Ruthless Reign: A Dark Mafia Forbidden Romance (Tarnished Reign Book 1)

Chapter 9

“Don’t look so sour.This is going to be fun.”

My eyes cut to Kira in the passenger seat, a broad grin stretching across her face.

I can’t help but smile back. After all she’s been through, she deserves to have a good time. I just wish her good time didn’t include me and the woman I’d be happy to avoid for the rest of my life. But fate has a way of grabbing you by the balls and twisting hard.

Doesn’t matter. Liza may be temptation personified, but I know better than to get close. Even if we’re about to spend four days together like a happy little family.

I clear my throat, navigating Moscow’s snow-covered streets on the way to Liza’s family estate. “It’ll be fun for you,” I remind Kira. “Not for me. I have a job to do.”

“Oh, come on. How hard is it to guard two women who plan on spending most of the time shopping and eating? Surely, this is not your toughest assignment.”

“That remains to be seen.” I wink at Kira. “It depends on how well-behaved you are.”

“Usually, you’d have something to worry about, but not so much these days.” She pats her belly to make her point. “Although…” Kira leans forward as if letting me in on a little secret. “I’m going to make sure Liza gets to have some real fun. She deserves it, having to marry that mudak.”

I”m not surprised by the acid in Kira”s tone. Although we”ve never had a conversation about it, her occasional snide remarks make it clear that she isn”t a fan of Anatoly. She tries to be discreet because of our business dealings with the Petroviches, but Kira’s not one to fake her feelings. I don’t blame her; I can’t stand him myself.

“You make it sound like Liza’s being forced to marry him. There’s not exactly a gun to her head.” Yeah, she seemed a little off her game when she bummed a cigarette from me, but anything could”ve upset her.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Kira grumbles.

I flick a glance her way. “Why do you say that?”

She sighs. “It’s just… Forget it. What does it matter anyhow? The wedding’s going to happen, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

Something about her words gives me pause. “Why would you want to stop your best friend’s wedding?”

Kira gazes out the window, turning her attention to the passing scenery. “She’s marrying him to make her parents happy, no matter what she tells me—or tells herself, for that matter. She doesn’t love him. She doesn’t even like him.”

My lips twitch as I shift up a gear. “That’s ‘cause he’s a dick.” There’s no point hiding my feelings since Kira and I are on the same page. “But he’s a rich dick. And you know the shit people are willing to do for money.”

“That’s not Liza,” Kira huffs. “It’s her parents. They have real sway over her.”

A knot forms in my chest. Everyone knows Liza is with Anatoly for his deep pockets. But maybe there”s more to the story than I originally thought. Not that it changes anything. Because she still wears his ring, and in a month”s time, she”ll walk down the aisle towards him.

Beside me, Kira is quiet for a minute. When she finally speaks, there’s a lighter note in her voice. “I’m going to show her the time of her fucking life in London. If this is her last hurrah, I”m going to make it worth her damn while.”

I smile over at Kira. ”Shit. Maybe we should”ve taken more guards with us.”

When I pull into the Ivanovs’ circular front drive, there’s no staff waiting outside to announce our arrival, but I do spot Anatoly’s Aston Martin Valkyrie parked off to the side.

“I’ll just be a second.” I leave the engine of the Land Rover running.

As I head towards the house, I slip a key between my fingers and press it into the pristine paint job of Anatoly’s limited-edition sports car. I look back and take in the jagged, uneven line spanning the length of the vehicle and, suddenly, I feel a whole lot lighter inside.