her bottom lip , swirling her cocktail slowly like she’s waiting for a murder confession.

I take a breath and look around the table at my cousins— my girls .

My ride-or-dies.

They’re all so wildly different, but when it comes to loyalty? No one beats a Volkov woman.

And I don’t want to lie. I can’t lie.

So, I go all in.

“I left Lucy’s party,” I say. “And apparently Nico was waiting by my car.”

“Nico?”

“Junior,” I say, rolling my eyes.

Everyone calls him that but me. I don’t know, I just feel like he’s too big to be contained by the moniker.

Still, four sets of brows shoot up.

“Apparently?”

“Well, I didn’t see him. And I don’t remember getting in his car. But the next thing I know, I’m waking up in this insane bedroom in a house I’ve never seen before.”

“Wait,” Clementine cuts in, her voice a whisper-scream. “He drugged you?”

I blink, the realization slamming into me like a train.

“Oh my God. I think he did.”

Aella’s hand slaps the table. “Leanna!”

“I know— but listen, it wasn’t like —ugh. Just let me finish.”

“Why didn’t you call? Wait, why didn’t Dad’s software go crazy when you were off the grid?” Clementine questions, speaking abut her father, my Uncle Josef, who’s the brilliant mastermind behind the most sought after security service in the world, Sigma International.

“I don’t know,” I murmur, wondering how he got around all the security our families have had in place on all of us since we were embryos. “He must’ve killed the signal somehow once we got to his place,” I mutter, brushing a nervous hand through my hair.

“Like really? Is he that tech-savvy?”

“Um, guys? Junior’s my first cousin, so it may sound biased, but he’s a fucking genius. Went to Princeton and everything,” Aella speaks up.

“Okay, tell us about the house,” Clementine says.

“It’s beautiful. It felt like a dark fairytale carved into reality— like when Hades handcrafted a secret underworld for his Persephone ,” I whisper and everyone quiets.

“I mean, it’s huge. Stone, iron, the best of everything.

But it’s surprisingly warm inside. Twinkling Christmas trees glowing out of season, a rose maze blooming beneath a summer moon, silk robes soft as sin waiting on golden hooks.

Every tile laid with intention, every nail driven in devotion.

Pines stood tall like watchful gods, and fairy lights curled through the shadows like starlight caught in a spell.

It was madness. Obsession. Love, maybe. And somehow, I think it was all for me. ”

“Oh my God. Shut up!” Cora squeals.

Aella stares.

“So you were just what ? Off-grid with Nico Fury Jr, a.k.a. the heir to Viper Enterprises? Did you have sex with him?” Jade asks.

“It’s not like that,” I mumble.

“Girl,” Cora says, leaning in, eyes wide. “You disappeared. With a big as fuck, sexy ass, tattooed man. You. Had. Sex. With. Him.”

“Ew. He’s my cousin,” Aella wails.

“That’s what we told you when you went on and on about Sammy’s magic tongue. It still gives me the heebie-jeebies. Anyway, look, she’s not even denying the glow!” Jade adds.

“I see it. You’ve been ruined, Lee-Lee. In the best, filthiest way.” Clementine sighs.

I bury my face in my hands. “Oh my God.”

“Fine. I’ll pretend he’s not my cousin. Tell us everything,” Aella demands. “How was it?”

“I am not going there with you guys!” I groan.

“Okay, that means it was amazing,” Clementine says smugly.

I lift my head and glance around the table.

They’re all looking at me with a mix of amusement, concern, and unholy curiosity.

“So, if he was so awesome, why are you here? And not there?” Cora asks, touching my hand gently.

And just like that, the certainty I felt in walking out becomes cloudy.

“I just—I’ve wanted him for so long,” I admit. “Even when I was too young to say it out loud. He was always just there—silent, awesome, untouchable. It’s like he walked out of one of Mom’s books, but darker. Real.”

The table goes quiet.

“I know there’s an age gap. I know how this looks. But I also know he does things to me no one else ever has. He makes me feel things. And that’s more terrifying than any of what happened this weekend. But what happens when he gets tired? Bored? I just thought it was better if I walked away first.”

Jade’s the first to break the silence. “Damn.”

“Okay, okay,” Cora says, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “But real talk—your dad is gonna murder him.”

“No, he won’t,” I say, sharper than intended. “Because I’m not telling him. And neither are you. Swear it.”

They all glance at each other.

“Fine. We’re gonna need more drinks and an NDA,” Aella mutters.

“No, we don’t. I mean, yes, of course, to more drinks, but Lee-Lee, we all swear to keep your confidence,” Clementine says.

“Sworn,” Cora adds.

Jade nods. “Murder pact sealed.”

I laugh, but it’s shaky. Because, yeah, I’m in way over my head.

And somehow? That’s exactly where I want to be.

But before I can respond, the back door to the bar slams open.

It’s crowded for a Monday night, but that’s what summer does.

Still, we all hear the sound it makes.

Thwack.

Heads turn. Conversations die down.

And then I see him.