VLAD (The V Games #1)(26)

Diana calls for me from down the hall. I grab some black silky gloves and slide them up my arms. Then, I head out of my room toward my sister. With her back to me as she talks to a nicely dressed Anton, I admire my beautiful sister. She’s an angel—a vision—in her fitted white dress that’s apt for a princess. Sparkly and innocent. Any man in the vicinity will be thinking dirty thoughts. You can’t look at a woman like Diana in a dress like that and not be affected. Anton glowers at her and shakes his head before glancing up at me. When he sees me, his mouth pops open.

“Ready?” I ask as I approach.

“Miss Irina,” Anton utters. “Perhaps you’d like to grab a shawl?”

Diana turns and gapes at me. “Oh my God! You look gorgeous! Is that the dress I gave you?” She lets out a squeal of excitement as she rushes around me to inspect all angles.

“Is this okay?”

“No,” Anton barks at the same time Diana says, “Yes.”

She turns and glares at him. “She’s beautiful, and she’s wearing the dress.”

His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t argue. It makes my chest squeeze to see such a fatherly look of worry on Anton’s face. He’s nearly as old as Father, but he’s much more fatherly than our dad could ever hope to be. I mean, he’s spent our entire lives looking after us for Father. Anton is a good man and I trust him implicitly. I know Diana does too.

“Will any of the other families be here tonight?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly.

Diana nods. “The Vetrovs will be here. Veniamin, Ruslan, and Vlad’s sister, Vika.”

We both share a look that has us giggling. Neither of us like Vika at all. Especially Diana. She won’t tell me what went on with them when they were younger, but whatever happened, Vika bears anger for my sister.

Diana links her arm in mine and Anton follows behind as we make our way through the corridors to the main hall. As we reach the stairwell, I feel eyes on us. Many eyes. The room below is bustling with guests and waitstaff. As we descend the stairs, they seem to be collectively holding their breath. I search the crowd for Stepan, hoping to catch his eye and find him right off the bat. Diana will go to Vlad, and I’ll be left alone. I’m already planning my escape route.

My flesh heats, and I know Vlad’s eyes have found us. I try not to look at him, but my eyes betray me. He stands at the bottom of the stairs wearing a mask of indifference. But I see the fire blazing in his amber stare. The same fire that blazed when he disemboweled that woman for talking back. Except, he puts on a show in front of all these people. Even my sister. Our eyes are locked and I nearly stumble. Diana’s laughter is like tinkling bells as she clutches onto me to keep me from falling.

Vlad’s shoulders are tense and the vein in his neck throbs wildly. Earlier, in his office, I’d admired his physique without his suit jacket on from the shadows. The vest stretched over his impressive chest and the buttons were slightly pulling as though they might go flying off at any moment. And when he turned to enter in the code on his safe, I’d watched in awe at the way his slacks hugged his firm ass that’s usually hidden by his jacket. An ass that made my mouth water—that still makes it water.

He ruined it all, though, when he showed me his true colors. I should have known the promise of a studio was nothing but a move in this big game he seems to always play. He gives me what I want, and I give him what he wants in return.

To train them. Such things are beneath my capabilities. Numbers are where I shine. I could be an asset to his empire if he weren’t so blind and hardheaded. Perhaps I’ll teach his whores math instead. That’ll show him.

A shudder quivers through me and Diana stiffens.

His eyes narrow and become more severe as though he can see the thoughts tumbling from my mind. Knowing Vlad, he probably can. He’s that good.

“Are you cold? I can send Anton back after your shawl,” she says with concern.

“I’m fine,” I promise as we reach the bottom.

“Diana. Irina.” Vlad’s clipped greeting has me diverting my gaze elsewhere. I lock eyes with a handsome man in the corner. God, anything to avoid Vlad’s stare right now.

Vlad takes Diana from me and she curls her hand around what I know is his massive bicep. He’s changed outfits and not a hair is out of place. You’d never know he slaughtered a woman in cold blood only hours ago. Vlad catches me eyeballing him and smirks. It’s brief and only for my eyes. I jerk my stare from him and smile at the cute guy who won’t stop looking at me. The guy gives me a head nod and starts in my direction.

“Looks like someone’s caught her eye,” Diana says to Vlad under her breath, pride in her voice.

Vlad jerks his head toward the guy. “Artur Voskoboynikov,” he growls.

“Indeed,” Diana agrees, as if an unknown plan of theirs is finally set in motion.

I halt, and Artur strides the rest of the way to me. Tall, lean, muscular. He’s handsome, no doubt. Best of all, he seems kind. I could certainly lose myself with a man I’m not afraid will gut me if I step out of line.

“My father didn’t lie about the Volkov beauty,” Artur says with a wolfish grin.

Vlad sneers. “Perhaps that’s the only thing your father never lied about.”

Artur takes Vlad’s jab as a joke and laughs. Deep, rich, masculine. I find myself warming to him almost immediately. I’ve heard of Artur—ten years my senior—just never met him in the flesh. His brother, Ivan, who is thirty, though, comes to meetings often with my father.