The letters are small at the top of the building, with gold plating.
“That is the sex-club portion of the business. We are going to the restaurant.” Illya comes to my side, motioning to the building immediately next to it. “The club is not yet open, but once it is, there will be a…secret sort of entrance connecting the businesses. Like we’ve said, once we are in charge, we will haltall omega trafficking. There is plenty of legal, consensual sex-work to be done.”
“Andillegalsex-work,” Luka adds as we start our walk into the building, “well, at least the kind that involves murder-for-hire. But…we’ll tell you about the business plans you inspired later.”
Kole growls into my earpiece, but I keep my smile on.
He shoots me a wink as we approach the large metal door that a man in a suit opens for us. “Thank you, Sergei.” Illya nods at the man, who bows his head slightly.
“You’ve got company,” Sergei says gruffly, his brows furrowed. “I had to let them in—”
“We expected as much,” Illya cuts him off. “Thank you.”
Sergei only nods again, but then keeps his head down as we pass.
“That is one ofourmen,” Luka explains as we walk in, subtly making sure I know that Sergei is firmly with Illya and Luka—not their father. And if they’ve got company…Mikhail is already here.
I can’t even bring myself to appreciate the beauty of the space. It’s a real, honest-to-goodness, fine-dining establishment. I’d never be able to afford to eat here in a thousand years. Crystal chandeliers, ornate crown molding, the whole shebang.
“We are in the process of finalizing our menu,” Illya states calmly as we walk past the concierge stand. “Our chef will be bringing out all our options, and as our omega, it’s important that you love every single item we serve.”
I know I’m supposed to be pretending to be their omega, but something jars inside me at his words. Right. I need to make sure to sell this.
A small giggle leaves my lips as we keep walking towards the back. “Oh, Illya, you can’t expect me to loveeverythingon the menu. I’m sure your chef is wonderful—but everyone has different tastes.”
“That might be true.” Luka shoots me a wink. “But the only one we care about is yours.”
“How…sweet.” A deep, accented voice rumbles, making my hair stand on end. I glance over at the table in the very back of the room, where an alpha I can only assume is Mikhail Vasiliev is by himself, sitting at a table for four. “I was not aware that you were to start bringing your whores to family meetings.”
The man standing directly behind him—which I’m assuming is Alexei Volkov, his right-hand man—snickers, as do about ten other guards that are stationed around the room.
Alexei is a formidable looking man, with blonde hair and blue eyes—the complete opposite of Mikhail.
I would be embarrassed about the slight red that colors my cheeks in response, but this is probably the exact reaction a sheltered girl like Siobhan Murphy would have.
“I am going to kill him,” Kole mutters in my ear.
“Stand down, big guy…” I hear Hayden in the background.
“That is no way to speak to our omega,Otets,” Illya tuts, and Mikhail arches a brow. “Any reason you brought so many men?”
“You can never be too careful,” he says slowly, his gaze running over me before his eyes jump to Sam behind me. “And who is this?”
“This is Tobias Crane,” Illya jerks his chin in Sam’s direction. "Siobhan's personal bodyguard.”
“Wherever she goes, I go.” Sam’s voice is deadly, and I internally tense. Mikhail is not going to take kindly to him speaking out of turn.
But…he surprises me. “Siobhan? Just how are you so important that you need a personal security detail?”
Luka’s hand pats mine. “She’s—”
“I’maskingthe omega, son.”
I let my eyes widen in surprise before slightly lowering my head.
It’s just an act.
It’s just an act.
