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My phone pings, and I snatch it from the bedside table.
Blake Baron
Page six.
Roman De Luca
I’ve read it. Who got to him first?
Blake Baron
Rumor is that a rival Bratva took him out. But I’m betting it was one of his own. Maybe even his own cousin. Dimitri.
I smile at that thought, of Kozlov being betrayed by those he trusts and holds most dear. Backstabbing hurts, doesn’t it? Too bad, for him, the experience was short-lived.
“What’s so amusing?” Sophia asks, emerging from the steamy bathroom, her hair wrapped in a towel.
I glance up, caught off guard by her sudden appearance. “Kozlov’s dead.”
“What? How? When?”
I hand her the newspaper.
Her eyes scan the article, growing round. “You’re right, it’s Nik. Oh my God, he’s dead.” She sets the paper on the bed between us and studies me for a long moment. “You never told me why you hate him so much.”
Bile burns the back of my throat when I try to speak. I can’t tell her the truth, can I? She’s too smart, she’ll put the pieces together and realize that I took her as a pawn in my revenge game. Even now that it’s over, I know she’ll start doubting everything we have, every single one of my motivations leading up to this point. I don’t want to hurt her like that. I can’t bear to see her suffer.
However, I need to give her something. If I shut down, she’ll know I’m hiding the truth from her, and then she’ll become suspicious and dig deeper. My wife knows me too well. I can’t successfully hide anything from her anymore.
“A long time ago, Kozlov stole something very precious from me. We’ve been enemies ever since.” It’s a simple statement, and on the surface, the truth.
She ponders my answer. “Did you ever get it back?”
I eye her, wary of how much she sees through my vague response. “I did. But it was returned to me beyond repair. It wasn’t worth saving.”
“I’m sorry. It must have been something very valuable.” The corners of her lips dip downward. “Now that Nik’s dead, has your feud ended?”
“Yes. That’s all in the past now. Laid to rest forever.”
“How long ago did this happen?”
I hesitate. “Six years ago.”
“That’s a long time to hate someone.”
“It is. But now it’s over. I promise.”
“That’s good.” She glances at the clock on the nightstand. “I have to get going. The girls are taking me out to celebrate. Which means a massive shopping spree.”
I shoot her an easy smile. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Sophia leans forward, planting a sensuous kiss on my lips before she darts into the walk-in closet.
My chest floods with warmth. We’ve fallen into a beautiful balance of domestic bliss and scorching hot sex. My life is more perfect than it has ever been. Kozlov’s death is only the cherry on top. Stealing his fiancée turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made.
In the end, I won. Revenge is mine. I also get to keep the girl.
Life is perfect.
