ZADE

I flicked the Zippo’s wheel, the flame springing to life and extinguishing when the pressure of my thumb slacked. I pressed down against the hardened steel again, this time bringing the flame close to the cigar hanging between my lips.

But I let the flame die out.

My mind kept teleporting back to the lust behind those captivating gray eyes. She wanted me, yet fought it with everything she had.

I could have easily stayed and dragged out what she tried so hard to conceal and bring her toward utter ruin. However, I chose to walk away, and here I am dealing with the crisis in my pants.

My own fucking doom.

A knock broke me out of my thoughts. I took the cigar between my lips and set it down on the table alongside the Zippo.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Gabriel walked in. A grief-stricken expression was plastered across his face. I’m almost moved by it. He could have done a better job to make it look more convincing.

"Forgive the intrusion. I trust I’m not interrupting." He closed the door behind him.

"Not at all. As you can see, Elliot isn’t here to shove paperwork at my face."

He sneered before the sound died down, and he mustered up a weary look. "I needed someone to talk to."

"And here you are." I took my seat. "Though I don’t see the person you intend to grieve with."

He smiled. "You were always easier to talk with. At least when we were younger."

"I don’t remember putting you on that pedestal."

"Maybe to me you did," he muttered. "I imagine we were best friends. I still do."

I pulled the stopper from the decanter and poured whiskey into two glasses. Beside it was a crystal ice bucket. Using the silver tongs, I dropped two cubes into each.

"Thanks. Just what I needed," he said when I pushed the drink toward his end. He sat down and sipped.

"I saw the news. The reporters did a number on you."

He set his glass down, mouth puffed, before he swallowed hard. "My parents are dead. Yet they buzz around me for comments. The price of being a public face is fucking depressing."

"Depressing?" I questioned. "Didn’t seem like that to me. You were fluent when speaking about the future of the Russo Palace. You sounded like a new man ready to conquer anything."

Gabriel pinned me with a quiet, dark gaze, but then a slow smile spread across his face. "The least I could do was show them I’m worthy. So much will be expected of me from now on."

"Worthy? Why would you need to prove something like that?"

His jaw clenched, and suddenly, he wasn’t keeping up that fucking sorrowful expression. His whole demeanor changed.

"It’s my responsibility now. You understand how that feels, don’t you? Being left alone to shoulder everything. We all have our parts to play, and the best is expected of us; we can’t show them we’re weak."

"It’s only a responsibility if there’s an obligation attached to it. In your case, there’s none."

I could tell he already knew the meaning behind my words. There was only one reason he came here, and it wasn’t to share drinks.

"What do you want, Gabriel? You and I both know you’re not here to grieve."

"Don’t I look the part? You know, swollen eyes and other things to appeal to the idea." He chuckled. "Well, you’re right, I came here for something. Despite the funeral procession already moving forward. Mommy and daddy will be put to rest, of course, that is what they have always wanted, but sometimes they don’t go as you plan."

He has gotten cocky. The Gabriel I knew might have a charming tongue, but he was the kind who never got what it takes, or so I thought.

Ian and Carmen were good people, but they were also stupid to think that their son had always been benevolent. They never saw what lurked, and they brought about their demise when they considered donating their wealth.

"I know you talked with my father the night before the hunt," Gabriel cut to the chase. "It must have been the business he flew halfway across the world for. He has always trusted you to do the most important things when he has a son."

"Envy doesn’t suit you."

"Is that what you think this is about?"

"You make it sound so."

He pushed to his feet, hands on my table, and he had the nerve to look at me like I was beneath him.

"Change of plans. I don’t want the Palace sold. As heir, it’s mine by right."

"And here I thought you were grieving," I replied, calmly tracing my thumb against the rim of the glass.

"You are in no position to disagree. Even though the process has already started, you can revert it all."

"That’s presumptuous of you. Finally putting on your big boy pants. But you’re gonna need more than that."

"You know, don’t you?" he amused. "I expected you would, and I’m not trying to hide it. It’s the rule of the undercity for men like us. You have no proof, so there’s nothing to use against me. I should be more worried about you."

I ceased my action and pinned him down with my lethal gaze.

"The bodies were found in your estate, and the cops were involved. One call from me and I can get them back here. I imagine something like that is the last thing you want. You have a reputation to uphold, don’t you?"

Silence stretched between us, and by the passing second, Gabriel became more smug. In his own little head, he had me where he wanted.

"The documents will be returned to you. As you are aware, I’m short of a secretary. Expect a delay."

He grinned in accomplishment. "That wouldn’t be a problem. I’m glad we came to an understanding, Zade. The last thing I want is for us to be enemies. I wouldn’t want Anastasia to be caught up in our heat either. Be sure to extend my greetings to her."

I kept my eyes trained on him as he walked out the door. Elliot came through the next minute.

"Huh... he walked out of here alive. I was expecting more carnage," he said, walking close to the table.

"A thought we both share," I replied, pulling my hand from the drawer. The gun came with it.

Somewhere along the line of our conversation, I’d taken hold of it, ready to put a bullet through his skull.

"I should be thankful you didn’t implode and kept your cool."

"Thank whatever deity you prayed to and pray harder that I won’t change my mind." I tucked the cigar between my lips and lit the bottom, taking a drag.

"You could have just easily told him that you have all the evidence against him, and have him trapped as planned."

"This is more than just a meaningless auction house," I said for certain.

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it. The images Dante sent showed that Ian and Carmen were strangled before their bodies were mutilated to stage a bear attack. Gabriel is a weasel. That’s not his MO. He probably had someone else do his dirty work."

"We didn’t have the grounds monitored to avoid suspicion," he stated. "Do you think there was another person during the hunt?"

"There was. What does this look like to you?" I pulled out the pictures and dropped them on the table.

Elliot picked one up and observed it. "If this is what I think it is, then we have a problem."

"Dig more on this. Do it quietly."

~☆~

I unlocked the door and stepped into the room. Out of nowhere, a pillow flew straight for my face.

"You snake!"

I guess it was too far-fetched to hope for a welcoming kiss on the cheek.

Anastasia grabbed another pillow and tossed it at me, but this time I caught it with ease.

"I take it you’re all well now," I mused, thoroughly enjoying the energy radiating off her even though she looked seconds away from tearing me apart

"You locked me in your room!" she yelled, marching toward me, and I couldn’t help but admire how my shirt looked on her.

It was oversized, yet it fit like a glove. I have plenty of shirts that I couldn’t wait for her to try on.

"Are you gonna keep me here forever?!"

"A momentary thought. Still debating."

Her nostrils flared, but she didn’t say anything else, walking to the couch to sit. She crossed her arms and legs as if getting down to business.

So cute.

"We need to talk."

"Do we?" I came closer, but I didn’t sit.

"Don’t tell me you have forgotten your promise so soon."

"I’m no barbarian." I crouched, and her arms uncrossed, settling on her sides. "Go on, ask away."