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“What the hell happened? I heard you switched brides.”

“Sergei has a big mouth.”

“He'd better. Gathering information is literally why you pay him.” I can practically hear the grin on his face.

“What I want to know is when you planned on telling me. Or were you just going to let me read about it in the papers?”

“I've been a little busy.”

“So busy you forgot to mention you blew up your own engagement?”

“I didn't blow up anything. The alliance is still happening.”

“Yeah, but not with the bride everyone expected.” He pauses before asking, “Why the switch? What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Oh, come on, there has to be a reason.”

“There is. I prefer Aurora.”

Silence.

Then a slow whistle. “For real?”

“Yeah.”

“That's...” He chuckles. “Damn strange.”

I raise an eyebrow even though he can't see it.

"I've known you my entire life, Roman. I've never seen you make a decision like this. Marriage has always been business to you. But now you actually want a girl?"

"It still is business."

"Bullshit."

If only he knew.

If I told Maxim I'd spent the last two years obsessed with a woman I'd never spoken to, buying every painting she'd ever displayed, hanging them in my home, imagining what she'd be like, I'd never hear the end of it.

"If you're done interrogating me," I say, "I'd like to get back to my evening."

Maxim snorts. "Ever the grump."

"And you're still a pain in my ass."

"That's because I'm the younger brother. It's practically in my job description."

Despite myself, I let out a quiet chuckle.

His voice softens. "Seriously though... congratulations."

"Thank you."

He can't leave Miami right now. With our expansion in Florida still underway, someone has to oversee the operation. That someone is Maxim.

"And when you're done honeymooning," he adds, his teasing tone returning, “do bring her to Miami. I can’t wait to meet the woman who made the great Roman Sokolov risk a war."