Eliza I knew there was a catch. Lev couldn’t just be a normal guy. He’s too perfect, too rich, and the sharpness in his eyes tells me he has experience with danger. But what kind ofdanger, he seems reluctant to tell me.I’m going to find out, though. Breaking down my door and rushing me to his home in the middle of a rainstorm has spurred my suspicion of him to a critical point. Either I find out what he’s up to, or it’s over between us.And I don’t want to end things like this, not when everything has been going so well. The money, the sex, the passion… I’m not ready to give all that up and move back to my hometown as a failure.I can already picture Noah’s smirk, like he knew all along that I wouldn’t amount to anything, like I had to end up with him again.Fuck, no. I’m not doing that, but I still need to figure out what the hell is going on with Lev.I sit with my arms crossed, partially becaus
Lev Eliza isn’t going to let me off the hook so easily. She might come from a small town, but she has a big mind and an even bigger suspicion of me. I’m going to have tobreak things down for her in a way that doesn’t terrify her, and that means avoiding the topic of the Bratva and money laundering entirely.That should be simple enough. I just have to give Valentin and everyone else a heads-up that Eliza isn’t tuned in to the real nature of our business, but they’re used to keeping secrets.I let out a long sigh as she works her elbows into my shoulders again. With her entire weight on me, I can feel her working out the knots I should’ve taken care of months ago. I’ve just been too busy between the Family and art galleries to allow myself any time to relax.But with Eliza, things are different. She reminds me that there’s more to this life than money, power, and sex. There’s something else going on, somethi
Eliza That’s cute,” Lev says as I walk out of the bathroom in one of his oversized white t-shirts.“I look like a ghost,” I say, hurrying toward the bed. He grins. “Very spooky.”“Boo!” I exclaim as I jump into the bed.I land on his chest, and he grabs me, rolling me over and pinning me down. “I caught a ghost. Now what?”“If you catch a ghost, you’re supposed to snuggle it. Those are the rules,” I say, hoping he won’t kick me out of his bed for being too goofy. He seems to like it, though, even if he’s a little unsure of how to respond.I figure he needs a break from being so serious all the time. The stress I rubbed out of his shoulders this evening was very telling.“If I snuggle you, I might squish you,” Lev says, even as he pulls me close.I melt into the warmth and power of his chest. I can hear his heart beating faster than it usually does, reminding me that he’s just as ne
Lev I toss my keys on the kitchen island as I come home. I smell paint, and it’s been growing more intense no matter how many windows I open. Eliza has started painting all thetime, and I’m starting to get concerned.After an entire week indoors, she’s painted anything and everything in the penthouse, including the toilet. I’ve been in and out often, but my concerns about Vanya keeps me from taking her with me on my trips.I hate to see her get like this, but her safety is more important than anything else.Luckily, I have some very good news that should cheer her up considerable.“Hey, sunshine, what are you painting today?” I’ve taken to calling her sunshine because her hair looks so bright and golden when she’s standing by the window painting. She lights up the whole room.Eliza peeks out from behind her canvas, a slight frown on her face and a paintbrush in her hand. “I’m trying to get the deta
ElizaT he drive to Asher’s gallery feels too quick. Every moment I get to spend outside of Lev’s penthouse is much more exciting than it should be. I really can’t standto be inside all the time. My mind needs stimulation, and I’m simply not getting enough of it there.Even in my small town back home, there were always new places to check out, new people to talk to. Even if you end up knowing half the population, that’s still half that you can still get to know.The only thing I’m getting to know in Lev’s place is how many fibers are in his carpet.That’s why I’m slow to get out of the car once we arrive at Asher’s gallery, even with Lev ushering me along. It’s also why I drag my feet and take slow breaths once I’m outside, basking in the last rays of afternoon sun before it disappears behind the tall buildings surrounding us.I need fresh air. I get it in Lev’s apartment, but it’s tainted by the sc
Lev Nothing else in this world matters but Eliza. Any misplaced anger and frustration I felt toward her has dissolved into desperation. I need to save her. If I loseher, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.I wouldn’t deserve to be forgiven. The best thing that could possibly happen to me would be for my own life to be taken as well, so at least I can apologize to her if there’s a life after this.But I’m not going to let that happen.I jump out of the car, using my body to shield Eliza from the flying bullets as I charge toward her. They’re coming from the building across the street, judging by the volume and echo, so my best bet is to get her away from the bank and back toward the car. It’s bulletproofed, making it a far better option for cover.Eliza’s hazel eyes are wide with terror as I rip her away from the shattered brick, barking orders that even I can’t hear over the deafening noise of gunshot
Eliza The alarms that should be going off in my head at Lev’s admission to being in the Mafia are silent. Instead, a feeling of calm washes over me because everythingmakes sense.I should be terrified, but I’m not. I just have more questions.“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?” I ask, finally sliding onto the couch as Lev had requested. I figure it’s better to create some kind of understanding instead of continuing to argue, especially since he’s opening up.He stands beside me, leaning on the couch but refusing to join me. Maybe he’s still scared that I’m going to punch him.And maybe I will, depending on what he says.Lev laces his fingers together, looking down at his feet as he thinks. Even though I’m mad at him, I still find him unbelievably attractive, especially when he carried me on his shoulder like I weighed nothing. His power is intoxicating, and it’s all I can do not to
Lev I step out of the car, the cold air raising the hairs on the back of my neck. I have a feeling that getting money from Asher isn’t going to be as easy as the first time. He’ll wantto wait on writing another check until the one Eliza lost expires, but that would be a whole ninety days.I’m not allowing that to happen. If this Bratva is going to function properly, there needs to be a basic level of trust, especially when it comes to money.Most of the lights are off when I step into Asher’s gallery, but I spot him on the far side of the common area, adjusting a lopsided painting while standing on an old wooden stepladder.There’s this little part of me, the impishly impulsive one, that wants to shout at him and cause him to fall from the ladder. I don’t like him, and the idea of him breaking his knees on the marble floor is oddly appealing to me.Perhaps I’m the one with the Dark Triad of traits, and I’m