Page 96 of Savage Reign

“Another unexpected visit. Maybe you’re here to learn how to garden?”

Two of his guards linger nearby. I guess after you press a gun to the underside of a man’s chin, people get jumpy.

“Not quite,” I say, adjusting my cufflinks. “Gardening’s not my thing.”

Igor straightens, brushing dirt from his hands as he turns to face me. His smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Pity. It teaches patience and focus—two things you seem to be running short on.”

I ignore the jab and reach into my jacket, pulling out the casino contract.

He gestures to the papers with a sharp nod. “Are those signed yet?”

I shake my head. There’s no point dragging this out. “I’m pulling out of the casino deal.”

His expression hardens, and he tosses the shears onto the ground. “I see. And what brought you to this brilliant decision?”

“The deal no longer aligns with my priorities. I’ll make sure you’re compensated. I know you’re losing more than just money, and I’ll do what I can to make it up to you.”

Igor’s laughter is harsh. “Ah, your priorities. Let me guess—your pretty little wife?”

My expression hardens. He has a right to be angry with me, but if he mentions Sofiya again, it won’t end well. “That’s right. Sofiya is my priority, and that means making things right with the Syndicate.”

His lip curls in disdain. “You’re either the dumbest bastard I’ve ever met, or you’ve got a death wish. There’s no way in hell that the Syndicate will ever forgive you.”

“Watch how you speak to me,” I snap. His guards shift closer, but I don’t give a shit. “I’ve got my priorities straight. I know what truly matters, and it’s her and whatever future we share.”

He shakes his head, his dark eyes drilling into mine. “I warned you not to fall under the spell of a beautiful woman, but you walked right into her trap. She tricked you, just like your own brother did.”

The word “brother” hits like a punch to the gut. My vision narrows, and the old wound he’s reopened burns fresh.

In two steps, I’m in his face, my voice low and cutting. “Say that again. I dare you.”

I catch movement from the corner of my eye as his guards shift, reaching for their weapons. I feel the threat at my back, but I don’t move, my focus locked on Igor. His smirk fades, as he glances back at his men.

“Sergey betrayed me, betrayed everything I built. Sofiya is nothing like my snake of a brother.” My fists clench and unclench at my side. “You’ve been a trusted partner, and I’d prefer to keep it that way. But if you disrespect my wife again, I’ll end you without a second thought.”

Igor blinks, his cocky mask slipping back into place. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Zhukov. You walk away from this, and you lose everything. And I won’t be here to pick up the pieces.”

I step back, rolling my shoulders. “Don’t worry about me, Igor. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

When I step inside the office, Vadim looks up from the couch, where he’s sprawled with one foot resting on the coffee table. He sets his drink down, eyebrows lifting in question. “How’d it go?”

I loosen my tie, letting out a sharp breath. “About as well as I expected. Which means not well at all.” Dropping into the chair behind my desk, I drum my fingers on the polished wood. I haven’t been to this office above one of our nightclubs in over a week, preferring to work from home to stay close to Sofiya.

“Can you blame him? He lost money and political clout in one move.”

“That’s how the game is played. I don’t make the rules.” I shrug. “He definitely didn’t like me choosing Sofiya over him.”

Vadim snorts, stretching his arms over his head. “You think he’ll retaliate?”

“He’ll pull his political support, but he isn’t stupid enough to come after me directly. He knows I’ll bring a war he can’t win.” I pause in thought. “Still, Igor’s not someone to underestimate.”

“I’ll have our men keep an eye on him,” Vadim says. “Speaking of dangerous motherfuckers, what’s your plan with the Syndicate?”

I lean back in the chair, staring at the ceiling. “Plan? I don’t have one yet.” There’s no way I can call Roman and admit that everything I’ve said over the past few weeks is a lie. That I’ve never hurt Sofiya and never could. That I’ve fallen for her harder than I ever thought possible. Whatever my next move is, it has to be bold enough to convince him I’m serious about being with Sofiya. “Let’s handle the Azerbaijanis first, and then I’ll figure out how to deal with the Syndicate.”

Vadim runs his thumb along the rim of his glass. “Have you heard from Roman since you turned down his offer?”

“No.” I flex my fingers around a paperweight. “Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But it doesn’t matter anymore.”

---