Page 63 of Cruel Existence

She laughed. “It does seem really cheap, doesn’t it?”

“I’m glad I’m not the one who planned it.” Although he wasn’t here to fire the staff. He wasn’t here to yell and boil over until he broke fine crystal. He wasn’t here to tell me I’d fucked it up.

“Viktor was just trying to take care of things for Mom, but he’s used to taking instructions from Papa. I guess he’ll be answering to you now. Do you have a Sovietnik, yet?”

“Yes. It’s Nikoli.” I had made good on my promise from all those years ago. Amara had been spared in her father’s murder. She was kidnapped without harm and returned. He did everything I asked. I could trust him. He was a good right-hand man. An asset.

Her eyes turned upward. “It’s nice out here. Those people,” she groaned.

“I know. How are you doing? Need a chair?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes. “Andrey won’t let me ride. He told the stables to stop saddling for me. It’s awful. You have no idea.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sure the horses miss you too.”

“Maybe you could go with me? I’ll show you who I’ve added to the stables. I have an incredible stallion right now.”

It was hard to tell her no when she was this excited. “Yeah. Let’s go out there this week.”

“Have you thought about what you’re going to do as head of the Novikovs?”

“About what exactly? There’s a lot at stake right now.”

“The will,” she whispered it like it was a dirty word.

“Viktor and I have a meeting tonight.”

“What happens to Paris?” she asked.

“I don’t know yet.” I had brought a fresh round of recruits to the castle compound. I had left them unexpectedly with one of my top trainers. They were working on target practice when I left. I needed to check in as soon as possible.

“Someone has to take over the vineyard operations,” she stated.

“Since when did you care about our vineyards in France? You do realize that is only one side of the operation there. The other part is…” Katya had never been fully briefed on how the Bratvas were trained or where it happened. Tonight, was not the night to give her a lesson in our pipeline of creating our security and workforce.

I saw the way she pinched her lips together. There was something she wanted to say. Something she wanted to ask. I knew my sister better than anyone.

“What is it?” I prodded.

“It’s just…” Her eyes darted to her belly. “Paris…if you need someone…I’d like to see the vineyards.”

The door to the funeral home flew open, and a man in a brown suit hurried toward us. I groaned.

“Mr. Novikov?” he stuttered.

“Yes?”

“I need your signature on a few items,” he explained. “I’m so sorry.”

“Our family attorney is handling everything,” I shot back.

“I can’t find him. And I know this is a delicate time.”

Viktor had left to prepare for our meeting. I looked at Katya. “We’ll continue this later, okay?” I kissed her on the cheek.

“You promise, Luka?”

“Of course, little sister.”

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