Page 66 of Dark King Daddy

Loyalty. Kozlov was loyal to Lev’s vision, which meant he was loyal to an Orlov-Sokolov alliance only when Lev controlled it. A new Pakhan did not fit his understanding of how things worked.

“Schedule a meeting with him,” I said. “Tomorrow. Here.”

“He’ll want to bring his men.”

“He can bring one.”

Nikita noted it and moved on. We spent the next twenty minutes reviewing surveillance coverage on the decoy routes, driver assignments, and the status of the Hamilton Avenue investigation. Arkady’s team had identified the stolen municipal truck’s origin and was tracing registration records. Slow work. Necessary work.

At nine-forty, the desk phone rang. Internal line. Nikita answered, quietly.

“Guests,” he said, after he put the phone down.

I had not been told guests were coming. I looked at him.

“Anton Orlov,” he said. “Says he needs to see you this morning. He brought Ksenia.”

“Send them up.”

Three minutes later, the door opened.

Anton entered first. He wore a dark suit, no tie, and the expression of a man who had barely slept.

Ksenia came behind him.

She wore a charcoal coat over a dark sweater. Trousers. Low heels. Her hair was pulled back. No jewelry except small gold studs. She looked like a woman who had dressed for a negotiation.

She looked at the chair. At me in it.

Something moved across her face. Not pity. Something closer to recognition — the understanding that the chair and I had not yet reached an agreement.

“Daniil,” Anton said.

“Anton. Ksenia.”

“Thank you for seeing us.” Anton moved toward one of the chairs opposite the desk. “We need to discuss—”

“Anton.”

Ksenia’s voice stopped him.

He turned.

She had not moved from where she stood, just inside the door. Her hands hung at her sides. Her chin was level. Her hazel-green eyes held mine across the room.

“I’ll do this myself.”

Anton’s jaw tightened. “Ksenia—”

“You can stay. You can witness. But I will speak for myself.”

Anton looked at his sister. Whatever he saw made him close his mouth and sit down.

Ksenia walked to the chair opposite mine. She did not sit. She placed her hands on the back of it and looked at me.

“Marry me.”

Two words.