Velvet Devil: A Russian Mafia Romance (61)

I’m rushing around so fast I nearly collide into one of the maids. Thankfully, it’s not the one who walked in on Isaak and me on the staircase.

“Miss Cam—”

“Where is Isaak?” I demand.

She looks startled. “I, um, think he’s in his office, ma’am.”

I change direction and head downstairs.

“Miss Camila, he’s in a meeting!”

“Don’t care,” I say, waving my hand in the air without bothering to turn around.

I blaze through the house, but I get turned around on the second floor and realize abruptly that I have no idea which way Isaak’s office lies.

Then I catch sight of Bogdan across the way. Going off a hunch, I hang back to make sure he can’t see me before I follow him through the house.

Just as I’d hoped, he leads me right to Isaak’s office. He walks in and I race after him, refusing to wait or knock. I don’t care if it’s an inconvenient time. He can make time for this.

“You bas—”

Before I can get the whole word out, a hand clamps down on my mouth.

Isaak is sitting behind his massive desk. Lachlan in standing on his right side. Another man I don’t recognize slouches against the wall in the corner. He’s dark and broody and looks only mildly surprised by the fact that I’ve crashed their little party.

“Hey now, let’s calm down,” a voice says in my ear. Bogdan, I realize belatedly.

Isaak fixes me with a trademark deadly glare, but he’s so calm that it’s unnerving.

“Give me a second,” he says to his speaker. He’s on a conference call with someone, it seems.

Isaak clicks a button and the green light starts blinking yellow. He lifts his gaze to me and nods. Bogdan releases me cautiously.

“Camila,” Isaak says coolly, “is there something wrong?”

“You cut the phone line in my room. I can’t make my call.”

His eyes narrow. “That’s why you barged in here?”

I can feel all three of Isaak’s men staring at me, but I refuse to let that intimidate me. They may be big, scary motherfuckers. But none of them are mothers.

None of them know what it’s like to be separated from their children.

“Yes,” I snap, “that’s why I barged in here. And if you won’t let me make the call in my room, I’ll use your line here.”

“It’s in use,” he replies acidly.

“I guess I’ll wait until you’re done then.” I notice Isaak exchange a glance with Bogdan.

“Maybe you should be here for this anyway,” Isaak tells me.

I freeze. My heartbeat slows to a crawl. I don’t like his tone or the look in his eye. “Who are you talking to?”

“It’s your knight in shining armor.”

“Alex?”

“Maxim,” he corrects harshly.

Do I even want to be here for this?

It takes me only a second to decide: Yes, yes I do.

I need to hear his voice. I need to hear him acknowledge who he is. I need the truth, from his lips.

“I want to speak to him.”

Isaak’s eyes get even colder. “Oh no, kiska, you don’t get to speak to him. You can sit here and be a good little girl, mouth closed. Or I’ll close it for you.”

“Absolutely not,” I seethe.

“I expected no less.” Then he gives another crisp nod.

I hear the screech of duct tape. “No!” I start to cry out.

But it’s too late. The tape is slapped over my mouth. Before I can pull it off, Bogdan wrenches my hands behind my back and holds them there.

Isaak waits until the commotion is over, face as impassive as ever. “Let’s get this over with, shall we?

Then he presses the same button again. The light turns green.

And the kind voice that promised me the world comes through the speaker.

“Isaak? I didn’t call you to be fucking put on hold.”

I feel my throat constrict. So it’s true. Alex really is Maxim.

Everything I thought I knew was a lie.





25





Isaak





Her shock is slowly wearing off. Anger seeps in in its place.

She’s going to come at me with her claws out and teeth bared when this is over.

I’m looking forward to it.

“Calm the fuck down, Maxi,” I say, using the nickname he had when we were kids. “I’m here now.”

I can’t take my eyes off Camila. Bogdan has her hands restrained behind her back. He’s keeping her on the other side of the room, probably to prevent her from doing something stupid and rash.

But I can see the expression on her face—hearing Maxim’s voice has done something to her. Hell, she’s not even struggling anymore.

I’m not sure how I feel about that. Is she frozen out of anger and resentment? Is she battling betrayal?

Or is there more to it than that?

“My inner circle advised me against this call,” Maxim says dryly. “I’m the one who insisted.”

“Missed me?”

I can practically see him grinding his teeth. “Fuck you, cousin.”

“Likewise.”