Page 21

After a few hours at the library with Arina and then my board meeting and other various errands with Nikolai and Ivan—it was finally time to get ready for tonight.

I decided on a short black strapless dress that barely contained my breasts—wearing matching stockings and stilettos.

My dark hair was down and in waves, framing my face covered in a nude matte makeup look.

I smoked my usual cigar as I finished getting ready—later, spraying myself with my usual perfume and exiting my bedroom.

Nikolai and Ivan waited for me at the bottom of the stairs that my stilettos clicked precisely against.

Ivan wore a collared shirt and dress pants while Nikolai wore his usual tux, which naturally made Ivan look underdressed.

Even if this was already overdressed for his usual casual attire.

"You have my Xanax, da?" I said as Ivan opened one of the front doors while Nikolai motioned me through.

"Da," Nikolai assured me as we walked out into the cold air filled with flurries, which naturally made me tug my fur coat tighter to my body.

At least until we slid into the warm car that I immediately got comfortable in—while Nikolai prepared me a glass of vodka and Ivan handed me one of the small white pills.

The thirty-minute ride to the venue was filled with a calm silence as I sipped on my vodka, allowing my Xanax to fully kick in properly.

Until we finally pulled up to the historic stone venue, passing the dramatic fountain as the car came to a halt at the front.

Other cars and people lingered by the front as they entered the event while Nikolai and Ivan slid out of the car before me—helping me down from the SUV.

The inside of the venue was exactly what I expected—chandeliers, marble floors, tall walls, and servers passing out flutes of champagne on platers.

But almost as soon as I processed the main area where everyone was—I quickly realized this was a dinner event.

Based on the signs and blocked-off double doors nearby.

Great.

Cocktail hour never is enough for networking with any of these people.

They need at least three more hours built in to talk about themselves.

It's why I've always avoided these dinners like the fucking plague and tonight isn't any different.

"Zinovia."

I pursed my lips into a tight line, meeting her dark eyes as she walked closer to me.

"Sevan," I said, my tone lowered and tight as I unconsciously eyed her outfit.

She wore her usual oversized leather jacket with a black t-shirt underneath and matching dress pants.

Her black Prada loafers easily shined under the numerous chandeliers with the jewelry lining her neck and wrists.

She wore a larger variety of banded rings wrapped in diamonds—along with diamond-cuffed earrings that were easily noticeable with her dark hair gelled back out of her face.

"You're on time," Sevan said in observation, tilting her head as she eyed the fur coat I kept on, "Let me grab your coat."

I immediately shook my head, "I'm leaving," I quickly told her, taking a sharp step back from

her, "Something came up," I lied, eyeing Nikolai and Ivan who stood off to the side of the crowd they analyzed.

Sevan raised a brow, "It did?" she asked me, purposely taking a step toward me which left us at our original proximity.

To anyone else, it appeared as if we were verging into a disagreement—and they're fucking accurate.

I shrugged, "I don't feel like coming up with a better lie," I admitted in a bored tone.

"So then you're staying," Sevan said, grabbing a glass of champagne from the nearby server.

I only eyed the flute of champagne she offered to me, "I leave," I said, knowing the last thing I wanted to do was spend four hours enduring shallow conversations.

"Let's not cause a scene," Sevan said, glancing down from my face to subtly eye my covered body, "Take off your coat for me," she murmured, her voice lowered and barely audible between us.

"Ask properly," I said, watching as she lowered the champagne flute she extended to me.

Sevan visibly grew amused, glancing back up

to meet my stare, "That's as proper as it gets Zinovia—you know this," she said, keeping her tone lowered between us as she raised an impatient brow.

I clenched my jaw, reaching for my coat that I unbuttoned and slowly guided off—passing it off to Nikolai who suddenly approached me to take it.

Meanwhile, Sevan seemed to be fighting for her fucking life—trying to hide her stare that would subtly eye my chest.

"Too... showy for you?" I purposely asked, smoothing down my short tight black dress.

Sevan's lips twitched up slightly, "A body like that shouldn't be hidden," she said, extending the flute of champagne back out to me again, "Just don't show off what's mine," she whispered, her dark eyes never once wavering from mine.

I tilted my head as I grabbed the champagne flute from her extended hand, "And what's yours?" I purposely asked, now lifting the glass to my lips.

That Sevan briefly glanced down to, "All I need is five minutes alone to show you," she subtly murmured, glancing past me to—

Nazara.

Blyat.

"Cortez—Koslov," Nazara said as she stopped by us with a glass of champagne in hand.

I lazily raised my brows, "Nazara," I said, subtly glancing over to Sevan who didn't bother speaking a word to her.

Which left an awkward fucking silence lingering between us.

"I go mingle," I suddenly determined, backing away from them both before they could say anything else.

Yet Nazara still found the courage to follow behind me.

"Koslov," Nazara said as she quickly caught up to me.

I rolled my eyes, "You are very clingy," I mumbled in disapproval, halting my walking to face her.

Nazara only smiled slightly, "I'm only wondering what your plans are tonight," she said as she held my stare so openly.

I wanted to smack her for doing so.

But I refrained.

"I am busy," I said, glancing past her to Sevan.

Whose dark eyes were pinpointed on me despite the group of people talking to her.

Sevan immediately glanced away from me as soon as our eyes locked—but only to visibly eye the small proximity between me and Nazara.

I tilted my head, taking a hesitant step back from Nazara to see her reaction.

But all it awarded me was a firm nod as she focused back on her conversation.

"Koslov? Hello?" Nazara snapped me away from my thoughts, quickly diverting my stare back to her.

"I'm not in talkative mood," I said, backing away from Nazara entirely—who scoffed in response as she watched me walk over to Nikolai and Ivan.

Who both stood where I preferred to be, off to the side where no one bothered them.

"This is very boring," I told them both as I sipped on my champagne.

"Your favorite person is here," Nikolai said as Ivan motioned his head over to the right.

Where Nerissa stood.

I seem to have issues with women whose names begin with N and end with A.

"Even more boring now," I said, taking an even longer sip of my champagne as my eyes swept across the large room that slowly grew more packed.

It made me wonder if the other executioners were here.

Nikolai did say there were four.

But so far I've only talked to Nazara, and then Daria is off in the corner—someone I refuse to speak to tonight if I want to leave here without a headache.

"Can I have everyone's attention," I heard her familiar raspy voice suddenly speak over the controlled chatter, gently tapping a fork against her champagne glass.

I tilted my head at Sevan—who now stood on one of the staircase landings, standing above us all.

Everyone naturally grew silent, staring up at her with anticipation.

"As you now know, my right hand Dario Mataéz is no longer with us," Sevan spoke, setting her glass of champagne down on the stone staircase ledge as soft murmurs broke out.

Which naturally made me roll my eyes.

People always have to gossip about something.

"Now I require someone working closer with me," Sevan spoke again, her dark eyes trailing the room, "I need someone checking over everything behind me for any mistakes."

I clenched my jaw as soon as her dark eyes met mine.

And didn't once glance away as she said—

"Nazara Obasi is who I've decided on."

I furrowed my brows as the crowd naturally started clapping, and Nazara made her way up to the stage with a natural smile.

But I could see her subtle confusion.

This wasn't planned.

"Of course, she'll still have her role as an executioner, but I want her a little more involved with the syndicates," Sevan explained as Nazara walked up the few stairs toward Sevan, "But her limitations will quickly change."

I narrowed my eyes at her, watching as she briefly shook Nazara's hand.

It all suddenly clicked on why she was doing this.

Nazara's limitations will change now that she's closer to the syndicates.

She won't be allowed to fraternize.

Sevan knows this.

And it's clear Nazara knows this now that Sevan is leaning into her ear—saying something that none of us can make out.

But with Nazara's furrowed brows and serious expression, I knew Sevan was most likely explaining her new limitations.

Like not sleeping with me.

I could tell by how Nazara subtly glanced over to me as they leaned away from each other.

But my eyes were zoned in on Sevan—who looked satisfied to say the least.

I narrowed my eyes at her, watching as she lifted her glass of champagne to her lips.

"Dinner is being served in the dining hall," Sevan told everyone before taking a sip of her champagne.

And eyeing me in the process.

Suddenly she has the fucking upper hand in this again.

A tight sigh fell from my lips, watching as everyone backed away to head over to the dining hall where the doors were now open.

But I planned to do the exact opposite.

I walked over to my right-hand men instead, specifying to have the car ready to leave.

And as I made direct eye contact with Sevan again, she didn't bother to stop from leaving like before.

She only carried on her current conversation, proving that she only wanted me to stay to execute her point.

So I left.

Very bitterly to say the least.

This entire night went according to Sevan's plan, which made me fucking regret coming in the first place.

And that left a stinging effect—almost like a slap to the face.

Even as I got home and had two glasses of vodka and won three chess matches with Ivan, I never was able to rid the tightness in my muscles.

I felt beyond irritated, but I refused to lose.

I refused to let her have the last word and win this.

So my next comeback was all I could think about as I showered and got ready for bed.

Even as I did my skincare and brushed my hair, I thought of the most violent and disrespectful things I could do to keep the upper hand permanently.

Until a knock sounded at my bedroom door.

I tugged my long satin robe more tightly to my body, tying it in place as I walked to my bedroom door.

Which I slowly opened, expecting one of my numerous workers.

It was Sevan instead.

Who looked much too content for my liking.

"Leave," I mumbled, attempting to shut the door.

But Sevan's firm hand that pushed back against the heavy door prevented me.

"I brought you dinner," Sevan said, pushing the door open as I took a few steps back, "Since you left early and all."

I crossed my arms over my chest, "Did another woman eat it before me?" I purposely asked.

Which made Sevan's lips twitch up, shaking her head at me as she eyed my body from head to toe.

"Cute robe," she had the nerve to say, taking a step closer to me.

"It's almost eleven—I am not hungry, Sevan," I mumbled, taking a step back from her as I eyed the to-go plate in her hand.

"Yeah, the food wasn't why I came here anyway," she determined, setting the plate off on the dresser bare of anything.

But now it looked too cluttered for my liking—even with one singular thing sitting on it.

I narrowed my eyes at her, "I'm not interested," I told her, knowing she was insinuating sex.

Yet Sevan only shook her head, growing amused by my assumption, "Not that baby," she said, taking another step toward me.

And grabbed my waist before I could take a step back.

I immediately pressed my hands to her firm stomach, yet I didn't find myself pulling out of her hold.

I only stood there, staring up at her with nothing but irritation.

Sevan leaned down closer to me, grazing her nose against mine as she held my stare so precisely.

It was silent between us as we held each other's pinpointed stare, our bodies pressed together and our noses barely grazing against one other.

"I fucked Klara," Sevan whispered so delicately, eyeing my face for the reaction she wanted.

But I refused to believe her—I refused to believe she had fucked my best friend in Paris.

"Before I headed back to Moscow, I made a stop in Paris," Sevan said, running her hand so firmly up my back and holding me even closer to her warm body, "She claimed to be straight... but curious enough to take me back to her place."

I clenched my jaw, unconsciously digging my nails into her covered stomach.

Which only made Sevan hum, grazing her lips against mine as she wrapped her other hand around my neck.

"Now we both have people we can't kill," Sevan purposely said, knowing she couldn't kill Nazara.

And I...

Wouldn't kill Klara.

I couldn't.

She's annoyingly my only best friend—someone who I assumed was straight.

But Paris clearly changed her a little.

Or maybe Sevan is just that convincing.

"Leave," I said, my voice lowered and nothing but tight with her.

Because now we really are even.

And I'm short of any ideas to possibly one-up her after this.

"Don't be a sore loser, Zinovia," Sevan whispered, grazing her thumb against the front of my neck as she continued to stare so deeply into my eyes.

I still pushed her away, which didn't make her budge initially.

Until she took a respectful step back as I adjusted my robe with an irritated huff.

"I am done," I mumbled childishly, hating that I was tapping out of this silly fucking game.

But the truth is...

Klara is off-limits.

Sevan tilted her head, remaining silent as she eyed my face.

"You hear I say I'm done so leave, Sevan," I said, walking past her to the door.

Until she gently grabbed my waist yet again, pulling me back to her.

"You aren't done," Sevan said, naturally making me narrow my eyes at her, "We aren't done baby."

I tilted my head, suddenly realizing...

I do have an upper hand.

Sevan doesn't want to let me be done with whatever this petty game is.

That's my upper hand.

And it has been this entire time.

"There is no we," I said, purposely standing my ground now that I saw it irritated her, "You leave me alone."

Sevan hummed, remaining entirely silent for the longest of moments as she stared down at me so precisely.

Which naturally made me anticipate what she planned to say next.

Until she suddenly leaned down closer to me, gently squeezing my waist as she said—

"I'm never leaving you alone, Zinovia."

And before I could even begin to process her truthful words, she backed away from me entirely and left my room—closing the door firmly behind her.

I blinked a few times as I stood in silence for a moment, staring at my bedroom door.

Until I naturally began smiling like a condescending idiot, truly realizing the power I now hold.

Which I would definitely use over her.

Let the real games begin.