Page 128 of The Games of Madmen

I squirm. “In an hour, why?”

His large palm wraps around my ankle, and he drags me down the bed with a squeal escaping my lips. “Time for our breakfast.”

“There’s no time to eat, I have to meet…” My words fall from my lips when his mouth sucks at my clit. Then, he lifts his head and asks, “Are you rhyming, Alyona?”

Fisting his hair, I shove him back down where I want him and lose all mobility when Z joins him.

“Sorry I’m late,” I rush out, slamming the car door and jogging across the street to Roza who is waiting outside the coffee shop.

Tugging her coat closed, she raises a perfectly groomed brow. “Do I want to know why you’re late?”

A crimson blush warms my cheeks. “No, definitely not.”

“Gross, Mom. Do they ever put you down?”

Laughing I say, “Come on. You know what it’s like when you’re in love.”

She laces her arm in mine and rolls her eyes. “That’s the only thing missing with Brett. Passion.”

“Roza,” I gasp, halting her and turning her to face me. Her stunning blonde curls bounce around her face. “Passion is such an important component in a marriage.”

Gripping my arm, she blurts, “Vol texted me.”

Oh God. I try to keep my face neutral, but she narrows her beautiful blue eyes on me, and I buckle.

“Vol broke your heart,” I remind her. “He married someone else.”

“Isn’t that what passion is? If there wasn’t passion, he wouldn’t have been able to break my heart.” She tugs me forward, and we begin walking again. “Their marriage is over, and he’s moving here.”

Oh great. I’m pretty sure Yuri is laughing up from hell at this point.

“And Brett?” I query.

Sighing, she says, “I love him, but I owe it to myself to get closure before moving forward. Marriage is a big commitment. You should know, you do it every decade.”

She raises a brow. I nod. My madmen wanted me to have their surname like our kids and a ring on my finger, so every ten years I divorce one, and marry the other. The clerk’s office who files that paperwork must be really confused.

“You’re a wise woman.” I stroke down her hair, proud of the amazing woman she’s grown into. We did good with our kids. Dion only just turned twenty, but he’s already immersed in the businesses with his fathers. He’s happy and content.

“I take after you.” She nudges me and a smile spreads across my face.

Roza approaches the restaurant door. Just as she reaches for the handle, the door suddenly swings open, and she stumbles forward, her balance wavering, and in an instant, unseen hands catch her, steadying her before she can fall. A chilling sensation washes over me like ice pouring down my spine, when the man holding onto her comes into view. He’s aged but I’d remember those damn eyes anywhere.

“Well, what are the odds? I remember you. It’s Roza, right?” he says, with more familiarity than he should have. How the hell does he recognize her?

Chuckling, she rights herself, pulling from his grip. “Yes, sorry. You have me at a disadvantage.” Her eyes search his face. “Do I know you?”

“We met a long time ago. I’m Benny,” he tells her, his gaze lingering on her face too long.

I peer at him over Roza’s shoulder and the devil stares back at me.

“Excuse us.” I push Roza past him and shudder when the door closes behind him.

“There was something creepy about him, right?” Roza asks. “And kinda hot?”

No, she was right the first time.Creepy.

I watch him out of the window until he disappears from sight. There’s something very wrong with him. I pull my phone from my purse and type a text to Viktor. We don’t speak often but keep each other in the loop usually.