Page 65 of Crown of Hate

She huffs out a soft laugh, gaze dropping to the ground as a blush of pink blooms across her cheeks. Then, with a hint of hesitation, she runs her tongue slowly over her lips, wetting them and drawing them together in a subtle, seductive motion. My pulse kicks up a notch, and I nearly lose it.

Fuck, I want to taste those lips.

When she glances up at me through her lashes, her gaze is smoldering. “Thank you. You’re looking very handsome yourself,” she says with a strained, almost sultry voice.

The evening breeze ruffles her hair, and I reach out to smooth it down. She tenses under my touch, her breath hitching. It’s evident she wants me just as much as I want her. “Everything okay?”

She inhales sharply and clears her throat. “Um—yes.”

Peering into her eyes, I ask, “Are you anxious?”

“A tiny bit,” she admits.

“You don’t have to come tonight. I can handle things on my own.” And I mean it. I’d agreed to let her get involved out of guilt, and because I simplycouldnot say no to her. But the thought of her being in harm’s way if something goes wrong terrifies me.

I’d risk my life for her in a heartbeat, but I’d rather not put her in a situation where her life is at risk at all.

“No way. I’m doing this for Papa. I won’t sit on the sidelines.” She starts towards the car, and I quickly follow to open the door for her. Once she’s inside, I shut the door and round the limo to find Semyon waiting, forehead creased with worry.

I nod to the bodyguard, signaling him to give us some privacy. “What?”

“Are you sure about bringing her? Things could go wrong if Akim knows you’ll be there,” Semyon says, keeping his voice low.

“Akim thinks he has something on me. He won’t make a move tonight, I’m sure of that.” Not really, but I don’t cling to that hope. I’ll be a nervous wreck all night worrying about Alya getting hurt.

Semyon eyes me skeptically, as if he can see right through my bullshit. He definitely knows even if I don’t fully believe what Ijust said. Men like Akim are unpredictable; that’s what makes them so dangerous and hard to take down. I know this because I’m just like that.

Make your enemies think they can predict your next move, then prove them wrong. That’s my playbook.

“We can’t be sure. For all we know, he’s figured out Alya won’t turn on you,” he says.

“That’s why I spent the last few days making sure we’re armed and ready. If anything goes down, we’ll be prepared.” Normally, I bring only ten men to a party. Tonight, I’m bringing thirty.

Semyon sighs. “I’ll watch for anything unusual and signal you if I suspect something.”

I nod, then ask, “Have you found anything we can use against Arsen if he doesn’t cooperate?”

A wicked smile plays on Semyon’s lips. “Oh yeah, I did find something very interesting. Bastard’s been stealing from Boris and Akim—at least a million dollars, plus arms and drugs. He’s a dead man if Akim finds out.”

“Do we have evidence?”

“His bankbooks. And pictures of him meeting up with arm dealers who are Boris’s rivals.” He unlocks his phone, swipes through some photos, and hands it to me.

In the picture, Arsen is exchanging bags with Maximo, one of Akim’s biggest rivals. More swipes reveal him cozying up to people Akim and Boris would be furious to know he’s dealing with.

I return the phone to Semyon. “Airdrop those to me. If this doesn’t work, we move to plan B.”

“Which is?” Semyon asks with a raise of his brows.

“We kidnap the fucker and torture him until he talks.” My eyes scan the area for Alexei, but he’s nowhere in sight. “Where’s Alexei?”

“Making sure the weapons are all set. Ilya ordered him to keep you safe, and he’s taking it pretty seriously.”

My lips curl with a smile. Ilya and I have come a long way, but it’s good to know he still cares about my safety. Or maybe he’s just afraid Kira will skin him alive if anything happens to me. Either way, it’s reassuring to know he’s got my back.

I clap Semyon’s shoulder. “Get in your car and let’s go. It’s rude to be late.”

As I slide into the car beside Alya, I’m acutely aware of her presence. She’s quiet for most of the ride, staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought. But when I reach for her hand and squeeze it gently, she turns to me with a warm smile that makes my heart skip.

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