Page 29 of Ruthless Reign

This is our last night in London before we fly back to Moscow, and Kira has something special planned, though she won’t tell me what.

As if sensing the dark cloud over my head, Kira comes breezing into the room, her eyes narrowing when she finds me staring hard at my reflection. “Why the brooding face?”

I meet her gaze in the window’s reflection. “Who says I’m brooding?”

She steps fully into the room, closing the door behind her. Kira looks as glamorous as ever in a gold evening dress, her blonde hair swept up in a loose bun.

"I know that look. You're not happy about something." She crosses her arms and leans against the wall. “Out with it."

I run my tongue over my upper teeth and turn to face her. “I know you want tonight to be a surprise for Liza, but I can't do my job properly unless I know where we're going.” I gesture to my computer. “The club has no listed address, no website, and it’s not on Google. It’s like it doesn’t exist. I need more to go on.”

She blows out a breath. “Promise me you won’t freak out.”

My shoulders hitch. This woman is trying to kill me. “I make no promises. Just say it.”

“Fine.” She tilts her chin higher. “We’re going to a sex club.”

I literally choke on air. “Goddamn, Kira. What are you thinking?”

She laughs at my thunderous expression. “This is why I didn’t tell you. Chill, okay? We’re not going to do anything. It’s just a show. We’re there to watch. Maxim and I have been there before, and he can confirm the security is top-notch.”

“Why?” It’s the only word I can manage. Another thought occurs to me. “So, Liza doesn’t know?”

Kira shakes her head slowly. “All she knows is that it's a bit out of the ordinary.” She gently nudges my arm. "Come on. Doesn't Liza deserve a good time? She'd never let loose like this in Moscow, but she deserves a crazy night at least once in her life before she's tied down.”

I clear my throat. “A nightclub is cutting loose,” I point out. “But a sex show?—”

“Erotic show at a sex club,” she clarifies. “There’s a difference.”

“Right.”

Kira’s face falls. “She should know what she’s missing. Because sooner than later, she’s going to be tied to that asshole for the rest of her life. And she’ll never know what good —Kira raises her eyebrows—“you know what is. Because Anatoly will be her first and last.”

Jesus. My thoughts are diving straight into the gutter. If Liza's curious about what good “you know what” I’d be more than happy to show her. I know Anatoly prizes her virginity—the pig made that clear enough in the banya—but maybe I’m just as twisted because the thought of being the first man to spread her legs and push inside of her tight heat has me straining against the zipper of this damn monkey suit.

I hold up a hand to stop Kira. “Yeah, I get it. You don’t need to spell it out for me.”

She sighs. “I want to give her a wild night to remember. I know it won’t change anything, but it might open her eyes a little.” She gives me a hopeful smile. “We don’t have to make this weird. You do your job, I’ll make sure Liza has the time of her life, and we’ll never talk about it again.”

My knuckles whiten as my hands curl into fists, and my mind sinks to a dark place. I’ve killed, maimed, and tortured dozens of people without a second thought. But this might be my hardest job yet—watching Liza experience pleasure up close and personal for the first time and not being able to do anything about it.

Man, the universe has a messed-up sense of humor.

Actually, I shouldn’t blame the universe, this is all Kira.

There’s a soft knock, and then Liza pushes the door open.

Our gaze snags and I instantly regret it. She's peering at me through those thick, dark lashes, looking like a goddess descended among mortals. Her gown is a bold scarlet that wraps around her curves like a flame, and a delicate gold necklace is looped around her elegant neck.

My hand would look so much better around that throat.

Just fucking great. My thoughts are already getting away from me.

I drag in a heavy breath, straighten my spine, and focus my attention on sliding my gun into the back of my waistband.

“Damn, girl.” Kira whistles. “You look incredible.”

Except that’s an understatement. I look away because every illicit fantasy that’s been running through my head is likely written all over my expression, plain for all to see.

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