Page 11 of Tangled Roses

“Coping. Ana is doing a fine job.”

“Good.”

It pains me that I’m away from her when she needs us all the most, but as business always comes first, she understands.

“Has your guest arrived?” He wastes no time in getting to the point of the call.

“Yes, safely tucked away until you say otherwise.”

“Any information?”

“None. She hasn’t seen her mom since she was five and has no father. She never did.”

“And Nikolai?”

“We have eyes and ears on him and he is currently settling into his suite at the Ritz Carlton.”

“He doesn’t want to be detected then.”

Titus sounds thoughtful. “It’s a typical choice for a man who wants to blend into the crowd. What else do you have?”

“He booked tickets to Broadway, the Empire State building and made various dinner reservations. His itinerary is that of a tourist, but we both know he won’t attend any of them.”

“He is securing his cover story.” Titus says thoughtfully.

“It will be interesting to learn of his true itinerary.”

There’s a brief pause and I sigh heavily and fill him in on my meeting with Travis.

His soft laugh doesn’t help my temper, and he merely says, “Enjoy your evening. You could do with loosening up a little and a fucking orgy is a great way to relax.”

“Fuck you, Titus.”

I cut the call because he may be the head of the Romanov empire but sometime he’s still my annoying older brother and will always be treated that way.

My thoughts turn to tomorrow evening and I wish like hell I didn’t have to do this. The last thing I want to do is play by their rules and yet they are the ones currently in charge of the game.

Fucking whores isn’t something I enjoy, unlike my brothers, who use them for physical gratification and carry on with their day. If I fuck a woman it’s because I want to after a pleasant evening and company I enjoy, rather than what is forced upon me.

The last woman I took on a date was the sister of a business acquaintance who I got chatting to at a dinner party. She was enjoyable company and a pleasurable fuck, but that was all. It’s been a while since then because my father’s death and the subsequent shit that came with it has meant my entire focus has been on business and grief.

Until today.

Until Gabrielle Adams walked into the room and, with one look in my direction, captured my attention.

I refill my glass and wander over to the panoramic windows and note the darkened sky of the evening. I’m not sure why I’m thinking of her at all and wondering what she is doing now alone in that marble prison. She must be scared, worried, and confused. We have lifted her from her life and plunged her into another one and left her with nightmares as companions.

The door opens and Luka heads inside.

“It’s all arranged.”

He holds out his phone and I stare with distaste at the picture of the whore he has booked for tomorrow night.

I nod. “What time?”

“Seven-thirty. She will meet you in the lobby.”

“Fine.”

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