Page 27 of Inheritance

A soft knock behind me made me jump.

I turned. Nikolai stood under the archway, posture crisp, hands folded in front of him like he’d been standing there silently for longer than he should have. His polite smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Forgive the intrusion. May I?” He gestured into the room.

I nodded, already uneasy.

He stepped in a little, gaze flicking briefly to the chessboard, out the window, then back to me. “There’s a small issue with the paperwork for the painting you sold. Some minor oversight on the ownership transfer form. The museum needs your signatureon a few documents. I don’t mean to sound condescending, but I should remind you not to sign with your real name, of course.”

My brow knit. “Now?”

“They’d prefer to get it done before things get busy later,” he said smoothly. “It won’t take long.”

I glanced toward the window again, toward the garden where Gabriel was still talking. “Okay, well, I’ll let Gabriel know I’m going then.”

Nikolai’s interruption was gentle, seamless. “No need. He asked me to tell you.”

There was nothing overtly wrong with his tone. But something in the way he said it made the back of my neck prickle.

Still, I nodded. “Can someone drive me?”

“Michael will drive you. It’s arranged. Have you met him yet?”

“I’ve only gotten to know a few of Gabriels men in passing, but I know who he is.”

He gave me a small, reassuring smile, but it didn’t linger.

…“I’ll just get ready to go, then.”

I stared sideways, watching him leave. The faintest unease stirred in my chest again. Something about his voice was just so off-putting.

I studied the chessboard for a few minutes, then reached for the pawn I had moved, and slid it back to where it had been, intending to shift a different piece, only to jump again at the sound of another voice in the doorway.

“Once you let go, there’s no going back.”

I’m beginning to not like this room anymore.

The Don stood in the doorway, strong and clear-eyed, controlled, commanding. Nothing like how he was last night.

He nodded toward the board. “Move the pawn back.”

I obeyed, sliding the piece into place.

“Your move,” I said softly.

He stepped inside, no cane this time, muttering something under his breath as he rounded the board. His hand hovered, then moved with confidence. He shifted his knight without giving it much thought, then turned and walked away.

I watched him go, unsure which version of him I’d just seen and which one would be waiting next time.

The tapping of his cane resumed out of sight, muffled and slow.

I took his pawn with my knight, then left the room.

Outside, Tony and Michael were seated at a patio table with a few other men, all dressed in suits and looking sharp, as always. Michael smoked lazily, studying the cards in his hand with detached ease. He glanced up at me, and as if it were a signal, the other men took notice too, straightening slightly in their seats.

“Hey, wanna play?” Tony asked, his voice easy, his frame massive compared to the others.

“I think I’ve had my fill of games. And I don’t know how to play cards.”