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The night has worn on, and he has had to be here to keep up appearances, but I know where he wants to be.
“Then get back to Rayne.”
He gives me a shit-eating grin. “Yeah, I do need to get back but not to Falmouth tonight. I knew it would be late, so I brought them both here for tonight in one of the suites.”
“Go, brother. I’ll wrap things up here.”
He clasps my hand in his and gives me a quick one-armed hug, slapping me hard on the back.
“We’ll talk later, Marco. Maybe over that bottle of Port you pulled out of your ass.”
“You’re on.” I grin like a Cheshire cat, watching him leave.
I sigh and glance around at the buzz of it all. As much as it’s been an incredible opening and quite the fanfare, I feel lonely.
Really fucking lonely. And that should not be the case.
I could have escorted a woman here tonight, but I can’t lie to myself for my heart wasn’t in it.
Anyway, tonight is about business, not pleasure.
Though I can’t help wondering what Katiya is doing.
I will call her tonight. With any luck, she isn’t under complete lock and key. Only seeing her uncle’s reaction to it all the other day, I’d say that’s a given.
One thing we can all agree on is that the assholes who are in on this smuggling ring will pay. On all fronts.
First thing Monday, Rocco will get a hold of the IT informant and see what we can get from that.
Angelo is still as suspicious as ever of the Russians, and I tend to agree with him. They’re playing this a little too coy.
I don’t trust them.
I lean on the balcony overlooking the dance floor. The lights flash on and off in a stream of colors.
I see Valentina and her friends dancing to the music, and not too far away from them is Enzo keeping watch, with Rocco standing next to him. I knew Rocco was circulating, but I haven’t had a chance to catch up with him yet, and I probably won’t now because I’m beat and need to take a load off.
As I watch my sister for a moment, I smile to myself over Angelo’s words about her growing up too quickly. Then I realize, not for the first time, that Katiya is the same age.
I try not to facepalm myself while deciding to make my way up to the Penthouse and have a nightcap before bed. My work here is almost done. It’s been a long fucking night, and I’m beat.
I cross the room toward the elevator. Only my brothers and I have access to the top floor, but I notice a woman standing there before I reach it. She’s wearing a cut-out black strapped dress with pointy little ankle boots, legs up to oblivion, and long dark ….
I stare a little closer.
Princess?
It can’t be her. Now I believe I’m fucking seeing things. I know I haven’t drunkthatmuch tonight, preferring to stay reasonably sober so I can mingle professionally.
For one, she would never be able to get in here unnoticed, and two, she’s locked up at the Petrov estate, never to be seen or heard from again.
She never returned my text from earlier.
A moment later, the beautiful woman turns and looks up at me, and I just about have a heart attack. Her eyes are glistening in the dimly lit hallway as I stare in disbelief for a moment before stopping in front of her.
Fucking Katiya.
She can’t be here…what the fuck is she doing here?
