Page 112 of Anton

“That you are, honey.” My father chuckles before his attention returns to me. “So what do you say, sweetheart?”

“I don’t like it, but I’ll meet him. That’s all I’m promising.”

His grin grows, and Mama appears relieved.

“That’s all we can ask,” she says.

As the conversation turns to the business back in New Jersey, I nurse my drink and gaze through the window at the lush green acres stretching across the estate, wondering whether I should go back with Greer at all.

ANTON

Arriving at Konstantin’s for dinner, I sit in the car for a minute, staring at the texts between Thora and Blair.

Thora flew to Texas without protection, with whoever shot at us still out there. I don’t fucking like it. I can’t protect her from here, and I don’t trust the Whitlocks to do it either. Look how close I got to her. If I could do it, then so can whoever else might be watching.

We found the car the shooter used abandoned in the middle of nowhere, wiped clean with no plates, prints, or evidence left behind, which confirms it had to be a professional or someone very careful.

Getting out of the car, I ignore the throb in my arm and start toward the house, already irritated before I even reach the door. I can’t suffer through endless small talk today.

As soon as I step past the foyer, I stop dead. This night just got twenty times worse.

“Anton. Privet, brat.”

My cousin Arkady comes over first, with his identical twin, Mikhail, right behind him, both wearing the same smug, dangerous smiles I remember too well. They clap me on the back in greeting, but my attention moves past them to Konstantin, who’s standing off to the side.

“What are you two doing here?” My tone remains stiff as we enter the dining room, where the rest of the family is already gathered around the large table.

Arkady chuckles, while Mikhail’s crystal-blue eyes sweep over me, a hint of mockery entering them.

“Are you not happy to see us?” Mikhail asks.

“Not really.”

Their laughter fills the room.

“Leave it to our favorite cousin to be honest.” Arkady slaps me on the back again, harder than necessary. “Well, I’m happy to see you. Nothing beats family, am I right, bratya?”

My brothers answer in agreement, but I don’t join in. I don’t like this.

Arkady and Mikhail are two of the best assassins in Russia, and they wouldn’t travel this far for a family visit. Konstantin called them here because he needs a job handled, one he either doesn’t want me doing or no longer trusts me to finish.

Every muscle in my body goes rigid. The only order I haven’t carried out is killing Thora.

If they’re here for her, they won’t stop until she’s dead. They’ll follow her to Texas, learn her routine, and wait for an opening to kill her before anyone around her realizes they were ever there.

There is no way I can let her be there without me now. Which means I have to get to Texas, and since taking the private plane will only raise questions I don’t want to answer, I’ll have to fly commercial.

How wonderful. As if this day wasn’t already bad enough.

“Are you all right?” Konstantin asks, coming to stand beside me as Arkady and Mikhail take their seats near Aleksei and his wife, Fiona.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I keep my voice low enough that no one else can hear us over the conversation spreading around the table.

“You seemed…off when you saw our cousins.”

I hold his stare, hoping I don’t give anything else away. “I’m curious why you need them when you have me.”

He puts an arm around my shoulders. “You are not being replaced. I can assure you of that. They’re here for business. That’s all.”