Page 62 of Taming Mika

“I’ll find a way to make things right,” I promise, because I’m not about to let her go. I’ve nearly lost Mika twice, and won’t let it happen again. I’ll kill every last Russian in New York if that’s what it takes to keep her safe. But I doubt it will come to that. I hope it won’t.

Wakingwith Mika wrapped in my arms might be the single best feeling in the world. I’m confident my attraction to her is turning into an addiction—one I don’t mind in the least. But the conflict I’ve started with the Kapranovs isn’t going to resolve itself, and it’s clear to me now that the longer it takes to fix this, the more Nikolai is going to escalate.

I’m dangerously torn between retaliating after the stunt he pulled yesterday or ending the violence before it turns into a full-blown war. He deserves to face the consequences of his rash actions—to know that I will crush anyone who dares to lay a finger on the woman I love—but in the end, I know teaching the Kapranovs a lesson will come at a great price for me and my men as well. I probably have the numbers to come out on top, but I have to own the fact that this all started because of me, because I lost my heart to a woman before I even knew what was happening. So, I’m the one who needs to make this right—if I can. That’s why I’ve decided it’s worth one last attempt to negotiate with Nikolai.

Rather than trying to open negotiations with the unpredictablepakhandirectly, I send a message to Dominik instead. It’s a long shot, but I’ve learned a lot about the Russians over the last few weeks, and while Dominik is undoubtedly bloodthirsty and violent, at least I know that he prefers direct communication that leaves no room formisinterpretation. Still, I’m mildly shocked when I have an answer within hours of reaching out to him. He and his father have agreed to sit down with me to discuss the potential for renegotiations—or reparations, as the younger Kapranov called it. I’ll take what I can get, and the fact that they agreed to bring my former fiancée to the meeting gives me hope that we might just be able to walk away from the negotiating table without more bloodshed.

The atmosphere as the Russians enter my house is entirely different from what it was during their last visit—before I told them I wouldn’t be marrying Ana. Rather than his forced cordiality, Nikolai steps through the doorway with a rigid set to his jaw. His eyes remain narrowed with suspicion as tension rolls off of him in waves. Dominik’s expression is just as cold and unwelcoming as ever, and it’s almost refreshing to realize he has as little interest in this alliance now as he seemed to before—only his dislike of me seems to have grown. Ana steps across the threshold next. Once again, she’s dressed to perfection in a soft, feminine red wrap dress and matching heels. Not a hair is out of place, and her makeup accentuates the full pout of her lips and high cheekbones. It’s not lost on me that she would make any man a lucky husband, but I can’t wait to fall back in bed with my willful, fiery Mika. A full contingent of Russian guards follows her through the door, each burly and menacing as they scowl around the foyer, looking for threats.

“Welcome,” I say coolly, gesturing toward the hallway leading to my study. “I hope you don’t mind letting your men wait here. I’m not sure there’s enough room in my office for all of us.”

Nikolai smirks. “Of course,” he says dryly. He gives a command in Russian, and his men remain in the foyer as he stalks toward my office, Dominik and Ana right behind.

I get a moment of satisfaction as Nikolai hesitates at the door, surprise flashing across his features as he takes in the state of my office. It looks like nothing ever happened. The paintings are new, as is my desk, but the repairs were done within a day, and all that remains of the Molotov cocktails’ damage is a faint discoloration onthe stone about the windows outside. Without a word of acknowledgment, thepakhanenters my office.

“Thank you for agreeing to sit down with me,” I say, closing the door behind us as Nikolai settles into one of the plush leather chairs. “You as well, Ana. I realize the position I’ve put you in is far from ideal.”

Ana perches primly at the edge of the couch, sitting next to her burly brother, who makes her look diminutive in comparison. The Russian heir apparent studies me with his usual level of menace, his blue eyes inscrutable as he remains stoically silent.

“You’re welcome,” Ana says, interlacing her fingers as she rests her hands in her lap.

Rather than taking the chair behind my desk, I sit in the one set at an angle to face my guests, and I cross my ankle over my knee, adopting a relaxed posture, though the tension building inside me is at its breaking point.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect such a… cordial invitation,” Nikolai observes dryly.

That wouldn’t be hard to guess, considering he brought a full contingent of guards with him, and when we left the foyer, they were all but squaring off against my men.

“Well, I understand that, in the heat of the moment, we all can make rash decisions,” I say pointedly.

I recognize that both he and I have made impulsive choices that have led us down this road. My biggest misstep was agreeing to marry Ana in the first place—I knew it was a risky choice, and I did it anyway. But nothing compares to the violent stunts he’s pulled since then, and I wonder if he’s objective enough to even see that. I’m confident that, even if he does, he won’t admit it—and while I would like nothing more than to force an apology from his lips right now, that’s not what this meeting is about.

“Does this mean you’re ready to make amends?” Nikolai asks, a smirk stretching across his lips.

“I’m ready to apologize for breaking our contract,” I state coolly,then I turn my attention to Ana. “I’m sorry if my actions hurt you in any way. It was not my intention.” I infuse my voice with sincerity, because out of everyone here, she is innocent in all this conflict.

That day at Saratoga, when I met her for the first time, I could see the hurt and fear in her eyes, hidden behind her vocal contempt. I didn’t like her calling attention to Mika then, but now, as she sits before me, it’s easy to see how young she is. She’s a grown woman—that’s easy to see in her sensual curves—and I know she’s in her early twenties. But something about her seems so sheltered and naive—unlike Mika, who carries herself with hardened determination because she’s probably taken more than her fair share of hard knocks in life.

“Any man would be lucky to have you as their bride,” I add to soften the sting of rejection. “But you’re right. I called off our wedding because I fell in love with someone else.”

Whatever Ana expected me to say, that was not it, and shock transforms her pouting expression into one of open surprise. Until now, I never would have anticipated I would say something like that, because love is such a weighty word. I never imagined I would love someone outside of my sister and my parents. But in the short time I’ve known Mika, she’s captivated me. She stole my heart without even trying, and I’m falling for her harder and faster than I thought possible.

I turn my attention back to Nikolai, meeting his eyes with an unwavering gaze.“I fully intend to make Mika my wife. That means she is under my protection, so if you intend to kill her, know that itwillbe an act of war. I know our negotiations took a wrong turn, and I can own up to the fact that I’m the one responsible. But as angry as you might be, I don’t think you want that kind of conflict any more than I do. Wars between families draw too much attention. They invite opportunities for upheaval and disunity in the ranks. That’s why I’m still willing to discuss terms if you are.”

Nikolai’s eyes flash with defiance, and my stomach sinks at the angry set of his jaw. He’s not ready to concede quite yet, which means the apology he demanded won’t be enough, and I wonder just howfar I might have to go if I want to maintain a semblance of peace. How far I’mwillingto go might be another matter, because while I’m willing to make some concessions, I won’t let him think he can make me look weak.

“Thank you for your heartfelt apology,” Ana cuts in, breaking the tension from our silent standoff. “Love is a powerful thing. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of it—and I hardly want a man who’s in love with another woman. I would like to think I’m worthy of a husband who will put me first.”

Relief surges through me at the olive branch she’s extending, and my shoulders relax as I give her the subtlest of grateful smiles. But when I look back at her father, if anything, Nikolai looks more irritated than before.

“You had better marry her if you think I’m going to let this insult slide,” he states flatly.

“I will,” I say firmly. “In the meantime, I’m sure we can find some way to come to an agreement,” I insist, though I’m beginning to wonder if Nikolai might actually be more eager for a violent conflict than an alliance. Maybe, like me, he just doesn’t want to look weak, and my decision to break off the engagement does call his level of authority into question.

“Perhaps you’d be willing to part with a small portion of your territory. Maybe then we would be more amicable to the idea of letting this whole thing slide,” Dominik suggests, his voice laced with indifference—like it was just an errant thought.

But if territory is what will appease the Russians, I’m willing to part with some. That would be better than sacrificing my men’s lives because I fell in love with the wrong woman. “Alright then. I’ll give you the Upper East Side.” It’s a generous offer. The Upper East Side is one of my best single sources of income. But it’s not my main moneymaker, and it’s part of the territory that has common borders with the Russians, so I won’t have to cross paths with them any more than is necessary.

Dominik’s eyebrows, usually pressed into a deep frown, lift, his expression indicating he’s both surprised by the generosity of myoffer and inclined to accept it. But his father’s expression says that’s not enough—that nothing will be—and before he opens his mouth, I know how this is going to end.

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