Season of Wrath: An Age Gap, Russian Bratva Billionaire Romance (The Bratva) by Lisa Cullen

Author:Lisa Cullen [Cullen, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

23

MAKSIM

Sitting in the leather-clad interior of my sleek, black Escalade, the engine purrs softly as my brothers and I wait for the car to pull to a stop. The midday sun blazes overhead, casting a harsh light on the upscale hotel we’re about to close on. Its modern glass façade glints with the promise of lucrative returns.

But even with victory within reach when it comes to out-maneuvering Aleksandr Volkov on this closing, my mind can’t help but stray to Heidi. The corner of my mouth twitches into the shadow of a grin as one of her ridiculous, nonsensical phrases enters my mind unbidden.

Apparently, it’s a Southern thing—to toss together a random string of words that vaguely sound like the curse word she’s thinking of. After remaining baffled by her expressions for too many nights, I had to ask. She’d been shocked that I wouldn’t know about the tradition. It’s one I find I’m swiftly becoming a fan of, even if I don’t understand it in the least.

But the woman I associate them with has piqued my interest and satiated something inside me no one else has these last four lonely years.

Heidi’s been over nearly every night since our chance meeting at Fiasco’s, and after almost two weeks of seeing her, I have to admit I’m in a better mood than I have been in years. She’s a breath of fresh air amid the constant anger that has gripped me since the day Symphony died. The day Aleksandr took her from me.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Dimitri and Alexei sharing a knowing glance. Their smirks alert me to the fact that they’ve held some discussion outside my knowledge and something I’ve done has just confirmed their conclusion.

“What?” I demand, turning my eyes on them as the Escalade pulls up to the curb.

“Have you finally decided to take our advice and start dating a girl, Maks?” Alexei quips, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“What gives you that idea?”

“Oh, come on,” Dimitri steps in. “We’ve heard your phone calls in the office. Setting up late-night rendezvous with someone named Heidi. And you’ve been . . . chipper for days. You’ve got a girl in your life, and not just the usual fuck toy you’re so hellbent on keeping. Admit it.”

Neither make a move to exit the car, even though we’re at a standstill and the meeting’s due to start any minute.

Cocking my eyebrow, I try and fail to keep the touch of amusement from my tone. They’re so desperate to see me settle down. But it’s not going to happen. It doesn’t matter that I’ve found someone who can actually lift my mood when she’s not even around. “Don’t get your hopes up. Heidi’s just another ‘fuck toy’, as you two insist on calling them. But she doesn’t mean anything to me.”

It feels wrong saying that about her, and the words leave a sour taste in my mouth. Funny, because I haven’t really cared about my brothers’ nagging term for the women I sleep with.

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