Page 6 of Daniil
“Even if it meant the possibility of becoming a family?You’re not giving him a chance, Courtney.”
“Once he finds out about Micah, it’s too late.Don’t you see?”I grip the edge of the granite countertops so hard my fingers turn white.“He’ll sweet talk me into doing what he wants and—I can’t.You didn’t see what I saw when I was there!”
“Okay, okay.I’m not trying to upset you.”He nudges me.“Come on, I’ve had your back since the day our dad told me I had a baby sister.That will never change.But short of spending the rest of your life on the run, you’re going to have to come to terms with him eventually finding out the truth.”
“Iknow.”Tears sting my eyelids, and it pisses me off.
It would be so easy to fall under Daniil’s spell.
It’s happened twice before.
He’s handsome, charming, sexy—sodamn sexy—but he’s also a high-ranking politician and a member of the royal family.With the kind of power that scares me because I know how it can change people.And in a foreign country?There’s no doubt in my mind he would win a custody battle.
Limaj has come a long way under King Erik’s rule but not far enough to make me feel safe.It’s still a developing country.Still dangerous.And still not a place I would ever want to raise my child due to the constant threats against the royal family.
Not even for the sexiest, most dangerous and intriguing man I’ve ever met.
Chapter3
Daniil
As a politicianwho absolutely loathes politics, it’s days like today that I curse my cousin for talking me into taking a job I really don’t enjoy.So much double talk.Ego stroking.Time-wasting bullshit.
After ten years under the dictator-like rule of our now-deceased cousin Anwar, Erik came out of exile to take over.Bring Limaj into the twenty-first century while simultaneously trying to juggle politics, international economics, the impact of climate change on the country’s food supply, and family.All as our enemies consistently try to undermine his rule.
He never sleeps.
The least I can do is help by taking over a role that requires not just someone capable, but also someone trustworthy.Erik decided that was me.
So here I am, listening to these men—and one woman—attempting to screw us in a trade deal.Tariffs, my ass.
One more hour, and then I’m out of here.On a plane to Vegas.Where I’m going to beg, borrow, steal, and threaten, if necessary, until I get the information I need.
I should probably walk away and leave Courtney the hell alone.
We hooked up at my brother Sandor’s and Lennox’s wedding.Courtney and Lennox served in the U.S.Marines together and stayed in touch even though Lennox went the route of private security and Courtney stayed in the military.She flies helicopters, which is pretty fucking cool, if I do say so myself.One of the many things that attracted me to her.
That and the fiery red hair.Bright green eyes.Tits I could get lost in.And her ass.Jesus, I get hard just thinking about taking a bite—fuck.
I snap back to the present, realize I’m not paying attention.
“I apologize,” I say politely.“My stomach just growled and distracted me.What did you ask?”
The man across from me looks surprised and then grins.“How about we continue this over lunch?I’m hungry too.”
Great.Just what I want—to spend more time with them.
But I really am hungry, and we need this deal to go through.Our oil refinery is in a strategic location for ships and trade, but the building itself is old and in desperate need of repair.We don’t have the raw materials to upgrade, and that’s why we’re negotiating building a pipeline into Turkiye, one of our neighbors.In the meantime, I’m trying to broker a deal in the U.S.for supplies.
My phone buzzes as the limo takes us to the restaurant and I glance down surreptitiously.
On my phone, I use Erik’s code name, which is a joke among us—tsar.
TSAR: How’s it going?Has the top of your head come off yet?
DANIIL: Fuck.You.
TSAR: That good, eh?
