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“Why the hell are you coming with me again?” Mishka asks once we’re in the air.

“Because I’m going to help you get the place in order and get things set for me to head back to Ilya’s. Also, you’re going to need someone in your corner until things get sorted.”

“Why do I feel like this is going to be a very bad idea?”

I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Though, now might not be the best time to mention the contractor’s already there.

41

ILYA

The message is short and sweet.

Unknown: Belov Estate. Twenty-four hours. She’s going to be pissed I told you, but I’ll deal with that. Come prepared because she’s not going to go without a fight.

I don’t need to know who sent it or who the she is he’s referring to.

My reply is instant.

Ilya: Done. Let your men know I’ll be there and to keep their guns down.

Unknown: The guns are the least of your worries, Romanov. Be more mindful of the animals.

I scowl. Damn it, I forgot about all that bullshit. What is up with the Belovs and their love for dangerous, exotic animals?

I put my phone to my ear, making the call. “Have the dose ready in twelve hours, we leave in thirteen.”

“Yes, Pakhan.” I hear the stress, but they won’t fail me. They don’t dare.

I don’t bother letting Zakhar or Oleg know my plan. They’ll try to talk me out of it, but my mind is made up.

Two days to think about it, to read that letter over and over again, and find the damn fleshlight with the note taped to it that it was the only girl I could use until the next time she saw me.

I’ll admit, I laughed. She’s fucking nuts. And I want that. Her. I want her.

Whatever might come as a result of that, I’ll deal with, but it won’t change a damn thing.

Which means I need to get ready. I’m going to be prepared for whatever she throws at me this time, even if it kills me.

42

LANE

BELOV ESTATE

Mishka aims a steely glare at me. I give him a sunny smile. “He was boring me.” I tuck the gun back in my pocket and wave at him to continue.

He really looks like he wants to kill me. Okay, so maybe I overstepped, but if I had to listen to that dumbass cry for another ten minutes about how he was only following orders, that he didn’t touch any of the girls brought in—total lie, of course—I might do something crazy like cut out his tongue. This was much faster.

Cleaner too.

“Are you going to fucking shoot every asshole that walks in here?” he demands, waving at the body sprawled out on the floor, blood soaking into the ugly rug.

His father certainly didn’t have any fashion sense, that’s for sure.

“I will if they want to waste time. For every single one you let stand there and plead his case, the more those men out there are going to see you as weak.”