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“Grace,” I mutter, rubbing at my forehead, “it’s not that simple.”
“Just say the words and it all stops. You have the power, don’t you?”
“If it wasn’t me, it’d be someone else.”
“But it is you.”
“You don’t understand,” I say quietly. “There are too many associates relying on me.”
“Excuses. Stop calling me. I’ll smash the phone up.”
“I’ll send you another.”
She disconnects, and I’m left with a heavy weight in my heart. It’s a feeling I’ve only begun to experience since Grace began pointing out all the things I’ve fucked up. The things I never saw as wrong before her.
Alek is in the next room to me, so when he comes out onto the balcony, he takes a seat and produces a bottle of vodka and two glasses. “Drink?” I nod and take a glass.
“I want to run something by you. It’s only an idea, but what if we dropped the sex trade?”
He frowns, filling my glass. “Can you do that?”
“It’ll upset a few people for sure, but something strange happened.”
“Boss?”
“I grew a fucking conscience.”
He smirks. “Grace?”
I nod. “She won’t stay if I continue to be this man.”
“You want her more than the money and power?”
I nod, knocking back my drink and holding out the glass for a top-up. “Maybe Maxim was right. Maybe I’m not cut out to rule.”
“Bullshit,” spits Alek, and I arch a brow at the venom in his words. “I’ve seen you work, boss. There’s no one I’m prouder to stand beside. You’ll make new deals, rule in other worlds. Maxim and his animals loved trading women because it made them feel powerful, but having power over women doesn’t make you a bigger man. They were weak. You make the decision, and I’ll make sure it happens.”
I give a nod. It was Maxim who got us into this world, and he’s gone, so maybe it’s time for a change. “Set up a meeting with Andrei.” He’s already running the sex trade out of Holland, and passing it on to someone else would appease my associates.
GRACE
There’s a knock on my door and I peep through the spy-hole to see a man with a trolley. “Room service,” he says through the door.
“I didn’t order room service,” I reply.
“It was sent by another guest.”
I groan, unlocking the door. “Of course, it was.” He smiles awkwardly and pushes the trolley inside.
“May I set up for you on the balcony?” he asks politely.
“Is that where you were told to set it up?” He nods. “Then go ahead.”
The mobile phone rings and I answer with a heavy sigh. “It’s a beautiful view of the tower. I thought we could watch the sunset together.” I watch the waiter set up the table for one and am relieved Ivan isn’t joining me. “I’m also on my balcony eating dinner.”
“I’m not hungry,” I lie, ignoring the protest of my stomach.
“Then just sit and watch the sunset.”
