Page 189 of Sinful Blaze

“The police are on their way.” The security guy behind the front desk covers the mouthpiece to let me know. “We may need you to come back down and give a statement.”

Sofi turns to the guard with a fierce scowl. “That woman has been stalking and harassing her for months. We’ll provide all the evidence they need if they arrest her.”

I am so grateful for them. For my family. My new family.

“Pasha would be so fucking proud of you,” Mak remarks under his breath when the elevator closes.

I believe him. I really do.

Maybe that’s why I crumple into tears.

71

PASHA

Nothing is going as planned.

Truth be told, nothing has gone as planned since the night I decided buying some fucking loser’s artwork would get me what I wanted.

Did I get the piece? In a manner of speaking, yes.

Did I keep the piece? No.

Did I get the contract? No.

Is it because I let my dick take over my brain?

… Possibly.

I’ve been wanting to blame everything that’s happened—or not happened—on my inability to ignore a pretty face. That would be easy. That would be something I could explain away.

But it would be a lie.

My plans literally went up in flames when I saw her face. When I felt her near me.

When she stole my breath—and everything I am—with one single fucking kiss.

Now, our child is due any day, and I’m sleeping (and drinking) away each day in the corporate office. Years ago, I had it fitted for temporary overnight stays just in case something happened with work to keep me here. Never did I fathom I’d be staying here because I’m trying to avoid going home.

Coward.

It hasn’t been easy. I want nothing more than to rush home, sweep Daphne into my arms, feel the strong kicks and wriggles of our unborn daughter, and forget anything was ever amiss.

But the easy way has never been my path.

I have to see just how far and deep Daphne’s hand extended into my company. Into my Bratva. She’s been in this building, she’s made allies here and with her guards… She lives with me, for fuck’s sake. She’s an extremely intelligent woman who could undo me with a few simple clicks and the right ears willing to listen to any lies she fed them.

Her father did it to mine. How far does the apple fall from the tree?

She told you the truth.

So far, the investigation has unveiled as much. Daphne’s only discovered lie to date was the omission of her birth name and the names of her parents.

Mama seems to believe Daphne’s claims. Fuck, I want to believe Daphne.

But swallowing convenient lies has never been my path, either.

I can’t let my feelings make me vulnerable. I can’t let my own desires destroy everything I have. Everyone I’m responsible for.

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