LOGINVIKTORThe first rays of dawn were just beginning to cut through the curtains of the master suite. I sat on the bench in the walk-in wardrobe, bending over to lace up my running shoes, prepping for my usual morning run."Viktor..."A soft and raspy voice drifted from the bedroom that instantly stopped my hands for a second. She's awake.I quickly finished tying the second shoe as a smile was already forming on my lips. I stood up and jogged quietly back into the dimly lit bedroom. There she was, buried beneath the sheets. I leaned against the bedpost for a split second, just taking her in. Her dark hair was beautifully messed up against the pillows, and her eyes were squinted tightly against the nightstand light. The sheet slipped just enough for me to know she was completely naked underneath. A reminder of the fire we had burned through until the early hours of the morning.I climbed onto the mattress and straddled her hips without putting my full weight on her. I leaned down and
LELLAI kissed him back desperately, and the last of my doubts evaporated into the heat of his skin. Every ounce of the fear I had carried over the last twenty-four hours melted away. Even while I was furious with him, the relief of knowing he belonged only to me made me completely defenseless against his touch.Viktor growls against my lips. God! I missed him so much Without breaking the kiss, his hands slid down to the back of my thighs, parting my legs and lifting me off the floor. I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, clinging to his broad shoulders as he carried me across the dimly lit room.I felt him sit on the edge of the mattress, keeping me securely on his lap. I opened my mouth and our tongues clashed. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me so close against his chest that I could feel the rapid pounding of his heart. We were completely lost in each other, breathing each other’s breath, feeling each other's rapid heartbeat.Viktor’s lips slowly traveled away from m
LELLAKaterina’s eyes widened, darting to the heavy drapes as if praying for anyone to burst through. “Speak.” I gritted my teeth.When she realized no one was coming, she swallowed hard as the arrogance she had displayed in the lounge completely vanished under my grip."I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered as she tried to twist her arm out of my hold. "I'm a guest here–"I pressed my forearm directly against her throat, cutting off her air just enough to make her gasp. "Don't play dumb with me. You were bragging to your friends that you were untouchable because you had already climbed into Viktor Volkonsky's bed in Moscow. Clearly, I am his wife. If you lie to me, I will make sure the next place you visit is the bottom of the Hudson River."A tear of terror leaked from the corner of her eye, ruining her mascara. “It was a script! It was just a script, I swear!” Her hands came up to claw weakly at my jacket sleeves. I didn't loosen my grip. "Explain.""
LELLAI stared down at my screen as the news unfolded before my eyes. It hadn't even been an hour, and yet headline after headline was flashing across the global syndicate forums.’Spanish Heiress Steps Out with Conrad Volkonsky in New York.’‘A Split in the Empire? Viktor Volkonsky’s Wife Spotted in the Arms of His Nephew.’And the last one I am now reading is a completely informative article.‘Lorelei Volkonsky was seen attending an exclusive event with her ex, Conrad Volkonsky, who is also the nephew of her husband, Viktor Volkonsky.’ Wow! Just wow.The paparazzi snapshots from the entrance of the Diamond District lounge were already circulating like wildfire. My phone was vibrating so violently in my palm and Viktor's name flashed across the screen over and over again with a relentless barrage of nonstop incoming calls. He knew exactly where I was, and I knew, with terrifying certainty, that he was absolutely furious.But I didn't care. I let the phone ring out as the buzzin
VIKTORThe conference table was lined with the top executives of Russia’s largest energy conglomerates and the highest-ranking members of my own inner circle. But I couldn't focus on a single word they were saying.Beneath the edge of the table, my fingers are pressing the redial for the fifth time with my airpods intact to my ear.It just keeps ringing.My jaw clenched.I disconnected and immediately dialed Lev's private line. It rang out to the very end before cutting off. I tried the secondary security detail stationed at the New York penthouse. No one was answering. The entire grid around my wife had gone completely dark.Worry is starting to grow in my gut.Lella never kept her phone off, not after everything that had happened. Thomas and Lev knew that missing a call from me was a punishable offense. For the connection to be severed like this meant only two things: either my security protocols had been violently breached, or Lella was intentionally hiding from me. Both option
LELLAConrad leaned back against the velvet booth, and a smug smile spread across his face as he gestured to the empty seat opposite him.“Please, sit."I simply slid into the booth and immediately reached into my bag. Without a single word, I open my phone and find that one photo Sofia had sent me from that night at the club. A candid shot of the gorgeous woman who had targeted Joaquin and bragged about my husband.I slid the phone across the marble table, planting my finger firmly on the glass."Do you know her? Or more importantly, do you still have access to the roster of every pretty girl hanging out in that specific VIP lounge? Because I know nothing happens in that district without your name attached to it."Conrad looked down at the screen, and for a second, his smug expression wavered into surprise. Then, he let out a chuckle, shaking his head as he looked back up at me."Well, well." He leaned his chin on his hand as his eyes glinted with amusement. "I have to admit, Le
LELLAI sat frozen in my seat inside the private jet of Viktor Volkonsky, confused about what was happening. Why am I here? I supposedly ran away from him, not accompanying him on his ventures. The worst part is we're going to Spain, the country I refused to go back to. And what did he say? He
LELLA I need to get out of this place. I need to go to a place where he can't find me. Where I can't remember an inch of his uncle's face. “Lella, I'm talking to you!” I went straight to the closet and aggressively shoved a stack of clothes into a suitcase, ignoring his presence. “Are you s
LELLAIt was deep, possessive, and hungry. A kiss that tasted like a beginning and an ending all at once. My sanity frayed as he kissed me back, his weight settling over me, grounding me in a way I had never felt before.A rage of heat dropped to my core and I needed more.I touched his face, ran a
LELLASitting in the driver’s seat was well known Viktor Volkonsky. The man who actually held the second key to the Volkonsky empire. The man Conrad feared more than anyone on earth. At thirty-two, he was a legend of cold brilliance, and right now, his silver eyes were fixed on me through the rear







