“I’m worried about you, Princess. He’s not someone you should make an enemy out of. If you’re going to hit him, be discreet about it.”

“I know that.”

“And if you want to reduce his power, strike where it would hurt him the most.”

“Adrian doesn’t have a weakness.”

“Yes, he does. I’m actually surprised you didn’t figure it out.”

“What is it?”

“The question is who, not what.”

“It’s a person? Wait, if you mean his son, I’ll strangle you. Do you think I’d use a child to gain power?”

I chuckle. She’d sure as hell strangle me if she got the chance. “No, not his son.”

“Then who?”

“His wife.”

“Lia? Have you seen them together? He doesn’t care about her and is only keeping her around because she’s the mother of his son.”

“Or that’s what he likes you and everyone else to think. Didn’t you see the way he almost lost it when she was shot at? Even you thought that was uncharacteristic of him.”

She remains silent, probably turning the information over in that smart head of hers. I shouldn’t have revealed the weakness I’m supposed to be using against Adrian, but if it keeps Rai in the position she loves so much, I’ll sacrifice all the information I have.

Taking advantage of her moment of absentmindedness, I pull her closer. “So?”

“So what?”

“How are you going to reward me for all the information I gave you?”

“I already did by cleaning your wounds.” She reaches to the side and closes the first aid box. “You only have to apply the ointment about three times a day.”

“Or you can do it.”

“Fine,” she says distracted, focused on the box.

“Does that mean you’re my nurse now? Kinky.”

She stares up at me with wild eyes before she hits my shoulder. “Do you always have to come up with some porn scenario?”

“When it comes to you, I sure as fuck do. Now, answer my question. Are you going to be my nurse?”

“Does this mean you’re intent on staying?”

“Till death does us part.”

Her inquisitive eyes meet mine. “Promise there will be no more secrets between us.”

“Depends on whether or not you’ll take that fucker Vladimir’s side over mine again.”

“Vlad has the brotherhood’s best interests in mind.”

I scoff. “I’m sure the fucker does.”

“Stop being jealous, you idiot.” She leans over and brushes her lips to mine, softly, carefully, away from my cut. “None of them is my husband.”

None of them is her husband.

Those words stab me straight in the bones. When she attempts to pull away, I grab her by the throat and deepen the kiss.

Time to fuck her on the counter as I originally planned.

15

Rai

A week later, when I wake up in bed alone, a thousand ominous thoughts rush into my head.

It takes me a few minutes to grab my phone due to the shaking in my hand. The message I find there instantly calms my breathing.

Kyle: Morning, Princess. I’m off with Adrian for business with the Italians. Don’t forget to eat breakfast. Oh, and come home early so I can make up for not fucking you first thing in the morning. P.S. Wear that red thing from the other time.

I smile, imagining his exact tone as if he said those words aloud. Ever since that night where he barged back into my room, bloodied and bruised, and announced that he was staying, I’ve felt like I’m in an alternate reality, one that’s shrouded by fog. I figure the mist will eventually wear off and he’ll realize staying is dangerous.

Not that Kyle is afraid of danger. If anything, the life he’s lived thus far might have gotten him addicted to it.

Every night, after he fucks me until I scream, he gathers me in his arms and answers any questions I have. We have no trouble talking now, and it feels new—exciting, even—for every day I look forward to what he’ll tell me about his life in The Pit or the countless adventures he’s been through.

I feel closer to him now more than ever, to the point that I’m impatient to go back home just so I can see him. All the chaos in the company and my secret search for the embezzler all fade to the background when I’m with him.

In Kyle’s arms, I feel light, protected, and…peaceful.

I tell myself that’s why I long for his merest touch, and not the fact that my sexual drive has become insatiable lately. Sometimes, I want to restart as soon as we finish, and that’s not normal, especially since he exhausts me to the point of no return.

To say I completely trust him now would be a lie. After everything he’s done, it’s hard to take his word for granted. He didn’t only lie to me, he also used me, and that doesn’t just go away.

I might be unable to kick him out of my life, but I can’t completely accept him. At least not until I make sure everything he said is true or that his intentions are no longer nefarious.

I need to get to the bottom of that, even if keeping this whole thing a secret from Sergei is eating at me. Not only do I not like keeping him in the dark, it’ll be dangerous if he finds out I’m hiding critical information. When it comes to choosing between family and duty, the latter always comes first for the Pakhan.

But I’m sure he’ll forgive me if he knows I’m doing this for both my husband and the brotherhood. I already told him and everyone else that I regained my memories, so he has to wait a bit longer for the rest.

They all wondered how Kyle got beat up, and he came up with a lame excuse that some ‘brute’ thug and his ‘stupid’ minions ganged up on him. He said they looked worse than him, something for which Vlad nearly shot him there and then.

After showering and dressing in a white shirt and a black pencil skirt, I sit at my console to do my makeup. I’m starting to miss the toy between my legs—or more like, the feel of Kyle with me at all times. While I meant that I will kill him if he embarrasses me by using it in front of the Vory members, I did like the added excitement. Or this could be another manifestation of my weird sex drive.

After finishing, I stand up. My heel catches on the ground as the world starts spinning. I hold on to the console with shaky fingers and close my eyes for a brief second in order to regain my composure.