Page 65 of Malicious Claim (Dark Inheritance #1)

Dance With A Bullet

I adjusted my cufflinks as I strode back toward Leila, the lingering satisfaction of my brief exchange with one of Greece's most prominent business tycoons sharpening my composure. I stood taller, my demeanor assured. Power had that effect.

Nicolai gave me a brief nod before stepping back, putting some distance between us. Positioned a few hundred meters between us, he was far enough to give us privacy, close enough to remain on watch.

Leila's gaze flickered in the direction I'd come from. "So, who was that man? Friend of yours?"

"Vasilis," I said smoothly. "A well-known businessman in Greece. Just placed an order for a thousand units of our new shoe design."

Her brow arched. "A thousand? That's a big order."

"Yeah, he—er, wants the first thousand supplies sold exclusively in his boutiques."

"How big is his boutique?"

"He's got more than one," I replied, watching her carefully before steering the conversation elsewhere. "What do you think of your new gift?"

She beamed up at the car, trailing her fingers lightly across its sleek surface. "It's beautiful, Makros. And... I didn't expect it."

I smirked in satisfaction. "I'm glad you're pleased." I extended my hand. She took it. "Let's go in. The couple's dance is about to start."

Inside, the slow melody of a love song filled the air. Some guests were already swaying to the rhythm, their movements relaxed, indulgent.

I led her to an open space, taking her hand in mine while my other hand rested at the small of her back. I moved with quiet confidence, guiding her effortlessly.

Leila followed without hesitation, our steps falling into place as though we had danced together a hundred times before.

She got momentarily distracted and I followed her gaze. I saw that she was looking at the bodyguards stationed around us. Nicolai. Andreas. Konstantinos.

She barely had time to refocus before I closed the distance, my lips brushing against hers in a slow, teasing manner. It was a fleeting, flirtatious kiss until she leaned in, deepening it, meeting me halfway.

A shrieking vibration cut through the moment.

I exhaled sharply, irritation prickling beneath my skin as I pulled back and snatched my phone. The heat of her still lingered on me, but the magic had dissipated.

Dragon.

"This had better be good," I growled into the receiver.

His voice was tight. "This isn't good news, Makros. Aleksei is dead. The Russians caught up to him."

I went rigid. My expression didn't change, but inside, gears shifted rapidly.

"How did they find out he was alive?" My voice was level.

"No idea," Dragon said. "But now they know you lied to them. They know you made them think he was dead. So be careful."

The warning had barely left his lips when the sharp crack of a gunshot split the air.

Konstantinos reacted first, attempting to put himself in front of Leila, but she'd already been hit and she stumbled with a sharp gasp tearing from her lips as the pain registered. Her hand shot to the wound, warm blood seeping between her fingers.

The crowd broke into a scramble for cover.

I caught Leila before she collapsed. "You okay?"

Her teeth clenched. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. The bullet just grazed me."

"Get her to my personal lodge," I ordered Konstantinos, my tone leaving no room for debate.

I stepped outside, scanning the streets. Nicolai and Andreas had gone after the shooter and they had caught him pulling him in their grasp. I turned back, heading for the private room. My men followed without hesitation.

The moment they dragged the bastard in front of me, I knew he was already dead. He was breathing, trembling, trying to act tougher than he was, but he was a corpse. He just didn't know it yet.

Konstantinos was tending to Leila's wound and the sight of her bleeding filled me with so much rage.

"Who sent you?" I asked in the calmest voice I could muster.

The man, young and bleeding from where my men had beaten him into submission, lifted his head with difficulty. "Fuck you."

I smiled just a little. I wasn't in the mood for theatrics so I put a bullet through his left knee. He howled, body seizing in agony.

Leila winced behind me. I glanced to see the wound on her arm was already bandaged, but that didn't make me any less enraged. I shouldn't have brought her to this event. I shouldn't have let my guard down.

I crouched in front of the bastard. "Let's try again."

He panted heavily, head rolling forward. "Volkov," he muttered, voice raw with pain. "Mikhail Volkov sent me. Told me to hit you where it hurt." A bloody smirk curled his lips. "Guess I did."

I shot his other knee.

His screams filled the room. I barely heard them. My men stood motionless, watching.

"I should fly to Russia," I muttered, more to myself. "End this properly."

Leila exhaled sharply. "That's what they want. Volkov wouldn't send just one assassin if he really wanted you dead. He sent someone to provoke you. To make you act without thinking."

I narrowed my eyes. "You think I don't know how to handle Volkov?"

"I think you're too angry to see you're walking into a trap." She crossed her arms. "If you go to Russia now, you'll be dead before you even get close to him."

She was challenging me, daring me to admit she was right.

It infuriated me more because I knew she was.

I looked at the assassin, barely conscious now, slumped in his own blood.

I raised my gun and pulled the trigger taking a clean shot between his eyes.

Leila didn't flinch. She simply stared at me, lips pressed together. "So?" she asked. "Are you still flying to Russia without a plan?"

I took a slow breath, hands clenched into fists. "No," I admitted. The word tasted like iron. "We stay in Greece."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed her face, but she didn't gloat. She simply nodded.

"But I won't sit idle either," I added to reinforce my determination. "I'd make Volkov pay from here. We hit his shipments, his operations, his men. We burn everything he owns before taking his life."

Leila watched me carefully. "That's the smarter move."

It should have annoyed me, how easily she maneuvered me into making the right decision. But instead, I found myself watching her, intrigued.

I turned to Konstantinos and Andreas. "Clean this up."

Then I took Leila's hand, ignoring the way she tensed at the sudden contact.

"We're going home."