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“Do you want it to end?” He inched closer, another step into my space. Almost forced to lean backward to face him, I clumsily shifted on my feet. He slid his free arm around me, holding me close.

“I… I don’t want anyone to target me or Brady. I don’t like the idea that someone out there would rather me be dead because I saw that video.”

He heaved out a deep breath. “I don’t like that idea either.” Without any warning, he released me and stepped back. “And I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

I stared after him as he turned and left me standing in the hallway, missing the suggestion that he could’ve been leaning in to kiss me.

Once more, I sighed with the desperation of not knowing what he really needed from me versus all that he could be wanting with me.

13

NIKOLAI

Having Lousia and Brady continued to change this new normalcy. Much like there was a before and after of my father’s stroke, Adrik taking over, all of them settling down and starting families, and Gregori showing up to attack our empire, I had to embrace another version of a life-altering shift.

The before of when I met Louisa and Brady versus the after.

Wanting to spend all my time with them didn’t fall into the realm of protecting the mother and son. I had guards for security on this property. However, I found myself delegating more and more to the men under me.

Some were looking into Owen Bilsen.

Others were checking into the activity of Pickering Inc. Security.

A couple were looking out for the Konstantins.

Another was tasked with following any leads about that cop who’d been in that video.

All of us—my brothers and cousins—were determined to stop Gregori from hitting at us again, but it was very much a team effort.

I played my part in the office here at the guest house, listening to one of the men report about the little bit he could find out about Owen Bilsen. He’d gotten out of the hospital and was lying low, coming into the office and griping about having to replace Louisa.

“Hang on,” I told the man as I lowered my phone and muted it as Louisa approached me. She tapped her knuckles on the open door, and I had to bite back a growl of desire.

In a short, summery dress today, light blue to match her gorgeous eyes, her long curls tied back in a flirty ponytail, taunting me to imagine holding it while I fucked her mouth and⁠—

“Mr. Volkov.”

I exhaled and set the phone down on my desk to glower at her.

She bit her lower lip and cringed. “Am I interrupting?”

“What have I told you about calling me that?” I warned.

Right on cue, her fair skin betrayed her. Her cheeks turned pink. “Sorry. Nikolai,” she corrected.

That’s better, sweetheart.

Because she was. She was a sweet soul with a big heart. Ever since I almost kissed her in the hallway, she’s reverted to this stupid formality. As if I were just her host.

“Nikolai, there’s been a delivery.” She jerked her thumb. “A bike?”

I smiled. “Finally. It was backordered.”

She gawked at me as I stood and moved to pass her by. “Nik, you’re going to spoil him.”

Stopping in my tracks, I pushed her against the wall and caged her in with one hand near her head. “What’d you say?”

“I said you’re going to spoil him.”