Page 102 of The Bratva King

My head snaps up. “No, you won’t.”

“He’s growing. He needs clothes.”

“I can buy him clothes.”

“I know you can.” He looks at me. “But I’m going to do this.”

Luke is watching us, head tilted.

“Can I wear what you wear?” he asks Nikolai.

“No,” I say before Nik can answer.

“What do I wear?” he asks Luke.

“You always wear black.”

Nikolai looks down at himself as if just noticing. Black shirt. Black pants. Black shoes.

“You have a problem with my clothing?” he asks me.

“It’s very dark,” I say. “You look like you’re going to a funeral every day.”

“I like black.”

“I noticed,” I say dryly.

“I like black,” Luke says.

I bite back a smile. “Fine. Some black. But also blues and greens. He’s four, Nikolai.”

“Deal.”

We load everything into the SUV. Luke sits in his car seat, hugging the T. rex, looking happier than I’ve seen him in a long time.

I climb into the back seat, and Nik takes the front passenger seat. The driver looks at Nik. “Where to?”

Nikolai looks at me. I glance over at Luke. We’ve already stayed out much longer than Luke is accustomed to. I don’t want to push it.

“Home,” I say. “Maybe we can have lunch by the pool.”

I see the relief in Nikolai’s eyes. He’s hit his public exposure for the day as well.

I look out the window and let myself feel gratitude. Relief. And a terrifying realization that I’m falling for this man and don’t know how to stop.

24

Nikolai

Our annual celebrity poker tournament kicks off today. Fifty VIP players. Movie stars, athletes, a tech billionaire who thinks he’s God’s gift to poker. They’re all staying in the building. Premium suites. Premium treatment. Premium headache.

And now, they’re getting soaked.

The blaring fire alarm feels like it will split my head in two.

I don't wait for the elevator. My security team falls in behind me on the stairwell, and the casino floor is chaos when I get there. Water is pouring from the ceiling sprinklers. People are shouting. Someone’s screaming about their phone. A woman in a designer dress looks like she just crawled out of a lake.

My staff is trying to keep the customers calm as they direct them to the exit.