Page 7 of Cruel Longing

“Roman wants to travel to New Orleans.”

I stared at my Sovietnik. “No.”

Nik raises his hands. “Do you want to hear what his reasons are?”

“Not especially. But I assume you’re going to tell me anyway.”

He nodded. “It is my job to make sure the Brigadiers are heard.”

“Continue.”

This dynamic in our relationship was new. To have full authority over Nik, the accountant, and all the Brigadiers and their teams was a role I’d always been prepared to assume, but the sudden death of my father was something the others had to get used to first. They hadn’t trained for this moment the way I had. They weren’t born to run the Novikovs. I was.

It was my birthright. It was in my DNA.

“Roman is concerned that the training center will be forgotten now that you’re back in the U.S. He wants to meet with you.”

My brow furrowed. “How could I ever forget the castle? The vineyards? I just spent five years there. Training Bratva is what makes me different than all the other Pakhans. I understand what it’s like to be a soldier. I know their mindset. Their dedication. Their full loyalty to the Novikovs like no one else.”

Nik nodded. “You do. The men respect you for it. I see it as an advantage.”

“They why does Roman need to come here? We could discuss this over the phone.” It seemed like an excessive request.

“He wants my position here. He wants to be the third Brigadier in New Orleans, ensuring he’ll always have your ear and the influence to keep the training impenetrable. He knows you haven’t made a selection yet.”

My phone vibrated on the table. I lifted it and read the text from Amara.

If you want to undress me, then I’ll wear what I want.

I closed my eyes and suppressed a growl. She was going to push and taunt at every turn.

You’re playing a dangerous game, kotyonok.

“What should I tell him?”

I rubbed the side of my jaw. “I’ll think about it.”

I rose from the table and headed toward the concierge. Right now, I had something else on my mind. Taming the queen wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought.

Four

AMARA

Iwas in jeopardy of losing the Crescent Towers.

Nothing was as important as securing the completion of the towers. Nothing. I had worked steadily on this deal for three years. Ever since Dmitry Novikov signed on the dotted line to pay me what my father had always been owed.

I used the additional interest to buy up the land and all the necessary components. I didn’t care if that meant tipping an environmentalist with a hefty bonus or asking the city to grant permits to me at a higher rate. I did whatever it took to close the deal to build my dream project. A luxury casino, hotel, and five-star restaurant. This was my legacy on the city.

When Ciro banged on the door, I had a choice to make—the towers or Luka.

The look in Luka’s eyes. The one that had kept me awake for five years was calling to me. It felt like a channel had opened betweenus again. But with one decision, one choice, I had kicked him out. Dismissed me.

I exhaled. I couldn’t think of a single reason I ever would have shoved him out of that bedroom. A reason to pry his hungry mouth off mine. Not after he had finally opened up about what happened all those years ago.

Yet, I pushed him out and nearly had Ciro escort him to his car. For a deal. For the project of my life. The Crescent Towers was built off the profits I garnered from the Bratva. When would he put the pieces together? How much had the Novikov attorney, Viktor told him at this point? He knew about the interest rates on his father’s loans, but did he know about all the others?

The last text I read from him sent chills up my spine. I lifted my phone from the nightstand to study it again. I threw my eye mask on the floor when I saw the missed calls and texts from Barbara.

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