Page 34 of Desperate Crimes (Mergers & Acquisitions #6)

T he doors shut with a dull thud, muting the rest of the house like a tomb sealed tight.

The office is just as I remember from when I was a boy—dark wood, black stone fireplace, heavy curtains that make the air thick.

It smells like smoke, leather, and dominance.

A shrine to power.

Adrik Volkov stands by the fireplace, glass of mineral water forgotten on the mantle.

My father takes the seat beside me, silent but ever watchful.

And me?

I remain standing.

Because I know what this is.

A test.

A warning.

A reckoning.

Adrik turns, folding his arms across his chest. “Let’s speak plainly.”

“I’d prefer that,” I say.

He eyes me, dark and razor-sharp.

“Just in glancing at the terms here I can see a lot, Junior. You bought Caas out from under us. Smart. Ruthless. Maybe even necessary.”

I nod, unapologetic. “He was never loyal. And he was stringing your people along. You need those mineral routes stabilized if you want to move anything out of Southeast Asia in the next five years.”

“Don’t tell me what I need,” he snaps, but there’s no real heat behind it.

Just edge.

My father cuts in smoothly.

“What Nico means is, we both knew Caas was a liability. But neither of us knew about his connection to Volkov Industries until yesterday. My son simply moved faster than expected.”

“Your son moved without consulting me,” Adrik says.

“I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to do business,” I reply, voice calm.

Controlled. But beneath the surface, my blood is boiling.

“I’m not talking about permission.” Adrik stalks toward his desk, leans on his knuckles. “I’m talking about trust. About respect.”

“You think this move was disrespectful?” I ask.

“I think it was strategic.” He narrows his eyes. “And maybe personal.”

The air thickens.

He wants to say it.

He wants to drag my marriage into this.

My father shifts beside me but says nothing. He’s letting me handle it.

Good.

Because I’ve got this.

“You have a problem with the merger?” I ask. “The business one—or the one involving your daughter?”

Adrik’s jaw ticks.

“Let’s not confuse the two,” he says.

“Too late,” I answer.

Silence stretches.

“Just so you know, I didn’t marry her for this,” I grind out, holding his obsidian gaze for a beat before turning away. “Leanna isn’t a pawn.”

“Then what is she? Tell me, Fury?” Adrik challenges.

I snap my gaze back to him.

“She’s my fucking life.”

A beat.

Then my father speaks for the first time, his voice low and final.

“I believe that’s the end of that particular conversation.”

Adrik rises.

But the war is still in his eyes.

Then he laughs. Cold. Quiet.

“You want to marry your way into a merger with this family? Fine. But if you want my support? Then prove you can handle it.”

I go still. “Define it.”

“The Caas properties. The overseas transition. The infrastructure contracts. The workers, shipping, security—all of it. I want you to go.”

I blink. “To Vietnam?”

“And Singapore. The Philippines. Thailand. You’ll oversee every goddamn inch of the transition.

If Viper Enterprises wants my backing, and if you want to prove you’re worthy of my daughter,” he practically growls the words, “Well, then, you’ll show me you have the discipline, endurance, and loyalty to handle it. ”

“That kind of project could take months,” I say, cold seeping in.

“That’s right,” he says, his face blank and merciless. “So if you’re really serious about this merger— either of them —you’ll step up.”

My fists curl at my sides.

Because I see what this is.

He wants me gone.

Wants to peel me away from Leanna.

Test my resolve.

Or break it.

My father shifts beside me, finally speaking. “You’re asking my son to vanish across the world for an indefinite period just after marrying your daughter.”

“Yes,” Adrik says without blinking.

“And if he refuses?” I ask.

Adrik shrugs. “Then maybe you’re not the man I thought you were. And maybe Leanna is better off single.”

The silence is a battlefield.

I can practically hear the clock tick behind me.

“I’ll go,” I say.

Both men turn to look at me.

“I’ll go. I’ll handle every detail. And when I return, I expect your full support. In business—and in family.”

Adrik smirks, satisfied. “We’ll see.”

I meet his gaze. Hold it.

“You’ll see,” I vow.

But inside?

Inside, I’m burning.

Because I haven’t even told Leanna yet.

And if she thinks— if she dares believe —this marriage was ever about politics?

I’m not sure what I’ll do to prove her wrong.

But I know it won’t be enough. It will never be enough.