Page 49 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride

Nestor smiles fondly after his sister, then sits down in the chair opposite my desk.

He leans back and sighs. “Any news on that asshole, Miron?”

“He’s still missing in action. We had a few sightings of him, but nothing we’ve managed to pin down. He’s so sly. It’s driving me crazy,” I huff.

“And the shit that happened at your warehouse the other day?”

“I’m convinced it was that rat. We got news of him earlier that day, then lost him again. And then a bomb gets delivered right into my warehouse, in one of my own crates meant for another product? It was a fuckup. I’m sure it was him.”

“Yeah, so am I,” Nestor nods, rubbing his hand over his chin. “That’s why I was thinking we need to expand the search, bring in more people. If we work with another ally, it can only do good.”

I lean back in my chair and fold my arms across my chest.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I wait, knowing he has more he wants to say.

Nestor smiles tightly, leaning forward. “Listen, I invited him here today just so that you can hear him out.”

“Who?” I ask tensely.

“Ard.”

“Ardalion. You’ve invited him here?” I growl, standing up, already furious.

“Yeah, he’s in reception now.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snarl, wanting to refuse the guy access to my building but finding out he’s already inside.

“Come on, Bennie, don’t be so stiff,” Ardalion says, leaning against the doorframe of my office.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I shout, throwing my hands in the air.

Ardalion walks into my office and stands with his arms folded as he glares at me. “You need me, Karamazov.”

His fucking ego knows no limits.

“I need you to leave,” I warn him.

“Come on man, hear me out,” Nestor says, standing between Ardalion and me and raising his hands in the air, determined to defuse the situation.

Chapter 14 - Ulyana

It was so nice to see Nestor again. I’ve missed him and my mom like crazy.

I love my family dearly, and I would like to see them more often, even living here in Vegas. But I have something important that I’m here to do—and even spending time with Benedikt has been distracting me from it.

Last night, for example.

That wasn’t supposed to happen.

I’ve been doing so well, avoiding thatexactthing. But the moment he kissed me—once that boundary was broken, there was no going back. I couldn’t get enough of him. He played my body like a musical instrument. He knew exactly how to touch me, how to move, when to slow down and when to speed up.

And this morning when I woke up in his arms, I was angry with myself, because all I wanted to do was have him again, and I can’t let myself slip like that.

My heart is disobeying my mind. Misbehaving, thinking things it shouldn’t.

I have to refocus. The entire reason I came here to Las Vegas was to hunt Miron down—that’s what I need to be doing. Nothing else.

Heading back to Benedikt’s office, I pause outside the door, hearing loud, angry voices from inside. Benedikt is furious, why would he be furious with my brother? I’m about to storm in there when I hear a third voice. The man from the party.