Page 28 of The Fixer

“The only thing separating me and you,” I explained. “Is what we know. If we never met, you’d never know Makovich Industries was just a huge, money laundering front designed to captivate the masses. Everyone knows someone that works at Makovich in some capacity and people who don’t work there want to. And the ones who do work there don’t want to screw it up because it’s the best job they’ll ever get.” Turning to stare at the back of the empty seats in front of us, I fought a frown. I was still working through the ‘why’ and potential ‘how’, but rarely was I the one that screwed up. “If Aleksander did run for some office, there wouldn’t even be a point in running against him. His father being the target of an assassination attempt, gives him the excuse to get rid of everyone who knows too much and will probably use it against him. The families are enemies as much as friends. If they think they can get ahead, they’ll do almost anything for it.”

“Okay…” Sasha gave a slow nod of his head. “Maybe ignore that part for a second. Why would you think Aleksander wouldn’t think of that possibility by himself? You’re bargaining with our lives on the assumption that he’s a dense asshole, but even you have to admit he’s doing something right, Oppie.” Sascha tangled our fingers together as he continued with concern lacing his tone, “What’s to stop him from agreeing to what you want and then just killing you anyway?”

His palm felt so warm and comforting against mine as I answered, “Aleksander won’t consider it simply because he’s biased. His father, dying? No one elects to get shot at and I’d bet money that Vyachaslav is more than content letting himself fade into obscurity if it helped Aleksander’s cause. The old man is smart ? this isn’t the first time he’s done something crazy ? and it paid off. Aleksander is much more straight laced. If Vyachaslav thought with certainty that being assassinated would give Aleksander some substance, he’d probably set it up. However, I don’t think this was a serious attempt. I think it was a setup for an excuse to get rid of the families because we’re not needed anymore the way we were in the past. Not to mention the overhaul. Aleksander is centralizing his operations. This pretext is the next logical step to getting people out of the way. The only issue… is that Aleksander fucked it up.”

“By moving too hasty and letting his emotions get in the way?” Sasha asked. “You said he kept all the kids from the families, right? He kept you, Erik, and the other guy. One person from each family to keep things running. I wouldn’t put it past him to think he could strongarm and just ignore the consequences of totally obliterating everyone…”

Humming in agreement as Sascha trailed off, I scratched the back of his hand lightly and closed my eyes. Whatever Vyachaslav thought would happen by attempting to assassinate himself had happened. The operation was a success, for the most part. Most likely, the problem that now presented itself was Aleksander had spaces he needed filled and no one to fill them.

So, he was using his siblings as placeholders andthatwas a mistake.

“He screwed up by assuming that controlling everyone and everything around him means they won’t try to move on their own. Just like earlier, with Levrenti when we first got there. Aleksander has no recourse for someone he needs defying him. That’s the problem right now. If he wants to succeed, his first threat shouldn’t be ‘do it or I’ll kill you’. There’s nothing beyond that, especially when you kill everyone thatmightbe used as leverage.” After today, my whole view of Aleksander had… wilted. No longer was he this godlike figure, terrifying and glorious at the same time. No longer did he make my heart race with uncertainty.

Just like most other people around me, Aleksander was just an idiot now…A powerful idiot. At the very least, I could work with that. I could do what I wanted, when I wanted, and as long as I could justify it, he couldn’t lash out at me. In this game, he’d unwittingly given me all the freedom I’d mistaken for subservience. Right now, in this moment, I held all the power. “He’s gonna have to fucking suck it up. He needs me way more than I need him. That’s the problem with this kind of thing, Sascha. You get used to having people do shit for you, and when they suddenly turn on you, you don’t know what to do. I’ve been working independently long enough to know when I’m coming out on top.” My voice rasped slightly with my conviction and I squeezed his hand. Fire burned behind my eyes, my lips thinning from the satisfaction that ripped through me.

“It’s sosexywhen you get all self righteous, Oppie.”

Sascha’s purr in my ear rose the fine hairs on my cheek as shocks swirled down my neck. Kissing the crest, he tugged my arm into his lap, and my lips parted in a gasp.

“When we get back to Moscow, let’s go back to your parent’s house.”

Sascha had cancelled his class today to spend time with me; who was I to say ‘no’ then, let alone in this moment. Tilting my head as his curved lips caressed my cheek, I hummed softly in agreement. “After the past few days… I would really like that.” Gulping down the lump in my throat, I caught Sascha’s dark, glistening eyes. My chest tightened with guilt and regret. I licked my lips heavily. “I’m sorry— about last night. About all of it.”

“Apology accepted. Now that the worst is over, let’s talk about what to do next. It’s three hours to Moscow.”

My lips twitched in a smile before I leaned in. Our kiss was soft and beautiful, as Sascha cupped my face to suck in a sharp breath. His tongue slipped between my teeth, a promise balancing on the tip as it wrapped around mine. I savored his taste, holding my pleasure close to my heart.

Finally, he pulled back to rub my jaw with his thumb. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, Ophelia. I knew you’d bounce back.”

19

Ophelia

“Why didn’t you bring this with you when you moved out?” Sascha twirled the fishing pole around loosely. “You said you found it in your old room.”

Turning while my brows furrowed, I replied, “I left it here intentionally because it made me feel like my parents were bigoted idiots more than I already thought they were.”

He smiled fondly, eyes flickering to me.

I leaned on my elbows on the counter. “So—um—can we pretend the past week just didn’t happen?”

“We have all weekend to pretend the outside world doesn’t exist.” Sauntering across the kitchen, Sascha held my gaze and set the blue fishing pole on the island. He braced his arms on either side of me. “I don’t blame you for being stressed, Ophelia. It happens, and some situations are worse than others. Feeling guilty is okay as that means you acknowledge the severity of your troubles.”

Flames licked my cheeks, and a small smile tilted my lips. “I blame me more than enough for the both of us, Sascha.” He was so close the amber flecks in his eyes glimmered brightly. My confession earned me a soft sucking of his teeth, his body heat seeping through my clothes. Reaching to finger the buttons on his shirt, I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth. “I didn’t handle this very well. You may not blame me for being stressed, but you should blame me for how I reacted.”

“Oppie… I blame you for making the mistake of not telling me what’s been bothering you. Everything else was out of your control, but not that. So, lying by omission is all I can truly blame you for.”

I winced despite his gentle tone, my throat tightening at the brilliant earnestness of his gaze.

“Youwillget through this, Ophelia and I’m glad to just help you when and if you need me.”

“I love you, Sascha.” Craning my neck, I grasped Sascha’s waist firmly. His kiss sent my heart racing, parting my legs in invitation as my horribly tight muscles eased for the first time in days. “It’ll probably take him a long, long time to let go of his dignity…”

“Yeah, probably. You know… now that no one lives here, I actually kinda like this house.” Big hands grabbed my ass, pushing a gasp from my throat as Sascha hauled me into his arms.

Wrapping my arms and legs around him, I hummed suggestively as excitement trickled through my veins.

His smirk was wicked and sexy as he nodded to himself. “I really like that sofa. And we haven’t even gotten to the bathrooms yet.”