Page 28 of Tarnished Tyrant (Zhukova Bratva 1)

“Ms. Dowan, yes,” the man says, sounding oddly formal considering I watched him blow his nose in a receipt when we were checking in this morning. “How can I help you?”

“I’m calling to confirm that you saw me check in with another girl this morning? That my room is reserved for two people?”

I’m already smirking at Nikolai, so confident my story was about to be verified.

There’s a pause. “Um… no, I’m sorry. I don’t remember you being with anyone.”

“Wait, what?” I stammer.

“You were alone this morning,” he says. “And you reserved a room for one. A single room.”

The modern gray walls of the Zhukova Incorporated lobby spin around me. I’m feeling faint. Like the world is ripping itself out from under my feet.

Officer Sweeney sighs and turns to Nikolai. “Do you know if she has any other family we could call?”

“My sister,” I rasp deliriously. “My sister was with me. I—She was with me.”

“Sorry,” the clerk says awkwardly. “But if there’s anything else I can help you with—”

I hang up and turn my ire on Nikolai. “You.”

He meets my gaze, his steel gray eyes piercing and immovable. I know what happened here: he paid off the clerk.

“Miss,” Officer Sweeney warns, “we are really going to have to insist that you come with us. Mr. Zhukova has—”

“Has foiled my plan,” I finish, sagging dramatically. “He was right. I’m a crazy ex-girlfriend.”

Officer Hedger’s forehead wrinkles with suspicion. “Excuse me?”

“I just love him so much,” I say, choking back a fake sob. “I let my emotions get the best of me. I’m sorry I wasted your time.”

Everyone, including Nikolai, looks confused now.

I take the opportunity to throw myself at Nikolai. I jump, and he catches me as though it was rehearsed, dropping everything in his hands without a second thought. His arms hook under me as I curl my legs around his waist and fist his shirt in my hands.

Our faces are impossibly close, but I can’t let that rattle me. Not now.

“I’m sorry, Nicky,” I pout. “Forgive me?”

Nikolai arches a brow. There’s a challenge in his expression. And I meet it, biting my lower lip while I slide a little further down his chest. My hips roll against his crotch.

He wants to play dirty? Fine.

Let’s play dirty.

6

BELLE

Officers Sweeney and Hedger are tensed, ready to jump in and yank me away from Nikolai at the first sign of trouble. All they’re waiting on is for Nikolai to give the word.

But I already know he won’t.

He’s staring into my eyes, his pants hardening noticeably between us. Then he smiles and looks around me at the police officers. “Sorry for the trouble, officers, but I can take care of this from here.”

“Are you sure?” Officer Sweeney asks. “If you’d like to file a report, we can—”

“No report. I’ll handle it.”

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