Page 177 of Sinful Games

Now that caught me off guard. Angelo admitting to a date? Unheard of.

“Who’s the poor girl?”

He got up and gestured for me to leave his office. “None of your business. I’ll see you tomorrow night. I’ll text you the security codes. Say hi to Volk and Sofiya for me.”

A dark chuckle left my lips as I left, still reeling from the idea of Angelo actually dating. It was like spotting a unicorn in Central Park.

Back home, the kitchen was a whirlwind. My cook was a machine, whipping up our Russian feast. The borscht simmered, beef stroganoff sizzled, and blini batter was being whipped to perfection.

I glanced at the clock—still had time before Volk and Sofiya showed up.

I decided to check on Caia. I found her in the living room, arranging flowers.

She wore a silky white shirt that hugged her curves just right, and her chestnut hair fell like a waterfall down her shoulders. But her emerald eyes were slightly red, like she’d been crying. Still, she looked absolutely stunning—so beautiful it made my chest ache.

She looked up and smiled as I walked in.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” she replied, finishing up with the last flower. “I can’t wait to meet Sofiya. Who would've thought Volk would actually be smitten one day?”

“I know, right?” I grinned. “Guess love works in mysterious ways. Just like you and me.”

Her hands froze, and she turned away, staring out the window.

My words hung heavy in the air, and I suddenly realized I’d crossed a line. Talking about my relentless love for her was risky; the memories were still too fucking raw.

Her silence was deafening. She stood there, framed by the soft light, and I could feel her battling her own demons.

Finally, after what felt like forever, she whispered, “It’s hard, you know? Remembering what we had and knowing it can’t be the same.”

I stepped closer. “Caia, I?—”

She raised a hand to stop me. “Please, don’t. It’s too much.”

I nodded, feeling her pain all too well. The past and present collided around us, and I stood helpless, watching her wrestle with memories that haunted us both.

“If Volk had told me, I would’ve jumped at the chance to have you as our wedding photographer! Maybe next time.”

Volk nearly choked on his vodka. “Next time? You planning to marry someone else,dorogaya?”

We were gathered around the table, stuffing our faces with delicious food and diving into conversation. Caia sat beside me, while Volk and Sofiya were across from us. They still had a bit of a tan from their anniversary trip to Italy and had brought us some tacky souvenirs. I was pretty sure Sofiya had actually made Volk think about us for once—he usually only had eyes for her.

Honestly, being his best friend felt like being the awkward third wheel at a two-person parade.

Caia was fully in the zone, a playful smile lingering on her lips. She shot me occasional glances, only to look away when our eyes locked.

Sofiya laughed. “No, I meant if another chance comes up, I’ll definitely book Caia. Maybe for a birthday surprise or something.”

Volk took her hand, planting a kiss on it. “Just making sure— but just know that even in death, I’d find a way to remind you that you’re still mine.”

I shook my head. “So even the afterlife doesn’t free you from being a control freak.”

His eyes narrowed. “Nyet, it won’t free you from my fist in your face either.”

I laughed, raising my glass to my lips.

The meal kept getting better, and the conversation flowed as smoothly as the wine. Volk and Sofiya shared stories fromtheir trip, each one more entertaining than the last. It was clear they had a blast.

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