VLAD (The V Games #1)(32)

Vika snatches her arm back and scoffs before pushing past us, leaving the same way she arrived.

“What the hell was that about?” Diana hisses, turning to me.

I let out a huff and smooth my now tangled hair. “She’s just a bitch. We already knew this.”

“Don’t provoke her, Irina,” she warns. “She is cunning.”

You have no idea.

She looks at our surroundings and blanches. “Anton said you were down here. Why?”

“Curiosity? Boredom? Pick one.” I don’t tell her that her fiancé is bargaining with me. If I want a studio to paint in, I have to earn it.

She frowns, her brows furrowing as she regards me, not buying my bullshit story for a minute. Thankfully, she lets it slide. “Well, I need to go back to Father’s. I’ve been locked out of all the business accounts and I can’t reach him on the phone.”

That’s strange.

“I’ll come with you,” I say, but she waves me off. “No, no, stay here. I’ll take Anton. I know you don’t want to see Father right now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, just don’t stay down here,” she murmurs as she casts another disapproving glance around.

“Okay.”

She gives me a peck on my cheek before leaving me with Stepan.

“Stepan, get that girl some medical help,” I murmur. “She’s useless to us like this.”

“The doctor is on his way to check all the women, ma’am.”

Ma’am?

“Please call me Irina, or Shadow.” I smile, and he stares at me like I’ve spoken Chinese.

“Why Shadow?” he asks, lines crinkling around his narrowed eyes. He’s unnerving. There’s a darkness there, sitting behind those deep eyes. I think he’s handsome, yes, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Vlad.

“It’s a nickname,” I offer with a shrug, feeling my cheeks heat. “Because I’m in the shadow of my sister, Diana.” Oh God, it sounds so pathetic speaking the words out loud.

“That’s stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” He snorts. He’s not mocking me—he means it. “You could never be in anyone’s shadow. Look at you,” he says with conviction. My stomach rolls.

What does that mean?

“Irina,” Diana calls from the stairway. “Come on.”

I bow my head and turn to follow her.




“I’ll be back for dinner, okay?”

It’s only lunchtime, which means Diana is planning to be gone all afternoon. I’m already bored.

“Go find out what’s going on,” I encourage, even though there’s a stone in my gut growing rapidly. Our father is pulling back on all that was given to us. We’re the reason Volkov Spirits is as booming as it is. That was our project. Our venture. Unfortunately, he still holds the key to everything. He wasn’t that stupid to turn over all rights to us.

If he takes all our power, what will we have left?

She pulls her jacket on and Anton hands her a scarf. “You’re sure you don’t mind Anton driving me?”

“I’ll be fine, Diana, go.” I practically shove her out the door and sigh when it closes behind her.

“Irina.” I startle at my name being barked from the balcony above me.

My eyes lift to see Vlad standing there holding the railing. “Come here,” he instructs. The brat in me wants to taunt him and ask him to say please, but as much as he excites my blood, he has an authority I can’t deny. I take the steps up slowly, counting them in my head.

One…two…three…

My heart flutters in my chest, and I take my time dragging my hand along the bannister as I climb.

Four…five…six…seven…eight…

Gradually. Deliberately. Demanding his attention, even if only for a short while.

Nine…ten…eleven…twelve…

I know it will frustrate him, but I just can’t seem to help myself.

Thirteen…fourteen…

Vlad.

Our eyes meet when I reach the top. His ablaze with emotion—a complete contradiction to the impassive expression he wears so well.

Pausing, caught in his gaze, I regard him with an innocent smile.

I’ve got your attention now.





I need a guard at this door to stop just anyone from walking in here.

Fucking Vika. Why does she insist on grating my last nerve? Doesn’t she have Ruslan for that?

“So, you get two for one, I see,” Vika snaps as she waltzes into my office. She narrows those golden, familiar eyes on me, and I try not to suffocate on her cloyingly sweet stench swirling into my office along with her.

It hurts to look at her sometimes. She has so many of Viktor’s features.

“Vika, what an unpleasant surprise.”

“Your little pet is making herself quite at home,” she continues, ignoring my jab.

“If you’re referring to my fiancée, I’d tread carefully. She has more rights here now than you.”

“Not Diana,” she sneers. “The other one. The little shadow.”

Irina.

“They come as a packaged deal. What business is it of yours?” I mock, relaxing back in my chair and busying myself with my cell phone.