AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Hoping against hope that this won’t be the last straw for him.
69
RUSLAN
KIRILL:Where are you, bro? You gonna miss your own party?
RUSLAN:On my way.
I start driving, feeling incredibly confident about the launch. This drug will be the crowning jewel in my Bratva empire. Even if I live to a hundred, I don’t think I’ll ever achieve anything this big again.
I’ve only been driving for a few minutes when my phone starts ringing. Kirill has the patience of a fucking gnat sometimes. I’m so sure it’s him that I don’t even check the name on my screen before I press accept through the steering wheel.
“What do you want?”
“R-Ruslan?”
Immediately, all my sensors start pinging. She sounds distraught. “Emma, what’s wrong?”
“I-I’m so sorry to call. I know you’re busy tonight—the big launch and e-everything…”
“Are you crying?”
My hands freeze up on the wheel. I didn’t expect to get a call from her less than an hour after she left the penthouse. Which can only mean one thing—something’s gone very wrong, very fast.
“Um… I… need to talk to you. It’s better if we—” She pauses and I hear the screech of tires and a few obnoxious honks. “—we talk face-to-face.”
“Emma, are you driving?”
“I’m coming to your penthouse.”
“I already left.”
“Oh,shit. Ruslan, I’m so sorry. Everything’s a fucking mess—aah!” Her scream is drowned out by more grating tires, more honks.
“Fucking hell,” I snarl. “Emma, listen to me. Pull the car over right now. You are in no fit state to be driving.” She only sniffles in response. “Once you’ve parked, send me your location. I’ll drive to you.”
“A-are you sure?”
“I want you off the road this instant. You hear me?”
“Yes,” she says in a small voice.
“I expect to receive your location in the next two minutes.”
The call drops and I pull to the side myself and wait for her to send me her coordinates. A million different thoughts are running rampant through my head.
Is she rethinking our contract?
Does she want more out of our agreement?
Is she backsliding into depression about her fertility?
Whatever it is, I won’t be able to concentrate on the launch until I know what’s going on with her. I fire off a quick text to Kirill.
RUSLAN:Running late. Something’s come up. Will be there in an hour or so.
Immediately after I send the text, Emma’s location comes in. Thankfully, she’s only ten minutes from where I am. I make a quick U-turn and hit the gas.
