Page 102 of Sinful Wrath

But that’s just how it works when you’re dealing with the Russian mafia.

I called Anton to the house because there’s no point hiding this information from my brothers any longer. I’m honestly surprised Alexei hasn’t already found out yet, and I’d rather have him hear the news from me than from one of his men.

Though it seems my cousin is more interested in discussing my love life rather than the work at hand.

“Aren’t you still trying to make Lucia call off the wedding? You said you don’t want to tie yourself to the mafia brat.”

I cringe as Anton throws my earlier words back in my face.

I feel ashamed of how quick I was to judge Lucia. Ishould have known that what she was showing me was nothing more than an act.

She covered herself in armor that she had built up piece by piece as a result of all she’s endured growing up in my world.

She is so much more than a mafia brat, and to call her such is a fucking insult.

“That was…before.” I pour us both a drink, trying to ignore the pit in my stomach.

“Before what?” Anton leans against the mantlepiece with his arms folded over his chest looking like the picture of ease. “Before you realized how good she is in bed?”

I clench my hand around my rocks glass.

“Shut your fucking mouth, Anton,” I snarl.

My cousin only grins as he holds his hands up in mock surrender. “Shit, I didn’t realize you actually cared about her.”

“I don’t just care about her, I—” I cut myself off before I can say the words that have been sitting on the tip of my tongue for days now.

They almost came tumbling out last night when Lucia opened her heart to me, but the thought of making myself that vulnerable scared me too much to fully commit.

But I hope what I offered her was still enough to show her how much she means to me.

“You love her, don’t you?”

I release a breath before turning to face my cousin. As much as it scares me, what is the point of denying it?

“Yeah, I do,” A smile tugs at my lips.

“You seem happy.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Of course, I am. You’re Mikhail Koslov, for fuck’s sake, you’re the most miserable bastard I’ve ever met.”

“Don’t worry, I’m still a bastard. Just perhaps not quite as miserable.”

Anton’s shoulders shake laughter, and I fight a smile as I take a sip of my drink.

“All this time, you just needed to get laid on the regular.”

I go to retort when my phone buzzes on the desk.

Setting down my glass, I cross the room, cursing when I see who’s calling.

Anton appears at my side, and I put the phone on speaker.

“What have you got for me, Rosa?” I grip the edge of the desk as I brace myself for whatever bomb she is about to drop.

“No ‘hi, how are you Rosa?’” She scoffs. “Honestly, you would be lost without me, Koslov, and I barely get a greeting out of you.”