Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
ARMAN
I hear the door click behind her and angrily toss the offending cigarette to its death. I was so angry I needed the air to clear my mind.
How did this happen? I let her control me. I gave her the edge and when she walked away, I held on tight to prevent my heart from following her.
The feelings that laid heavy on my heart were alien ones. I came so hard, harder than I ever have in my life, and it was because of her. Ellie Adams. The woman who hates the world and is trying desperately not to hate herself. She did something she will probably regret in the morning and it must never happen again.
I have no time for this shit. I don’t want to feel anything. I am cold, unemotional and controlled because I have to be. Business is my aphrodisiac—not a person. I get off on a business deal, not sex. That is just a necessary way to relieve some of the stress my business dealings cause.
Not this desperate need to consume. To devour and to own. Not this aching need to possess and to conquer another human being. To trap them in my web of danger and keep them there, while I feed off them until there is nothing left.
That is me. I consume, I am not consumed.
She has exposed a weakness in me I never knew I had and it ends now.
As I leave the roof terrace, I get my shit under control. Tomorrow I deal with the problem that is Ellie Adams. Tomorrow I arrange for her to meet her mother and God help me, I will tear the truth out of that woman with my bare hands if I have to. Solving my father’s murder is the only thing that matters.
The only thing.
I spent the night in one of the other rooms and most of it was spent mulling over what happened yesterday. The party wasn’t a huge surprise. I was right when I told the men we didn’t need their business. We have the capabilities to make things extremely difficult for them, and they know it.
Last night was a power play. They were testing me. Not the crude test they dreamed up, either. It was to test how strong I was. How strong my brothers are. I laid it on the line, put them in their place and reassured them it was business as usual. One thing ticked off the list, but the most important one is still firmly waiting.
I rise early and head to the gym, my own personal one equipped with everything I need to keep in shape.
As I finish my workout, the sweat still dripping from my body, Luka heads in, looking as immaculate as always.
He hands me a towel and a bottle of water and sits astride one of the benches.
I chug down the water and wrap the towel around my neck and say bluntly, “Arrange a meeting with Marsha Steele. Make it ten am in my office.”
He nods and waits for my next instruction.
“Any news on Barinov?”
“He spent yesterday visiting tourist attractions. Alone.”
I raise my eyes and he smirks.
“He spent the night with Marsha Steele.”
“And?”
“They fucked. For hours and it didn’t sound gentle.”
He smirks. “Sadistic bastard. She seemed to like it, though.”
“Spare me the details.” I roll my eyes, knowing that Luka enjoys weird shit like that just as much as Barinov.
“I wonder what his reason is for being here and don’t tell me it’s to hook up with an old flame and see the sights.”
“He made a call.”
Luka grabs my attention and his eyes gleam as he says slowly, “Roden Demain.”
I raise my eyes. “And what did they speak about?”
“They arranged a meeting at Roden’s sex club this morning.”
I’m surprised because why would a man like Nikolai associate with low life scum like Roden? A man who is at the top of the cops wish list and yet somehow always manages to come up smelling of roses.
“That will be an interesting meeting. ”
Luka nods. “I have someone already working on surveillance.”
I’m impressed as always because Luka never misses a beat. Sometimes, I think he would prefer to work for my brother Mikhail. That life suits his skills because Mikhail operates the security end of our business. I take care of the money, and yet Luka appears to thrive on big business. He smooths my path and gives me ears and eyes on my adversaries and any potential targets, and I couldn’t do it without him. He is exceptionally skilled at what he does, and I am impressed.
“Keep me informed.”
He nods and I chuck my towel in the laundry chute and sigh.
“I’ll change and grab some breakfast. Meet me in one hour.”
I leave him sitting there and as I head to the shower, it is with my mind solely focused on business.