Page 32 of Cruel Existence

“It’s harmless. She’s cute. That’s all.” I shrugged.

It didn’t get him to back down. He didn’t believe me. I wouldn’t believe me. I was in over my head with Amara. She was all I could think about. Dream about. I wanted her. I needed her. I fucking craved her every second of every day. She wouldn’t let me near her.

“Stay away from her,” my father growled. “Her father won’t be in New Orleans long. They will not be staying.”

My focus on steering my father away from Amara suddenly changed. “What do you mean by that?” He had not asked me about any field operations with any of the Bratva teams. Maksim was stretched thin. I hadn’t checked on the other three brigadiers recently.

He chuckled. “Are you worried? Is she someone you care about?”

I could tip my hand and let him know I was crazy about her, or I could play the role I played the best and act like the fuck boy they all thought I was. What I didn’t know was which one kept her safe. In this moment I had a fifty-fifty chance of protecting her.

“Papa,” I began. “All of this, the drinks, the dates, the web I’ve spun for her. It’s for the family. I assure you. I won’t pretend I don’t enjoy the perks.” I cocked my head. “But I’m getting closer to finding out all of Lorenzo Amato’s plans. This close.” I pinched my fingers together.

“Do not lie to me, son.”

“Never.”

He slapped me on the back with a laugh. “Good. Good. You’re close to her and that will change this war. She is young, isn’t she? Too young for you, no?”

Fuck. There was a bead of perspiration at my temple. I turned to wipe it away before he realized he had caught me in a lie.

“She’s twenty-one,” I answered.

“Same as Katya,” he mused. My stomach clenched.

I shrugged. “Naïve enough to babble on about her father’s business after I ply her with champagne. It’s unfair really how easy it is to seduce her. She’ll tell me anything I want.”

“Then use it. Use her.”

I nodded. “As planned.”

“I knew you were the right choice to be my Sovietnik.” He smiled. “And one day, the Pakhan.”

“I don’t plan on being the boss anytime soon.”

“Continue your training here as seriously as you took your Bratva training in Russia and France and you will honor me.”

I felt the walls closing in on me. I needed to leave. Quickly.

“I’ll check on Babushka. Tell her to stop worrying so much.” I dangled the keys to my sports car in the air. “See you later.”

I jogged down the front stairs of my parents’ mansion and slid into my car. I drove until I was past the garden district. I never paid attention to these houses before, but as I grew closer to Lorenzo Amato’s compound, I began to notice the old world stamp on the buildings. Classic architecture. Grand porticos and columns. Massive gardens and brick walls.

It might have been reckless, but I drove straight to the Amato compound. I needed to see Amara. After a few minutes, I was buzzed in. The iron gate retracted, and I drove through the entryway, circling the front of the house. I knocked on the front door until a housekeeper opened the door.

“Yes?” She eyed me.

“I’m here to see Amara,” I explained. “Is she home?”

“Miss Amato is out back in the courtyard. You can wait—” I didn’t let the woman finish the sentence beforeI brushed past her and marched in the direction of the back of the house. Things had become urgent. I wouldn’t be able to keep the charade up with my father for long. Amara was in danger. We needed time and space to think.

I slid open a glass door and spotted Amara lounging by the pool.

“And I thought you were busy.” I stood next to her. I had to remain calm in front of her. Until I could tell her how dangerous things had become between our fathers.

She slid her sunglasses down her nose. “How did you get in here?”

“Front door.”

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