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I rolled my eyes, downing the last of my drink before heading over to the bar.

I didn’t care that she wandered off because Kiryl and Koren were instructed to follow her like their lives depended on it. Because it did.

I found myself a seat and ordered another Bourbon. Movement to my right caught my attention and to my surprise, Kulikov sat down beside me.

“Come to return the threat?” I mused but he stayed quiet for a beat.

I watched him swirl the clear liquid in his glass before swallowing it all down. “What’s your interest in Moretti?” he asked and I took a sip of my drink.

“Helping out a friend.” I shrugged, crossing my hands on the countertop.

He scoffed knowingly. “He’s not your friend.”

“Yeah?” I challenged.

For the first time tonight, his eyes met mine. “If he was, my family wouldn’t have been able to kill his grandparents to begin with,” he explained. “Unless your reputation precedes you and you aren’t as powerful and well equipped as you’re believed to be.” The mother fucker was right. But I still didn’t like him.

When I stayed silent, he nodded, almost as if to say, that’s what I thought.

“I’m only letting him go because I didn’t want my sister marrying a man she didn’t love.” He turned around fully, looking out at everyone. “Not because I’m afraid of you,” he added and I grinned. “God knows that’s the first thing your ego told you just a second ago.” And he’s right again. He kept his eyes on everyone. “Get your wife and leave, De Luca.” It sounded like a warning. “Wouldn’t want anything happening to her.”

He stood, ready to walk but I got to my feet, grabbing his upper arm to stop him. Three men instantly surrounded us, but I didn’t give a damn. “Was that a threat?”

He glanced down at my fingers around his arm and pushed my hand off before meeting my gaze. “A warning,” he calmly stated. “Any woman who despises you automatically piques my interest. So, for her sake and hers alone… leave.”

With a final look he walked away and my eyes immediately landed on Nirah rushing to me. Something told me he was being… genuine. Like he wasn’t the threat.

“What happened?” Nirah slipped her arm around mine. “Is everything okay?”

“Sir?” Koren started, anticipating my next few words.

“Get Nirah to the car. Now,” I emphasized, shoving her to his chest and with one single nod he grabbed hold of her and pulled her away from me.

She stole one final confused glance back at me as they disappeared into the crowd.

It didn’t take long for a gunshot to ring through the air and pure chaos to unfold.

CHAPTER 16

Nirah

I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling as my head hung over the edge of the bed. I groaned in boredom.

His majesty had some important event to attend to and since he didn’t need me, he locked me up in this room with no way out and no entertainment whatsoever.

So, for fun, I’d been using his men guarding my door like my own delivery service. They’d run along and buy anything I requested because God help Antonio if I called one more time to yell at him for giving me useless bodyguards. Was it mean? Yes. Was I going to stop? Absolutely not. He locked me in here, so he got to deal with the consequences.

It was around seven in the evening when I decided to drag my body to the bathroom for a hot shower. Hopefully it’ll knock me out and put me out of my misery.

Moscow was not only eerie, but freezing. I was certain the atmosphere is what scared even the sun to stay away.

I spent some extra time in the shower to keep me warm, and could barely see my reflection when I stood in front of the mirror. I glanced around, not seeing my towel anywhere. Shit.

Small puddles formed at my feet as I tip-toed toward the bathroom to grab the hand towel. I gathered my hair, trying to dry it as much as possible before tossing the towel into the laundry basket.

A chill rattled my body, the cold, tiled floor beneath my feet prickling my skin. I walked to the door, yanking it open but froze, eyes wide as I saw Antonio casually lounging back on the sofa.

I slammed the door shut, staring into nothingness as I blinked. Shit. What the fuck is he doing here? And why now.