Ivan clears his throat. “I hope you find whoever was responsible. And thank God your wife is safe.”
I nod once, jaw tight. “She is. And I will find them.”
The meeting moves on to other matters, territory disputes, new alliances, shipments. But my mind keeps circling back to Adrian.
I’m furious with myself for missing him at the bar last night. We were so close. If I had caught who he was meeting with, this would already be over.
After the meeting ends, one of the Mexican cartel leaders, Diego Morales, approaches me.
“Orlov,” he says, extending his hand with a sharp smile. “Now that you’re officially part of the Society, I think it’s time we talk business. We’ve been watching your operations. Impressive. We’d like to form a stronger alliance.”
A smile spreads across my lips as I listen to him speak.
“...open major expansion routes into Mexico. Your networks and ours could be very… profitable together.”
We speak for several minutes, discussing logistics, percentages, and protection deals. This is exactly why I fought so hard to get into the Society. Power. Connections.
By the time I get back home, a splitting headache is pounding behind my eyes. The long day, the meeting, and the constant rage simmering under my skin have finally caught up with me.
I walk into our bedroom and hear the shower running as Calina takes a shower. For a brief moment, I consider joining her, but before I can decide, the water stops.
A few seconds later, Calina steps out of the bathroom with nothing but a white towel wrapped around her chest. Her hair is wet, droplets sliding down her shoulders.
She looks so soft and simple like this. Beautiful in a way that hits me somewhere deep.
She walks straight up to me, rises on her toes, and brushes her lips against mine, gently.
“How did the meeting go?” she asks softly.
I sigh. “It went as expected. Adrian was there. He had this smug little look on his face the entire time I talked about the attack. I’m certain he was behind it.”
“We'll get him when he least expects. He's so sure of himself because he has no idea you're onto him. Proud men are always bound to make mistakes. He'll slip.”
I bring my hand to her still-wet face. “How did I end up with such a smart wife?”
A smile spreads across her beautiful face. “You got lucky.”
“I sure did.”
She searches my face for a moment, then tilts her head. “What’s wrong?”
I blink. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”
She gives me a small smile. “I can tell.”
That surprises me. I’ve spent years perfecting a poker face that fools everyone else, yet my wife can read me so easily. It’s both unsettling and strangely comforting.
I rub my temple. “I’m coming down with a splitting headache.”
“Oh,” she says, concern flashing in her eyes. She moves to her bedside drawer, pulls out some tablets, and hands me two along with a glass of water.
“These work like magic. Take them.”
I swallow the pills without question. That's how much I’ve come to trust my wife.
She watches me carefully, then says, “How about you go take a shower? When you come out, I’ll give you a massage. It should help with the headache.”
I pull her closer by the waist, pressing a kiss to her damp shoulder. “How about you take a shower with me?”
