Page 25 of Disguised as Love

“It is so kind of you, really. Papa is lucky to have had such a good friend, but we want to handle it. And Mama…she isn’t ready for visitors.”

Volkov’s entire appearance changed, the soft smile disappearing into a frown as Raisa challenged him for control of the funeral service as well as refusing his visit. His voice was harder when he spoke again. “I will be there at seven. Make sure Malik is home as well. But now I must return to my meeting.”

He turned away, dismissing us, but at the last minute, he looked back. His eyes landed on me, taking in my hand on Raisa’s back and the closeness of our stance.

“I think your boss has something to say to you, Antonne,” he spoke in English for the first time. “Raisa, why don’t you go down to the lobby, and I’ll send him down in a minute.”

His eyes as they met mine were the deadliest I’d ever seen on another human being. Blue but lacking any warmth. As icy as the water of the Gulf of Finland outside his windows. I fought back a small wave of panic, wondering exactly why he knew me at all. Wondering if he’d made me as Manya had, or if Manya had placed a call to his office. Or if any one of a million things that could go wrong had, and I was going to see one of his fishing vessels up close and personal.

None of us moved, and he spoke again with a layer of frustration to his tone. “Be a good girl, Raisa, and do as I’ve asked.”

Raisa looked up at me, and I could see the fear in her eyes.

“Go with Ilia. I’m right behind you,” I said quietly.

She didn’t move, but Ilia came up and took her arm. “We wait in lobby, Miss Leskov.”

Her gaze remained on my face the entire time she walked to the elevator, not disappearing until the doors shut.

When I turned back around, Rurik was still watching me, but he didn’t say any more. Instead, he strode toward the conference room, passing Gennady as he came out.

Gennady was smoking as usual, but the hands that had always been steady were still shaking, like they had back in Colorado when he’d first found out that Petya Leskov had died.

“What the fuck, Antonne?” he growled.

“Sir?”

“I told you to bring her to me. Not to the fucking mansion.”

“You did?” I frowned, pretending. “I destroyed my last burner per your five-day rule. I’ve been waiting for a new one.”

He glared, inhaling and then blowing smoke into my face.

“Isn’t that convenient? And now you’re fucking dating her?”

We’d barely mentioned the word boyfriend to anyone?only Ilia, Malik, and Manya. I was sure Malik’s men and the workers at the estate knew, but the speed at which Gennady had found out surprised me, when it shouldn’t have.

I had one chance to get this right. If I didn’t, everything was going to go to hell, and I wouldn’t have a chance to get an exfil plan arranged for either of us. I’d put her in even more danger than she’d been in on her own. That thought twisted and stabbed at my chest in an unexpected way.

“You didn’t ask if I knew her,” I said dryly.

He scoffed. “There are some things I shouldn’t have to ask.”

“We met while I was putting the insurance deal together for you.”

His eyes narrowed, taking me in, the slacks and white shirt.

He stepped closer.

“You’re reaching for something that can never belong to you, mudak. She’s royalty, and you’re just a street rat. She’s already promised to someone else.”

I clenched my jaw together so tight the grinding of my teeth was audible in the silence. He laughed, a sinister one full of scorn.

“You made the wrong play, Antonne.”

He flicked the ash off his cigarette in my direction. A piece hit my arm, burning, but I didn’t move a muscle.

“We’re done,” he barked. “Shuffle off, put your dick where it doesn’t belong a few more times, and then crawl back to the States before you can’t.”

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