Page 176 of Sinful Games

He put the picture down on the coffee table and grabbed my hands, pulling me down to sit beside him. “Had?”

I nodded, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “Yeah.Had.”

And just like that, every secret I ever had poured out of me.

I told him about my childhood, how my father had turned me into a pawn for his own sick purposes. How Alexsei had been the light in all that darkness, how I fell in love with him against all odds. And then there was Lukyan—our son, the one good, innocent thing we had. But it all fell apart. Lukyan was taken from us, ripped away like he was never meant to be ours. I left Alexsei when the pain became too much and abandoned him when he needed me the most.

And now, the woman who killed Lukyan was coming for us again.

Steven didn’t say a word, just squeezed my hand when I needed a moment to breathe or stop the tears. And when I finished, it felt like I’d been emptied out, no more secrets left to hide behind.

He let out a long breath, shaking his head slowly. “Caia... I had no idea.”

“I didn’t tell you because... I don’t know. I didn’t want you to look at me differently. Or judge me.” I sighed. “I know that’s stupid, but with New York, you, and Nikita, I just thought maybe if I started over?—”

“Whoa, whoa, hold up.” Steven’s eyes widened, like I’d just said something completely insane. “You think I’d judge you? Are you kidding me right now? You’re like Wonder Woman without the outfit. If anything, I’m bragging about knowing a real-life superhero.”

“Wonder Woman?” I choked out a laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious.” He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “You’vebeen through hell, and you’re still here. You’re strong as hell. Cut yourself some slack, Caia. You were doing what you had to do to survive. That’s not something you should ever apologize for.”

Without a word, I stepped forward and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Thank you," I whispered into his shoulder, my voice steady now. No more falling apart, just this strange sense of relief.

“Alright,” he said, his grin turning mischievous as he let me go. “Enough with the crying. Now, let’s focus on something important.” He leaned in, lowering his voice. “So... how are we gonna stop this crazy bitch?”

Chapter

Fifty-Eight

“Never close your lips to those whom you have already opened your heart.”

?Charles Dickens

Alexsei

“How many cameras are scattered around?”

Angelo swung his computer screen towards me, revealing a detailed surveillance map. “Fifty cameras across the museum, offices, and the rooftop.”

I scanned the layout, making sure every camera fit into my twisted plan. The strategy was simple: lure her in and trap her like the rat she was. Each camera was a key piece of this sick puzzle.

Satisfied, I nodded and stood up. “Perfect.”

Angelo, still lounging in his chair, took a sip of his coffee. “Where the hell are you rushing off to?”

“Home. Volk and Sofiya are coming for dinner, and I need to make sure everything’s ready.” I had the cook whipping up a proper Russian feast—borscht, beef stroganoff, and blini. Even snagged the best Russian vodka in NYC. It’s been ages since I last saw Volk, so this reunion was a big deal.

Of course, I checked with Caia first, since she was living with me now. She was all in, eager to meet the woman who somehow managed to snag Volk’s heart—something she never thought possible.

Angelo raised an eyebrow and set down his coffee. “Why wasn’t I invited?”

“Because we don’t like your Italian ass.”

He smirked. “No worries. Couldn’t come anyway. I’ve got plans.”

“Plans? With who? Georgino?” I shot back, knowing he spent way too much time with that dog.

He narrowed his eyes. “Leave my dog out of this. No, I actually have a date.”

---