Page 62 of Cruel Longing

He hung his head. “We trained together. I remember exactly what it was like.”

I nodded. “We did. And that’s why I want to expand and put you there. I trust you Mikhail. You were as good as I was.”

“Uproot it all.” He expressed his thoughts out loud.

“What do you think? Are you interested?” I knew I was pressing him hard for an answer. But it would allow Roman to slide into Nik’s open Brigadier position here and I would still have the person I trusted most overseeing the foundation of the organization.

The question hung between us. It was the best option I had.

“Fuck, yes. I’ll buy in on the vineyard.”

“Sight unseen?” I questioned him.

“Yes, I’ve wanted to do some expansion. We never do anything but whiskey and sugar. That’s all it is. But don’t tell Chelsea. We’ll head to France this weekend and make an actual vacation out of it. I’ll have John get in touch with Viktor about the contracts.”

“You’re my oldest friend.” I smiled at him. I felt like I could breathe again. “You’re going to love it. I can’t trust anyone else with the training like I can trust you.”

He laughed. “Somehow I don’t think anyone ever really gets to leave New Orleans. I’ll be back here.”

“That might be true. But I’m learning to expect surprises. I need you to take care of them. To be their leader, Mikhail.”

He inhaled, taking in the heaviness of the burden he had accepted.

“I understand.” He nodded.

I raised my glass in the air to toast him. “To surprises then?”

“Fuck, yeah. To surprises.”

We slung back the rest of the bourbon. I needed to call Roman and get him on a plane to the States as soon as possible.

I looked at my phone and smiled. The alarm had just beeped with a notification. Amara was about to receive her first surprise of the day.

Twenty-Eight

AMARA

“Ms. Amato.” One of the office assistants cracked the door to speak. The interruption was jarring.

Ciro had cleaned and returned his knife to his pocket, but the bloody chip was still resting on the corner of my desk. I whisked it into the trashcan before the assistant spied it.

“Yes?”

Ciro barely moved to let the poor girl in.

“There was a delivery for you.” She came forward and revealed a courier package.

I smiled when I saw Luka’s handwriting on the front of the box. My mood changed instantly.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Amato.” The girl hurried out.

“Should I inspect it?” Ciro offered. His voice was gruff.

“No,” I snapped. “You can go. I have work to do.” I was tired of his insinuations. Of the constant distrust that simmered between him and Luka. I didn’t like that he was trying to turn over stones that should be left alone. “Don’t you have a plane to catch?”

He scowled. “Three days. I’ll be back in three days.”

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