Page 165 of Merciless Queen

In that drawer, though, I see something that makes me pause. A little black box. I pretend not to and shut it.

“Don’t burn it. You’d regret it.” She snorts, but I reach a finger beneath her chin and re-angle her face to mine. “Youthink so now, but in time, there will be a day you’ll wish you didn’t destroy it. Besides, instead of burning things, I’d prefer we find a printer.”

Skin furrows between her brows. “What?”

I release her chin to retrieve my phone, bringing up the email from my lawyers. It takes her a moment to read it, and before she comes to any wrong conclusions about the timing, I explain, “After leaving the club, I called my lawyers to begin working on this. They just got me it. I want us to get divorced.”

Her mouth parts, the blue of her eyes icing over. She stiffens and I can actually see the walls rebuilding around her. “Today—” As fast as she starts, she stops, pressing her lips together.

I open the drawer again, retrieving the ring box and rest it in front of her.

“Our current union is based on revenge and betrayal. That’s not what I want with you. From here on out, we’re going to have a relationship you deserve. One where I can work to prove I’m the man for you, that you can trust me with every single part of you. I want us to sign the divorce agreement…so I can marry you for real one day, Miss Volkov. A day of your choosing, when you accept me because youwantto. A day when my ring on your finger is a promise and not a threat.”

For a long moment, she doesn’t move. She stares at the ring box and my phone.

When she finally tilts her head toward me, a delicate strip of water lines her eyes. She’s trying so hard not to cry but I want her to. Not to see her in that kind of pain but to witness yet another instance of her realizing that from here on out, I’ll do anything for her.

She stands and pulls my face down, kissing me long and deep—deep enough I very nearly lay her back on her desk and show her exactly how I feel. She ends the kiss much too soon, but her hold remains, as I pray it always does.

“Fuck, I love you, Zeno.”

“I love you too,mia regina.”

She turns, taking me with her, and walks me back into her chair. “Sit. I want to show you how much.”

My cock jumps with her offer, but there’s one thing I want more.

Her.

Hands on her hips, I spin us back around, placing her onto her chair before dropping to my knees and parting her thighs. And then I peer up at her and repeat the words that damned me from the start.

“How can I serve you?”

The picturesof her was a distraction to get me out of the country, I see that now. No one feels more torn than I do because I was forced to pick between supporting my Pakhan and keeping my heart intact.

After Anastasia’s numerous calls about what went down, and that my father escaped and can’t be found, I finally return to Moscow to start tracking him. He’s here somewhere and I’ll tear this entire country apart to find him.

When my phone chimes, I assume it’s Vanessa responding to my message that I’ve landed and will be home soon, after a quick visit elsewhere. But it’s not. It’s a text, another picture, this one taken closer than the others, of the woman who’s the physical embodiment of my heart. This one isn’t sent from an unlisted number, but one with a label that makes me murderous.

Ivan

You really thought I didn’t know where she disappeared to? You destroyed our lineage the moment you chose Vanessa. So now, I’ll destroy you, and I’ll be starting with her. Want this to end? Come and find me.

He wants me to find him. Too fucking easy. I’ll hunt him until there’s nothing left.

My reply isn’t to him, but to my Pakhan.

Me

I’m heading back to Toronto. He’s there. I’m only returning when she’s safe.

Vanessa:

Let me know when he’s dead.

From my pocket, I pull out a crumpled sheet of paper, stained with age, wrinkled from the endless times I’ve folded and unfolded it.

Five names.

---