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I glance at the clock on the wall. Seven.

I take one last look at Gabrielle and untangle my fingers from her hair. I watch the soft ebony strands settle back in place, covering her heart-shaped birthmark, before tearing myself away from her. She’s in such a deep sleep, she doesn’t even stir.

It’s probably for the best. If she wakes up, I won’t leave this bed today. Maybe not ever.

Listen to me—torn between duty and my wife.

The mouse trapped me. The predator has now become prey and he’s so entranced he has no desire to escape.

Last night could have been a disaster. I lost my shit with my guards when I found out Gabrielle had left with Anushka. My little cousin should have known better, but I understand why she helped.

I sigh and look away then I get off the bed and retrieve my phone.

The message is from Korrina, the woman my wife thinks I’m having an affair with.

I’m not.

Korrina works for me. She’s one of my best spies. She had intel on Petr, which I was able to hand over to Aleksandr to investigate. I know what things looked like from where Gabrielle stood, but nothing happened. I’m not saying nothing has ever happened between Korrina and me, hence her closeness. But nothing happened last night.

I stopped dicking around with women like her when I took the mantle for the empire.

The message says she has more intel for me. I text back, telling her to meet me at the office at nine.

I’m glad she has more intel, but there are a few things we have to clear up.

At nine a.m. sharp, Korrina struts through the door of my office at Karsavin Global Logistics.

She’s wearing a lacy, black playsuit today. The sort of thing that draws attention. “Morning, Pakhan.”

“Morning. Take a seat.” I lean back in my chair.

She smiles and walks up to me, planting herself on the edge of my desk. That isn’t what I meant, but it’s typical of her.

Father transferred her to Moscow two years ago to help our units, but I know he did it because he’s never liked her. He didn’t like how she flirted with all of us and he thought she was too much of a distraction for me. He wasn’t wrong.

We became fuck buddies in our late teens. Every time I was with her, I lost track of my duties and myself.

I brought her back here the other week because I knew we’d need her help getting into certain circles. Sometimes the power of a beautiful face is your best weapon.

She’s also one of the few people who weren’t exactly born into the criminal world who I can trust not to screw me over. She was adopted by one of my father’s closest friends, who made him promise that he’d look after her, after he died. That promise is why she still works for us. That and the fact that she’s good at her job. She’s our Black Widow, but without the morals.

“What do you have for me?” I ask.

“A follow-up from last night. I have names and a location.” She reaches into her purse and pulls out a manila envelope, which she hands to me.

I open it and my hopes rise instantly.

Petr is working with the Armenians in Boston.

“How did you get this?” I can’t help my curiosity.

Her red, glossy lips curl into a smooth grin. “I have my ways. You know that.”

“I do.” I dip my head.

“The Armenians hired Petr to hack into a rival organization’s encrypted network. He’s still on the job.”

This is definitely good news. “Tell me you can locate him.”