Page 110 of Scarlet Vows

I open up the note.

And smile. He really is a thoughtful man. Any other man may have gotten frustrated with me by now, especially with me taking off after making love and responding with short texts, along with ignoring a call.

But not Ilya.

It’s just one more reason why I like Ilya so damn much.

I pull out my phone and text him.

Me

I can’t wait to see you. X

Chapter Twenty-Six

ILYA

Melorand I sit in the car outside of Simonov’s club, where the firearms deal’s going down in fifteen minutes. Everything is prepped and ready, and though Melor tried to talk me out of it, I’m going in too.

I’m nothing if I’m not a man of my word.

“You need to stay here,” Melor says. “We need leadership outside to make sure it all runs smoothly and?—”

“It’s not my first time running an op,” I mutter in Russian. “I’m new here, not new to this. I know what I’m doing. And the one thing I need to do is be there with the men. You stay and run it.”

“But—”

“I’m your pakhan. Do what I say.”

“Yes, Ilya.”

I grit my teeth, wanting to push it further as adrenaline surges through me. I want to grind him down into place, but I don’t. It’s the electricity in the air sparking the rise of testosterone.

And I don’t give in to such bullshit.

That bullshit gets people killed.

I don’t intend to lose any of my men or any of Santo’s, of which there are many in our ranks now.

This is a full-on partnership-style attack.

My phone’s on silent, but it lights up.

Santo

My men behaving?

Me:

Yes. Everything good on your end?

Santo

I’m fine. My men are with you. And my man’s inside. You’re the one leading, correct?

I bite back a sigh. He’s a cocky, arrogant bastard, and I don’t really know what I’ve got myself in for with him in the future, but this is unfolding according to plan.

“Barone?” Melor asks. “Does he want to send more men?”