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Antonio stepped inside and I shrugged before whacking the back of his head and he groaned, stepping back and turning to look at me.

“Oops.” I smiled, then dropped the lamp to the floor. “Thought it was the Russians you were selling me to,” I said and a deadly gleam lit up his eyes.

“No you didn’t.” He stepped closer and I swallowed hard, matching his step.

“You’re right.” I shrugged again. “Where are we?” I kept walking backwards as he stepped forward.

He stopped, inhaled and then exhaled sharply.

“A hotel in Moscow.” He walked over to the curtains and closed it. Then, he turned to face me. “Don’t open the curtains again unless you want a bullet through your skull.”

“Death would be a gift right now,” I murmured with a sigh, hugging myself and I was certain he heard me.

“I have three events to attend to. You’ll join me only for the first and third,” he explained as he locked the bedroom door.

“And the second?” I asked and he grabbed my upper arm, pulling me to the bed.

“You’ll stay here.” He shoved me onto the bed and reached for the IV stand.

He pulled it toward himself and I backed up against the headboard.

“Come here.” He gripped my calf, yanking me toward him and I yelped. His large hand curled around my arm, holding it still.

“Antonio—“

“You haven’t eaten or consumed any liquids, Nirah.” His dark gaze settled on me. “You need this. And I don’t want a dead wife. Don’t take it out again, or I’ll force you to sleep in my bedroom where I can keep an eye on you.”

And suddenly, this wasn’t the worst predicament I could be in.

“Can I at least get some of my own things?” I asked as he got to his feet. “Or didn’t you think this through?”

“Everything you’ll need is in the duffle bag.” He motioned to the black bag on the couch and my jaw dropped as I shot upright.

“Antonio, you can’t be serious…” My eyes shifted between him and the singular black duffle bag. How the hell is everything I’ll need in that? One of my fur coats wouldn’t even fit in that bag.

He simply blinked back at me.

Then he turned and exited the room in silence. I groaned and fell back, staring at the ceiling. Great. Just great.

CHAPTER 15

Antonio

As soon as I entered my hotel room my cellphone buzzed in my breast pocket and I ran a frustrated hand down my face.

I answered the call, lifting my cellphone to my ear. “Make it quick, Moretti.”

“Are you familiar with the Kulikov name?” His voice was clipped. Ah, yes. The most powerful name in Moscow.

“Depends.”

“I need you to get that family off my back.”

I inhaled, then exhaled.

Going after the Kulikov’s was an idiotic decision. Especially in their home country. But this was Kaden collecting, and I knew by the unspoken laws that I didn’t have a choice.

I slipped my hand into the pocket of my slacks. “Which sister was it?” I asked for entertainment purposes.