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I allow a smug smile to pull at the corner of my lips. “I’ve got everything sorted out. If you can keep Giovanni off my ass, we’ll be good.”
“That’s easier said than done,” he says.
I lean further into the bar, allowing my head to fall between my shoulders. He’s right. It’s a risk bringing Sloane to the house this early, but I need to get a move on. I can stay dormant for as long as I’d like, but nothing would get accomplished. I’ve already waited long enough.
“Are you staying with us?” I ask.
He nods. “Yes and no. Your house is right across from mine, actually,” he says, taking out a sheet of paper from his suit jacket. “You’re looking at a proud new house owner.”
My eyes widen and I nearly spit out my drink. “The fuck?” I ask.
His smile is wide—he’s almosttooproud. Why the hell would he think buying a house next to where I’m keeping Sloane is a good idea?
His hand hits my back, and he kneads my shoulder. “Relax. I’m restoring it, and the only other person who knew about it is dead.”
I haven’t been caught off-guard like this in a while. I would have expected his family to know about it, maybe even help him restore it, but I guess not. But nothing about this is smart.
“Ya nenavizhu tebya,” I mutter.I hate you.
“I like the sound of that,” Max says with a grin. “Say it in English, Stepanov.”
Looking at him through my brows, I grimace. “Go fuck yourself.”
He holds his hand over his heart. “Don’t say such sweet things to me.”
Digging into my pockets, I throw a bill on the table and lift myself out of the chair. “She should be there now. Will you be at the house later?” I ask before I head out.
He nods.
“Also, keep an eye out for Giovanni for me.”
“You’re going to owe me for this,” he says.
“Why?” I ask.
He stands up from the chair and places more cash on the table. “Because we’re fixing each other’s problems.” He smiles.
It’ll be nice to have Max with me instead of him being with Giovanni.
CHAPTER13
SLOANE
Shortly after Mikhail spoke with Dimitri, he was there to pick me up. We drove in silence for what felt like an eternity.
I stand in the foyer of the house, which has a modern touch, while Dimitri grabs my things from the car. He’s different from what I’m familiar with. He almost looks irritated, but I’m not the kind of person to make his burdens mine as well.
“There are many rooms in the house. Pick one,” he demands with a strong voice.
I give him a look and take my bag from his hands.
He lets out a huff when I turn my back and head up the stairs. Every wall in this house is painted white with no art. It’s very bland ... It’s veryMikhail.
The stairs are split into two levels with panels leading up the sides, and the floorboards are a light shade of wood in a patterned design.
The door handles and chandelier are black—they complement the white. Up the hallway, the lights are dimmed, and I walk on an aged red carpet.
I open the door at the end of the hallway and step into a dark room. Flipping on the light, I see a large bed in the center of the room and two chairs by a curved wall filled with windows.
