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“Mm-hmm. You sure that’s not just because he says it in a low, sexy Russian accent that gets your hormones all in a tizzy?”
“Zoe!” I protest, and she giggles as she leans away to protect herself from my fury.
“I’m kidding. I’m kidding! I’m sure he has plenty of admirable qualities.”
“It’s just for fun,” I reiterate. “And just for a little while.”
“Okay,” she agrees, flashing a white-toothed smile.
“Can we go to bed now?” I grumble, feeling like I’ve been thoroughly dissected, reprimanded, and teased all at once.
“Bed sounds nice,” she agrees, and we stand together to head down the hall.
I might not have my head on straight when it comes to Maks, but at least I know Zoe will always have my back—even if she likes to give me a hard time on occasion. Since Mom died, she’s been my rock, my best support, and I know she always has my best interests at heart.
17
MAKSIM
The sunrise breaks through the windows of my apartment, filling the modern space with the same sense of golden enthusiasm I feel after spending the night with Heidi. It doesn’t matter that I got only three hours of sleep. Nothing is going to bring me down today.
I’m up early enough to finish a good workout in my home gym. Then I take a shower, get dressed, make a quick breakfast, and head to the offices of Federov Brothers Investments.
Women help take the edge off, and I always enjoy starting something with a new woman. There’s a freshness to exploring a new person, understanding what makes them tick, how to give them pleasure.
But with Heidi, I almost feel like I’m on a high.
Something about her open honesty, the way she faces life with an unshakeable sincerity, makes me want to learn about her in a way I haven’t cared to know a woman in years.
As I ride the elevator up to my office, a smile tugs at the corner of my lips. I can’t stop thinking about her confession that she’s dreamed of me, too, since our first night together. It cost her something to admit it.Pride? Dignity?I’m not sure, and still, she was willing to say it. I like that about her. And I wonder if she dreamed about me again last night.
I know I dreamed of her.
Stepping out of the elevator, I’m greeted by our receptionist, Jacquie, who gives me a bright “Good morning,” along with a sweet smile. Bespectacled and in her late sixties, with a halo of grayish-blonde curls, I can always count on Jacquie to do her job with a pleasant attitude.
“Morning, Jacquie,” I respond, giving her a single nod in passing.
I’m at my office door before I hear Dimitri’s raised tone, telling me that my brother is not in nearly the good mood I am. From the sound of it, he’s giving someone on the phone a piece of his mind. Rather than go investigate, I head into my office, leaving the door open because I know Dimitri will come speak to me when he’s good and ready.
Of my two brothers, Dimitri is who I would consider my true partner in the family business. He shares the burden of financial decisions, has proven a shark when it comes to laying claim to restaurants we want to acquire, and manages the banking side I find rather dull.
Our youngest brother, Alexei, on the other hand, I think would gladly never attend our family meetings to discuss business revenue again. But when it comes to security and hunting down the people who fall too far into debt to us, he’s both diligent and masterful.
Except when it comes to Aleksandr Volkov. The bastard has proven untouchable over the last nearly five years of open war between our Bratvas. As hard as I’ve been on Alexei for failing to bring him to me, I know that I’ve given him a nearly impossible task.
The slimy snake is too good at hiding behind his hired lackeys, paying enough that men are willing to die in droves for his cause. But his men don’t hold the loyalty of our brotherhood, and one of these days, I will find a hole in his armor.
And when that day comes, Aleksandr Volkov will face the full force of my wrath.
I’m barely in my chair before I hear Dimitri’s furious end to his conversation, and he slams his phone down with an impressive crack a moment later. Stomping footsteps sound a moment later, followed by a barked order for Alexei to join us for a family meeting.
This can’t be good.
Dimitri enters my office a moment later, thunderclouds darkening his expression.
“Morning,” I observe with mild amusement.
Alexei slips inside the room behind him, shutting the door and making a beeline for his usual seat sprawled across my couch at the back of the room. He gives me an ironic smile on his way, a silent “here we go again” that I usually ignore. But today, I can’t stop the tug of humor at the corner of my lips.
