“Celeste means nothing. I need you to believe that, pretty girl.”
“You should have told me.”
He nods and cups my face. “I should have, and I’m sorry.”
“Let’s leave, Mikhail. You and me. Somewhere, anywhere, away from all of this.” He sighs. “Leah...you know we can’t do that.”
“Don’t do it, Mikhail. Don’t marry her.” I grip his wrists and find his gaze through my tears. “Moya krasavitsa, I want nothing more than to give you what you want...”
I bite my lip to keep it from trembling, but nothing can stop my heart from breaking into unrecognizable shreds.
“Goodbye, Mikhail.”
The hallway seems endless as I trudge toward the elevator. I catch Heather in my peripheral,
her scrutinizing eyes following me until I slide inside and slink to the back corner. Once the doors close, I allow my tears to fall freely and a sob to break from my lips.
He said he wouldn’t hurt me. Liar.
CHAPTER 7
MIKHAIL
Present Day
Fuck.
I huff an exasperated breath and squeeze my eyes shut as my father’s voice grates on my last nerve. I love the man, but goddamn. Have I been such a recluse lately that he can’t take me at my word that I’ll be at the fucking reunion like I am every damn year?
Setting my cell phone on my lap, I rest my head on the seat, calling on my last ounce of patience.
“Rodrigo’s guy and I should be done days before then. I’ll be there.”
Satisfied with my answer, he says his goodbyes, and I close my eyes again, aggravated as all hell on multiple fronts since Rod’s call last night telling me he couldn’t make our Seattle drop. I stopped listening once he mentioned needing surgery and was sending another bastard in his place. We’ve been running arms deals for twelve years. I don’t trust anyone else to have my back; now, he’s forcing my hand. This deal is too important, and there is too much money at stake for me to back out. I’ll suck it up, get paid, and be home in two days.
“Mr. Petrov, shall I pull over here or on the tarmac?”
“Pull up, William,” I instruct, glancing at my watch. My driver nods. His aged blue eyes find mine in the rearview mirror and crease with a gentle smile.
I arrive forty-five minutes earlier than our scheduled meet-up, needing to size this fucker up before a face-to-face. My phone buzzes as I relax into the sleek leather, Viktor’s name lighting up the screen.
Viktor: Heard you got a new partner. Watch your back, bro.
It hasn’t been ten minutes since my father’s call, and already he’s run his mouth. Always fiercely protective, especially since Mom’s death. While often aggravating, I understand his paranoia. Our line of work has its risks: death or prison.
“Sir, looks like we have company incoming.”
I lock eyes with the approaching SUV and push open my door.
An older man climbs out of the driver’s seat and heads toward the trunk to unload his client’s bags.
A moment later, the back passenger door swings open, and black boots hit the concrete. They’re connected to toned legs and thighs encased in sheer black tights. As my gaze sweeps her figure, a smile moves across my face, and emotions, long bottled up, rush to the surface.
Leah.
“Hi, Mikhail.”
I almost feel the need to pinch myself. The woman I fell hard for and lost four years ago stands before me, looking more beautiful and confident than I remember.
“Leah? What—what are you doing here?” Did I stammer? When have I ever stuttered?
Her mouth twitches at my words but slides back into a smile before nodding.
“Surprise.”
We didn’t exactly end on the best of terms, but I embrace her regardless, and it’s almost like time suspends, like she and I have been waiting for this moment since that godforsaken day in my office. As always, she feels so perfect in my arms.
“It’s been a while.”
“It has.”
When the moment passes, she steps back, but her smile doesn’t falter. I’ve always wondered if she resents me for how things ended. But as I gaze into her bright eyes, maybe there’s a chance that we can someday rekindle our friendship. A voice at the back of my head screams how friendship will never be enough.
“It’s good to see you, Leah.”
She gifts me another beaming smile. “Same.”
