Page 56 of Immaculate Corruption (Romanoff Bratva)

“Yeah, but so much of that bad shit is part ofhislife.Hisworld.”

“You’re right,” she says. “It is. And admittedly, it’s gotten harder over the years as his business has grown and he has become more powerful. Sometimes he gets blinded by the work and loses track of what’s important. But then he comes home at night and loves me. What more could I ever ask for?”

Power corrupts people.I watched it happen with Jorik. I don’t want to see it happen with Dima, too.

Since I’ve known him, he has been a don without a Bratva. Homeless. Wandering. How much will things change when and if he regains control of his Bratva? Will I even recognize him anymore? Will he even want me anymore? Or our son?

The questions are too painful to really consider. It’s easier to leave knowing Dima doesn’t want me to go.

But realizing that there may come a day when he doesn’t care at all? That hurts more than anything.

“Love is always worth the risk,” Vera says. “That’s my advice.”

“Right,” I mumble. “Yeah. Thanks, Vera.”

“Anytime.”

I thank her for her call and her help—though I think she helped in a way she didn’t intend—and park in a garage across from the pier.

I didn’t call Arnie to tell him I was coming, but he’s always at work. Plus, he told me to come today. He should be expecting me.

When I pull back the striped tent curtain and step inside, it’s darker than usual. The windows are still closed since the crew is setting up for the day’s events. Animals are being walked through their routines and two clowns argue back and forth.

No one seems to notice me as I walk around the edge of the tent to the staff hallway. The door is unlocked, so I let myself in.

Arnie’s office is straight ahead. The door is open. When I walk into the hallway, he looks up and waves me in.

“I’ve been expecting you.” His voice isn’t as warm as it was before, but I chalk it up to my strange mood and move into his office.

“Sorry I didn’t call. I just got off a plane. I was out of town and… things got crazy.”

“Things got crazy on my end, too,” he says. He leans back in his chair and grabs a pocket knife from his desk. He flips open the blade and begins sliding it underneath his nails, digging dirt out from underneath them.

I frown. “Is everything okay? Were you able to secure the papers?”

“I was.”

I sigh, relieved. “Okay, good.”

Arnie doesn’t say anything. I realize now that his strange tone of voice was not just my interpretation. Something is definitely wrong.

And I didn’t bring a damn thing to protect myself. No gun, no knife, no pepper spray.

When will I learn that no one can be trusted? Anyone can turn on me at any moment? When will I finally understand to always expect the worst?

My heart begins to race. I take a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Just because Arnie is acting strange doesn’t mean he wants to hurt me.

Relax, Arya.

“What’s going on?” I ask finally. “Is everything okay?”

“You lied to me darling,” Arnie says, his Brooklyn accent thick as he flicks the knife blade under his thumbnail.

“About what?”

“Let me rephrase. You didn’t tell me the whole truth.”

My heart is a jackhammer now. I don’t have a backup plan. If Arnie doesn’t follow through and tries to back out of the arrangement, I don’t have anywhere to go.

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