Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
I don’t plan to let this be the end. I have questions for her, ones I’m not doing a great job of talking myself out of asking. As the hours pass and I spend the bulk of my time in the office taking calls, I can’t shake the awareness that she’s here.
In the background.
In the kitchen, by the sounds of it.
When I pace past the open double doors of the office, I notice her on the phone. She looks agitated, and I catch myself before I care. Maybe she’s arranging car repairs back in the city. Maybe she’s listening to a voicemail. Whatever it is, I can’t let it be my business.
She crossed paths with me once.
One lapse in judgment, when we gave in to the attraction that flared up between us.
It doesn’t mean that anything needs to change.
Life will go back to the way it’s supposed to be.
As soon as the roads are clear, we’ll go back to our lives. Liliana will return to hers and I’ll resume mine. Normal days of working and managing an empire of wealth and sin.
As I picture it, sitting in my office and heading home each night after the grueling work of keeping the Bratva intact and prosperous, I war with the thought that it all sounds more daunting than the alternative. The peace and bliss I found here with her.
Forget it.
Forget about her.
I’ve never struggled to get over a woman before.
And I doubt that Liliana can end up being an outlier in that regard.
No matter how boldly she’s already captured my attention while we’re stuck here.
9
LILIANA
Anton doesn’t come back after he takes a call. From the sound of it, he’s fielding one after another. The reception’s clearly better on his end. I can use my phone too, but there’s no hope of getting a ride out of here.
Before I can take off, I’ll need to figure out how to compensate Anton for hitting his car.
“Is your neck all right?”
I glance up at Viktor, who’s still eating the breakfast I made while I begin to handle the dishes.
“Oh. Yeah. It’s feeling better.” I clear my throat, glad Anton’s assistant is here. “While I have a moment to speak with you, could you please tell me who I should contact to arrange the car repairs?”
Going through Viktor makes more sense than having to deal with Anton directly. As soon as I can get out of here, I’ll never see him again.
“I’ll make sure to provide you with whatever Anton wants.”
I glance up, frowning at his wording. He makes it sound like Anton is going to have the final say in if I pay for the damages. I will. There’s not a chance in hell I want to be indebted to Anton. Or Roman. That’s part of this clean cut I want. Why I came here to get my things and never have a link to Roman Sokolov again.
But I do.
I have this connection with his father now.
I cringe, feeling so awkward about how of all the men on this planet, Anton Sokolov is the one I met here last night.
Done with the dishes and not in the mood to hunt down Anton while he’s holed up in that huge office on the phone, I grab my phone from upstairs. It needs charging, so I take it to the massive kitchen where the wireless dock can bring it back to life. While I wait for the bare minimum of power, I dig out my notebook and review the notes I made a couple of weeks ago, when I wanted the logistics on what it takes to start an official delivery service for the bakery.
With my phone partly charged, I pick it up and call Jenni. A long line of notifications waits for me, but going through her spares me my parents’ worried messages. She’s probably at the bakery now and can tell them I’m okay.
She picks up on the first ring.
“I’m alive,” I greet.
She heaves out a deep breath. “It’s about time you called!”
I smile, even though I hate to have them so concerned. It’s nice that she does care though. Losing my bestie to my ex stings. It’s good to remember that there are other people in this world who care about me and value me.
After I hurry to explain to Jenni that the car skidded off the road and that I’m snowed in at the Sokolov vacation home, she relaxes more.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.” Yes. But this pain between my legs is a good one, a naughty reminder of how Anton stretched me. “I’m fine.” Skipping the part of how I crashed my car. For them to know that I’m alive, unharmed, and safe, is enough for now.
“Well, I hope the roads are cleared soon. We need you back.”
I frown at her tone. “What’s going on?” I wince. “I haven’t even been out of the city for a full twenty-four hours.”