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I look out at the city skyline in the distance. Somewhere out there is Emma. Adrik. The kids. All the different pieces of this game, scurrying around beneath the cover of the shadows. One way or another, this will come to an end soon.
I intend to make it the finish I desire.
“Yes. There’s something I need to take care of.”
30
RUSLAN
The Oryolov inner circle.
It’s no joke, I’ll tell you that much.
The last time an all-hands meeting was called, it was to establish succession and determine who would succeed Fyodor aspahkan. This is the first time I’ve ever called such a council myself. All six men sitting around the dining table of my Manhattan penthouse know it’s important. Most of them also know to hide their curiosity a little better than my uncle does. Vadim’s never met a moment of suspense that he’s liked yet.
“Don’t keep us waiting any longer, nephew,” he calls out. “Why are we all here?”
I keep my back on the table while I finish the shot of whiskey I just poured myself. Then I walk to the head of the table. “Thank you for being here tonight on such short notice.”
Vadim’s eyes stay fixed on me with eagle-eyed precision. He’s barely blinking. “No one here would ever dream of turning down an invitation from theirpahkan,” he murmurs.
I nod. “I’m sure you’ve all heard the rumors.”
“Which ones?” he asks with a chuckle. “There have been so many.”
“The ones relating to my assistant.”
Fyodor’s head snaps from the view out the window to me. The only change in his expression is a slight arch in his eyebrow, but I know my father well enough to interpret that as keen interest. The rest of my seniorvorslean in. Vadim is the only one who sinks back in his chair, a smug smile spreading across his face.
“The contract is real,” he proclaims. He slams a fist on the table. “I fuckingknewit!”
I narrow my eyes. “This so-called ‘contract’ is merely a rumor,” I say dismissively. “I’m here to talk about Emma Carson and her children.”
“Whataboutthem?” Vadim asks impatiently.
“They are in my home now and under my protection. They will be from now onwards.”
I’m aware that my revelation is not very clear. I haven’t explained what Emma is to me or why she happens to be in my home and under my protection. That will come later. First, I have to figure out a way to explain it to myself.
“Is she your woman or not, nephew?” Vadim asks bluntly.
The beast inside me roars to life.Mine.If there was ever a question, that answers it right away. I’m not about to deny it now.
“Yes,” I growl, “she is. And as such, those three children are mine as well.”
Thevorslook shocked. Mikael has paled, Arkady’s nonexistent eyebrows are raised to the roof, and Nikolai’s gaze keeps darting from face to face. Even Vadim looks taken aback.
Fyodor is the only one who’s smiling. He raises his glass of gin. “Well, then congratulations are in order.”
That seems to snap everyone else out of their stupor. They raise their glasses, too, albeit hesitantly. I understand the shock, though—I’ve always been very vocal about remaining unattached. This change must seem abrupt from their perspective.
From mine, though, it only seems inevitable.
Vadim’s dark eyes twinkle with mischief when they land on me. “Can we expect a wedding anytime soon, Ruslan?”
I nearly choke on my whiskey, even as images of Emma in a white gown, walking down the aisle toward me, invade my head and refuse to be dismissed. “That’s premature. The only reason I bring it up is because it is relevant for our defenses against Adrik Makarov.”
My father nods. “You have my full support,syn. As do your woman and the children.”
