Page 45 of Vengeful Embers

“You know, Tara is carrying a Mirochin heir. Blood is blood, and you know how the Mirochins are about their family line.”

“She’s not carrying the right heir,” I snap. But even as I say it, I know—an heir is an heir. And it could work for our plan. For Morozov’s plan.

The line goes dead.

And before I can dwell on what any of this means, I feel a hand curl around my waist. Then dip lower.

Red fingernails slide into my waistband. Valentina.

“There it is,” she purrs. Her palm finds my cock, stroking slowly. “Mmm. He’s waking up.”

For a second, I close my eyes. Let it build.

But then Tara’s face flashes in my mind. Her mouth. Her body. The sound she made when I buried myself inside her and made her forget her name.

Every ounce of arousal withers.

I grab Valentina’s wrist and yank it from my pants.

Her eyes flare with surprise as I stand and button my jacket.

“I told you, this isn’t going to happen,” I say coolly.

“You didn’t have a problem fucking me before.”

“Before you married my client.”

“If you leave now,” she narrows her eyes threateningly, “I’ll tell him you came on to me. That you couldn’t take no for an answer.”

I lean in close, just enough for her to feel the shift.

“Try it. See what he believes when I show him your text messages and the surveillance from this hotel.” My eyes narrow dangerously. “Your husband may be blinded by you, but he is no fool.”

Her mouth drops open slightly. She wasn’t expecting that.

“I’m done here,” I say. “You’ll need to find another attorney.”

I turn and walk out, not bothering to glance back.

Pavel, my driver, is already standing beside the black sedan.

“Trouble?” he asks, watching the woman through the glass doors as he pulls the car door open

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I reply, getting in.

“I keep telling you, boss. That face of yours? Blessing and a curse.”

“Fuel the jet,” I say, rolling my eyes at him.

He starts the car. “Where are we headed?”

I look out the window, jaw tight. “Vegas.”

He glances at me in the rearview. “Business?”

My voice is quiet.

“To fetch my future wife,” I tell Pavel, my voice cool and final.

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