Page 92 of Reign of a Billionaire

We checked our weapons, Alexei’s already aimed at the only window in the warehouse.

“Why are you so stiff?” Liana’s question cut off my focus. “It’s like you’ve got something jammed up your ass.”

“Why are you looking at my ass?”

Alexei flicked his eyes up to the sky in a silent prayer.

“Something’s off.” Liana tilted her head to the warehouse’s industrial doors. “Nobody’s around.”

“Tell us something we don’t already see,” Alexei grumbled. I’d never seen anyone get to Alexei like this. It’d be entertaining if our lives weren’t on the line here.

“Maybe they were tipped off,” I said, looking around for anything amiss. “Danil didn’t want whatever his father’s deal with Sofia was to stain their family name.”

A heavy silence fell over us, and I sensed when Liana stiffened. “What is it?”

Her delicate brows furrowed. “I… I think I heard someone cry out.”

Alexei cocked a brow. “Are you sure?”

She held her breath, pressing her back against the building. “There it is again,” she said hurriedly, her eyes darting between us. “You guys should have your hearing checked.”

Alexei rolled his eyes.

“Okay, let’s head in,” Liana announced in a clear voice. “I’m tired of you babies slowing me down.”

“Dumb ways to die,” I muttered.

Alexei shot us both a glare that said he’d love to make us hurt.

Man, this expedition was so much fucking fun. Even if it failed and Sofia Volkov walked out alive, I didn’t think I’d be forgetting it anytime soon.

Chapter 45

Liana

Alexei Nikolaev was a killer.

I recognized one when I saw one. After all, I grew up surrounded by them. His tattoos screamedDon’t fuck with me,but I was inclined to poke the bear. Maybe I’d developed suicidal tendencies somewhere along the way.

In his black uniform that hugged his muscles, you could say he was beautiful in a lethal kind of way. But one look into his eyes and game-fucking-over. Those were Medusa eyes that could freeze your heart and soul.

And it was exactly that which made me recoil.

I recognized the brokenness and darkness that stared back at me. I saw the same in Kingston’s eyes. And every time I looked at my reflection. I refused to back down, watching my own nightmares play in that pale blue gaze of his.

“Okay, you two,” Kingston interrupted. “Stop this bickering and get moving.” I huffed and Kingston stepped forward, unapologetically invading my space. “Are we going to have a problem, Liana?”

The rhythm of my heart sped up as our gazes clashed, but there was a hint of fire brewing beneath the surface of his dark eyes.

“For Christ’s sake,” Alexei muttered. “Save the foreplay for later.”

My spine straightened as a blush crept up my neck, so I glared back at him. “Stop being a pervert.”

But before he could respond, a loudboomechoed in the air, shaking the ground beneath our feet.

For a moment, I was frozen. Time stood still as my life flashed before my eyes, but the images were so distorted and confusing. My sister. Me.

Where’s Liana?I thought I heard my mother’s voice in my ringing ears.Who’s Liana?I thought I was dying. All my dreams were dying right alongside me.Louisa died.