Page 30 of Ruthless Reign

A puff of air escapes Liza’s lips and she holds her arms out. “All dressed up and no idea where we’re going.”

Kira links arms with her friend. “All will be revealed soon.”

A fierce heat ripples through me. I graze my teeth with my tongue and stalk past Liza without a second look.

I’m here to do a job. Nothing more.

“Get your coats,” I bark behind me. “I’ll have Feliks bring the car around.”

I can feel the uncomfortable silence as I storm from the room. I know I’m being a dick, but the alternative is losing control. I can’t afford to let this reckless obsession continue. Even entertaining these thoughts is insane.

I just need to make it through tonight, then I can keep my distance. Forever.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LIZA

Feliks pulls up to the curb, and the engine hums to a stop.

Peering out the window, I can barely make out the club's entrance. All I see is a large townhouse, its stately façade blending in with the upscale neighborhood.

I have no idea where we are or what we're doing here, but Kira is adamant about it being a surprise. Her only instruction for tonight was to look hot and leave my inhibitions at the door, whatever that means. I’m curious what she has in store for us tonight, but more than anything, I want our last night here to be special, so I do my best to go along with her plan and act excited, even though my mind is elsewhere. Hundreds of miles east, to be exact.

I don't know what game Anatoly is playing, but I fear he's using Sofiya as a pawn in his game of control over me. Anatoly didn’t answer any of my calls today—not to his office, his cell, or even to his home. I know he’s punishing me for going away on this trip, but I can’t escape this nagging feeling that there’s something more. Something I’m not seeing.

I glance down at my phone, scanning the text messages I exchanged with my sister earlier today. It did nothing to put my mind at ease, only opened up the door to a lot more questions, like who are these so-called associates and why he would take Sofiya to dinner with them.

Me: pls call or text when yr up, I need to know you’re OK

Sofiya: sorry was in class! bit of a headache this morning but I’m fine, don’t worry

Me: I can’t help it, what happened last night?

Sofiya: I already told you just a dinner, no big deal

Me: Anatoly had no right to give you alcohol at your age

Sofiya: all my friends drink! I promise, I wasn’t even drunk

Me: that doesn’t make me feel better. Just rest up ok?

Sofiya: sure, sis. Ttyl.

Just reading over our text exchange sets my blood on fire. Sofiya clearly doesn’t see the red flags, and maybe that’s my fault. I’ve sheltered her from who Anatoly really is. She thinks he’s taking an interest in her as his soon-to-be sister-in-law; she doesn’t know the depth of his depravity. The scary thing is, neither do I.

“Better leave that in the car.”

“Huh?”

My head snaps up to find Kira smiling at me.

She gestures to my phone. “Your cell. No phones allowed in the club.”

I shake my head and try to come back to the present moment. “That’s weird.” I smirk and follow her lead, tucking my phone into the center console between us. “I wonder if this place is full of celebrities.”

Kira shrugs. “Something like that.”

I take lipstick out of my clutch and apply it, watching my reflection in a small compact mirror. When I finally look up, I catch Roman’s intense gaze in the rearview mirror. My heart pumps a little faster in my chest.

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