Page 60 of Cruel Longing

Mikhail laughed. “Thank God. I need one of those.”

“You and me both.”

Within a few minutes we had our drinks. I looked at my old friend. “How are things at home?” I asked. “The kids?”

“Good. Pre-school and learning how to walk. So, you know it’s really busy there. You know just everything is about the kids.” He hung his head. “I guess you don’t know. Lucky bastard, you still aren’t married.” He slung the bourbon back.

“I don’t know if that makes me lucky.” Although, I was glad I wasn’t in Mikhail’s situation. He had made the most of it. Chelsea had found her place in the organization. She liked being a mother.

“No one in Paris?” he asked. “I didn’t see anyone with you at the funeral. Single life or what?”

I wasn’t ready to tell anyone about Amara yet. It was too new. The last time we had gone public, we were torn from each other in ways that were still tattered and raw. I’d keep this to myself for a while.

“Not really,” I answered. “Not anyone worth mentioning.”

“Too bad. I heard the women in Paris all look like models.”

I chuckled. “Well, that part’s true.” I winked over my bourbon.

“How’s your mom doing?” he asked. “She holding up okay?”

“One never knows with Anna. It’s either grief that she’s no longer the ruling matriarch, or fear that she’s no longer the ruling matriarch. I don’t think she misses my dad for one second.”

“Ouch.”

“No shit. I’ve got to get a handle on her. She’s liable to do something stupid.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you’re back then. Sounds like a lot of people need you here and not in France.”

“You have no idea, my friend.” I paused when the waitress returned to take our orders. I waited for her to clear the menus. “Listen, I’m sure you’ve heard some things about the Novikov organization.”

“A little here and there,” he admitted.

“My dad took some shitty deals while I was gone. He took out massive loans and it’s going to hurt to pay them all back. I’m in the red.”

“You’re talking about Amara, aren’t you?”

“No.” I shook my head. I didn’t want to drag her into this conversation. “She’s only one of the players in my dad’s bad decisions.”

“She’s the main player. Everyone’s main player. There isn’t anyone in New Orleans who doesn’t owe her a small fortune or their first born.”

“Do you?” I prodded.

The Sokolovs had always been conservative with their money. They had old money, invested in sugar and whiskey. They were tried and true investments in New Orleans.

“No. I’ve stayed away from her loans. It’s not worth it.” He shook his head. “She’s a shark. Or a wolf. Maybe a wolf-shark?” He chuckled.

“A queen,” I corrected him. “She’s taken everything owed to her. She’s outsmarted every man here. I think she’s due a little respect, don’t you?”

Mikhail raised his hands in the air. “I see you still have a thing for her. I get it. She’s hot. She’s smart. She’s rich as sin. But she’ll spit you out. You should know that. She’s a fucking praying mantis.”

I thought about the woman who had been in my arms this morning. How warm and soft her body was. How her green eyes glowed with passion every time I touched her. How her curves fit perfectly in my palms. What her lips did to me. Amara Amato was mine and eventually I’d tell the world, but not today.

“Let’s change the topic, shall we?” I needed to steer him away from Amara.

“Fine by me. Although, I did see you two at the funeral together.”

“Yeah.” It wasn’t one of my finer moments. I had just discovered from Viktor about the interest rates on the loans. My family was underwater because of her. “We had business to talk about. Which is exactly what I want to talk to you about.”

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