Page 21 of Taming Mika

If any woman could, it would be Mika. She’s taken my mind by storm until everything that was important to me weeks ago is just background noise now—even the looming conflict over the Kapranovs’ dissatisfaction.

The Russians haven’t done anything yet, but I’m confident Nikolai is ready to make good on his threat based on the messages he’s sent daily since our dinner meeting. Again, I read yesterday’s letter, reminding me of the business I have on the east side of the city that Nikolai can put an end to with a snap of his fingers—another warning that I should think twice about backing out of our original arrangement. The Kapranovs are clearly keeping the informationabout Ana’s broken engagement under tight wraps, hoping I will change my mind. Maybe I should.

Calling off the wedding to pursue Mika is selfish and careless—it’s probably the most self-centered decision I’ve made since taking over as don. I’ve spent years thinking of what’s best for my family, what’s best for my business, and what’s best for my men. Choosing Mika over all that was impulsive. But at the time, it didn’t feel like much of a choice.

Every time I think of the woman, I have the intense urge to get in my helicopter and fly north. I thought a few days of separation might help clear my head. Instead, Mika is still a constant distraction. She’s all I think about—her enticing eyes and smart mouth. She can’t seem to help but challenge me at every turn, and I want to break down her defenses and claim her in every way. I ache to know everything about her, including what it feels like to plant my seed deep inside her, and if that means giving up an arranged marriage I didn’t particularly want in the first place, no one’s going to stop me. Nikolai Kapranov sure as hell isn’t going to intimidate me into taking his daughter as my wife. The more he pushes, the less inclined I am to take the deal, and the more Mika runs, the harder I want to pursue her.

Sighing, I drop the paper onto my thick mahogany desk and scrub my face with my palms. I shouldn’t put my wants ahead of my responsibilities. That’s not how my father raised me to run our business, and I have no doubt he would have something to say about it now. But I like it even less when people try to force my hand.

A soft knock on my office door interrupts my thoughts.

“Yes?” I growl, folding the letter and dropping it into the top drawer of my desk.

“It’s Nina, sir,” Vincent says from the other side of the thick wood.

Despite my conundrum, my lips lift in a genuine grin. “Let her in.”

The door swings open a moment later, and Nina stands shyly at the threshold, her fingers twisted together in front of her. She’s wearing her hair back in a loose French braid, her simple yellow wrap dress walking the line between comfortable and stylish, just likeher soft leather flats. I wave her in, and she smiles, her energy brightening. Vincent gives me a curt nod and closes the door behind her to give us privacy.

“Sorry to bother you. I know you’re busy,” she signs.

“Never too busy for you. What’s up?” I lean back, my shoulders relaxing as I rest my elbows on the arms of my wingback chair.

“It’s about the wedding.” My sister’s expression grows nervous, and her fingers pause as color tinges her cheeks. Biting her lower lip, she hesitates, her hands hovering expectantly.

In all the chaos of putting out fires over the past few days, I’ve hardly seen Nina, and I haven’t had time to tell her that I broke off the engagement. If I had gone through with it, the wedding would have been the biggest public event my sister has ever attended, and I know it’s been making her nervous. I should have thought to put her out of her misery sooner.

Now’s as good a time as any, and though I hadn’t planned to open my decision up for discussion to anyone, I feel an intense urge to talk it out with Nina. Speaking to my sister might help put my turmoil to rest—or maybe she can talk sense into me if I’ve gone completely out of my mind. She might not know all the ins and outs of the family business, but she’s highly intelligent and compassionate—a rare quality for people born into our position. It’s been a long time since my sister and I have had a heart-to-heart, but when I need someone to talk to, she’s my greatest ally.

“I should have told you sooner,” I sign. “I called off the wedding. I’m not getting married next weekend.”

Nina pales visibly, her innocent hazel eyes widening. “Why? What happened? Are you okay?”

She takes several concerned steps toward me, and I rise from my chair to round my desk. My sister’s well over a head shorter than I am—unlike Mika, whose long legs make it so she doesn’t have to raise her gaze to look me in the eye. Nina peers up at me with round eyes as she grasps my hands. Her grip is sure and infused with strength, even though, to most, she comes across as shy. Partly because she doesn’t have many opportunities to build confidence aroundstrangers, and partly because she’s been discouraged from voicing her thoughts. But she’s never shy about speaking her mind with me, and I’m glad for that. Giving her hands a squeeze, I pull her down onto one of the leather chairs in the sitting area of my office, and I sink onto the seat beside her.

“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Better than fine, honestly. But I might have done something incredibly reckless.”

Nina presses her lips together as if to hide a smile. “Like breaking off your engagement to a Bratva princess right before the wedding?”

I chuckle. “Well, that about sums it up.”

“So, why’d you do it?” Her expression is open and understanding, but reasonably confused.

“I met someone,” I hedge, because if I say too much about Mika, I’ll ruin Nina’s surprise.

Nina raises her eyebrows playfully, as if to say,what a shock.In her world, I meet new people all the time, while she’s stuck at home with the same familiar faces day after day.

I roll my eyes in response, the teasing banter lightening my mood.“No, I don’t just mean I was introduced to someone I don’t know,” I tell her, shaking my head. “I met a woman.”

“And you broke off your engagement because you like her?”

I nod. “But she doesn’t want anything to do with me if I have a fiancée.”

“Good for her,” Nina says.

“It’s not just that,” I sign. “I might have made major waves with the Russians because I went back on my word.”

“That’s why you’ve been locked inside your office for three days straight,” she observes.

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