Page 40 of Owned By The Bratva King

Leon’s voice is too loud and comes out distorted. “Roman! Jesus fuck, where are you? We got problems.”

I stare at the phone like it’s a tarantula. Problems?

A beep and another message. “The fuck did you do that for? It’s all over the news. Stop fucking around and pick up!”

I hang up and grab the TV remote. A few clicks later, I’m watching an over-botoxed local news anchor, her face weirdly stiff as she chatters beneath a picture of me.

A picture of me with Quinn.

“Local businessman Roman Kazanov may have met his match! Mr. Kazanov is famously a lone wolf, but ABC7 New York has these exclusive photos of the handsome Russian billionaire getting up close and personal with a mystery woman.

Sources have identified her as Quinn Sullivan, the manager of Sugar Rush, which was acquired by one of his businesses. Mr. Kazanov is clearly not a man who minds mixing business with pleasure!”

The article cuts to a long-lensed shot of Quinn and me embracing in the pagoda, evidently about to kiss. That bastard photographer. He had the shots he wanted all along. How long was he there? Screw my embarrassment; if he makes a laughing stock of Quinn, I will fucking take him apart.

A horrible thought hits me, and I peer through the gap between the blind and the wall. A couple of news vans are already outside, and reporters stand with their backs to me, doing their bits to the camera. I retreat before someone sees me and drop onto the couch, my head in my hands.

My phone is ringing again, and I swipe to green.

“Well, fuck me. Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Leon’s voice drips with sarcasm. “I hope I didn’t wake you. Relax, have breakfast, maybe get a massage with a happy ending, the works. But take your fucking time, yeah?”

“Obviously, I didn’t know I’d been papped,” I say. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Yes, I do. Jesus, Roman. Are you at her place now?”

“Yep.” I rub my face with my palm. “I’m not the only one. The press is already gathering outside. I moved my car; they can’t know I’m here.”

“No shit. There are loads of them at your house and the office, too. I’m at your downtown building now, but I almost punched some permatanned fuckwad on my way in. Told the hacks you’re here and you’d give a statement.”

“Great plan, genius,” I spit. “I’m stuck in Quinn’s apartment. I can’t deny anything if I appear in yesterday’s clothes.”

“So climb down the fire escape at the back and vault the fence. Then you can go to your car and get to the office. I need to talk to you about other stuff anyway.”

I glance up to see Quinn in the doorway, looking adorable in her pajama nightshirt. She stares at the TV, her eyes widening as she realizes what she’s seeing.

“I’ll be there. Gotta go.” I end the call and stand. “Rusalka, I have to deal with this. It’s bad news for me.”

“You?” She’s suddenly childlike, her expression pleading. “What about me? Us?”

“I’m a well-known figure in this city, and that’s not always a good thing,” I begin. “I have enemies.”

“It’s always got to be about you, doesn’t it?” Her eyes flash with anger, and I’m taken aback by the sharpness in her voice. “I have spent over a decade hiding, Roman. You forced your way into my life, and now you have the gall to act like I’m a liability?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Sadness washes over her pretty face. “Someone tried to kill you on the night we met. Why? What are you mixed up in?”

I can’t tell her, not like this. It’s hard enough to watch the innocence leaching out of her with every minute she spends in my presence, but how can I tell her the ugly truth about my life? Things will never be the same once that mangy cat is out of the bag.

“Quinn.” My voice is firmer than I intended. “I have to go. Stay here and wait for Leon; when the coast is clear, I’ll send him to collect you.”

As I dress and gather my things, she sits motionless on the couch, watching the news. She yelps with shock to see her apartment on the live feed.

“Shit, they’re outside?!” she cries.

“Yeah. I’m sorry.” I pick up my jacket. “I’m leaving via the fire exit. Do not talk to those people.”

I lean in to kiss her. She flinches and turns away.

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