Page 4 of Captured By the Russian Wolf

"Lily Donovan will," I said, breaking the silence.

Both Mikhail and Yuri looked at me, their eyes narrowing in confusion.

"The woman from the bar?" Yuri asked, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The schoolteacher?"

I nodded.

Yuri chuckled, shaking his head. "Let me guess, this is where you tell us you've found the one? Is that what this is about? Nikita Volkov, getting sentimental!"

I shot him a cold glare, and the amusement died instantly in his eyes.

"This isn't about sentimentality," I said, my voice dropping dangerously low. "She's different. She's not from our world, but she can hold her own. That night, there was something..."

I trailed off, remembering the way her eyes had flickered with hesitation. She had a plan, and whatever it was, I knew it wasn't harmless. But that didn't matter now. I could use that strength, her determination, for my own benefit. She wasn't like the women I'd encountered before—none of the simpering daughters of politicians or business moguls who threw themselves at me.

"What's the plan then?" Mikhail asked, crossing his arms over his chest, his voice slightly more measured now.

I tapped my fingers against the armrest of my chair. "Vadim will find her. I'll make her an offer—protection, wealth, power—everything she could ever want. In return, she becomes my wife. She plays the part, and in exchange, I give her a world she could never touch on her own."

"A business deal?" Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Cold, calculated, and transactional. Just how you like it."

"It's more than that." I locked eyes with him. "This will stabilize everything—my image, the business, our future."

Mikhail leaned forward, his gaze intense. "And what if she refuses? Or worse, what if she becomes a problem?"

"Then I deal with her." I didn't hesitate as I said it. It was the truth. In this world, there were no loose ends. If Lily became one, I'd cut her off. Simple as that.

A long silence followed, and I could see both men processing the decision. Mikhail wasn't happy about it, but he wasn't stupid, either. He knew when to trust my instincts.

"Fine," Mikhail said finally, leaning back in his chair. "But I hope this works. The last thing we need is a complication, especially with her."

Yuri smirked again, though it was more cautious this time. "I'll leave you to your... romantic pursuits, then."

I ignored his jab. "Vadim will reach out to her. We'll set up a dinner, something private, away from prying eyes."

Yuri gave a mocking salute as he stood, Mikhail following behind him. But before they left the room, I called out.

"And tell Vadim to be... persuasive."

After Mikhail and Yuri left, I sat in silence for a few moments, the weight of the decision settling over me. It wasn't just about stabilizing the business, though that was the reason I had given them. It was about her. Lily Donovan had lodged herself into my mind, and that was dangerous.

I didn't let women get under my skin, ever. But she had.

I stood, moving toward the window. The city stretched out beneath me, glittering like a sea of lights, cold and impersonal. Just like the empire I had built.

Vadim would handle it. He always did. The man was efficient and, more importantly, knew how to make people understand when there wasn't a choice. And for Lily, there wouldn't be one.

The next day, Vadim did what he was instructed to and informed me about what happened. He found Lily at her school, a quiet place on the Upper East Side. The schoolyard was filled with children, their laughter ringing out as they ran around under the watchful eyes of teachers. But Vadim didn't care about the scene. He had one mission.

Lily spotted him as he approached. I imagined the way her eyes would have narrowed, the cautious tension that would have filled her as she recognized the type of man who walked toward her with a purpose. Vadim was intimidating in his quietness—lethal but controlled. He stopped just before her, speaking in that low, steady voice of his.

"Miss Donovan," he greeted her, his tone polite but firm. "Mr. Volkov requests your presence at a private dinner. Tomorrow night."

Her frown was immediate. "Excuse me?"

"Mr. Volkov doesn't repeat himself," Vadim replied without missing a beat. "It would be in your best interest to accept the invitation."

Lily's eyes hardened. "And if I don't?"

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