The Final Hour (Volkov Bratva #3)(24)

“Probably because she assumes she’ll be getting this apartment.”

Lauren frowned, not understanding. “Why would she think she’s getting your apartment?”

But he didn’t answer.

They drove to an older style building, with its name written in cursive script on a plaque in gold letters. She glanced over at Mishca, wondering why they were there, but she followed him inside anyway, towards the bank of elevators off the side of the reception desk.

Mishca stuck a key into the slot next to a button marked with the letter ‘P.’ And when it lit up, they ascended slowly, classical music playing through the speakers softly.

“Should I ask or—”

“It’s a surprise.”

The doors didn’t open to a hallway, rather into the foyer of the apartment itself. He gestured for her to enter first, following in behind her. She looked around in wonder, sunlight shining through the windows making the already large space seem bigger.

“This is insane,” Lauren muttered as they entered the penthouse.

It was like walking into a dream. The apartment, itself, had an open floor plan, much like Mishca’s apartment but almost double the size.

The dark wood flooring contrasted with the blindingly white walls. Double French doors led into the master bedroom—one of three that were on the first floor—but Lauren wasn’t captivated by the expansive space, or the balcony that overlooked the Manhattan bridge, she had fallen in love with the claw-foot tub in the bathroom. It had its own area, on the opposite side of the sandstone shower that could fit at least six people.

“Do you like it?”

“Yea, I love it, but what are we doing here?”

He tucked his hands into his pockets, giving her that charmingly crooked smile. “I thought since you agreed to move in with me—and become my wife—we should get a place of our own.”

Elation ran through her, but she managed to keep a straight face as she asked, “You already bought it, didn’t you?”

“Technically, I own the building.”

“Mish!”

“I dabble in real estate.”

“Of course you do, because having two clubs is not enough.”

He shrugged, looking out one of the windows. “I can’t complain when I can give you the world.”

“Next thing you know, I’m going to be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.”

“Love, you can’t cook.”

She swatted his arm as he laughed. “I could learn.”

Lauren couldn’t help but spin around in a circle, taking in her surroundings just one more time.

“So this is really ours?” Lauren asked.

“Yes.”

She grabbed his face with both of her hands, going up on her toes to kiss him. “Ya lyublyu tebya.”

“I ya tebya—And I love you. Welcome home.”

“So how much is the—”

“No.”

She laughed, unable to do anything else. “What do you mean no? I didn’t get to finish.”

“Whatever it is, no. You don’t have to pay for anything.”

“But I want to,” Lauren insisted, tucking her arm into the crook of his elbow. “I know we’ll never be on equal footing, but I can at least feel like I’m contributing.”

He looked like he still wanted to argue, but after glancing down at her, seeing that she was unrelenting, he finally caved. “Fine. The groceries for the apartment.”

“Fine.”

They were long gone from the building when Lauren thought about what he had said to her. “Wait, but we eat out most of the time?”

He only smiled.





While Mishca and Lauren were planning for their future, there was someone that was looking forward to ending Mishca’s freedom, as well as bringing down everything the Volkov Bratva had built. FBI Special Agent Tabitha Green had worked for the Organized Crime Division for the last five years, desperately trying to make a name for herself amongst the seasoned men that were still revered at the agency.

And she knew that the case against the Volkov Bratva would be the one that made her career. She craved the fame, the recognition for her hard work, and she would do anything to make sure that it happened, no matter what lines she had to cross and what rules she had to bend.

When she first joined the OCD, it was a man’s world, still was despite their being a more significant female presence on the team. It was no secret that some of them were trying to land the next big case, hoping for their own ten minutes of fame and a corner office, but until they reached that point, they were all stuck on the floor.

Back when she had first arrived, the men had been more than happy to hand off their files on the Volkov Bratva. It was no secret that the Vory v Zakone was notoriously difficult to infiltrate, and despite what others might have said about them, there were just as many members, and were just as deadly—if not more so—than La Cosa Nostra.

Relishing the challenge, Green had gladly accepted the case, and had been working it ever since. Fast forward five years, she was now on the brink of taking down an organization that had managed to elude the law for over two decades.

But she wasn’t going to stop until she reached her endgame.

Grabbing all of the information she had gathered from her confidential informant—which wasn’t much to begin with—she entered her superior’s office, a mask of indifference on her face. In her mind, she had no reason to worry.