Reign of a Billionaire : A Dark Mafia Enemies-to-Lovers Romance

I looked out the window only to find Liana, a mere faded version of my past lover, roaming the grounds. It would be so easy to forget that Louisa died and pretend she was here with me, but I knew better than to think that would work for Liana.

The woman was infuriating, beautiful, and cunning.

Sofia had made her into a femme fatale killer, but she had also lost control of her daughter along the way. Liana used her skills to protect herself and the innocent people who crossed her mother’s path.

I trailed her movements as she headed to the gazebo. She kept kicking up rocks with her sandals, and the image reminded me of what she and her sister used to do when they had nothing else to entertain themselves with.

When Sofia first assigned me to be their bodyguard, the twins were wary of me. After all, they’d witnessed me murder a man in cold blood. But as the months went by, slowly but surely, we became fast friends who shared a common dream: escape.

As if she could feel the weight of my gaze on her, Liana lifted her head and eyed my office window. Her brows drew together, huffing a breath of frustration.

“Stop staring,” she mouthed.

I slunk back behind my blinds.

For years, I’d suffered, refusing to be open with anyone. And now, for the first time since Louisa’s death, my heart was beating steadily and my soul was a little less scarred.

I stood from my seat, ready to go join her outside because it would seem I was unable to keep away from the woman, when my phone buzzed.

Alexei: Sofia has been spotted in Montenegro.

I frowned. What was she doing there?

Me: Do we know why?

Alexei’s response was instant.

The word on the street is that she’s looking for the Popov guy.

I read the message several times. Barely a year ago, I’d helped my brother Winston rescue his wife from Danil Popov. Danil was a criminal, but he didn’t seem like the type of man who’d engage or work with Sofia Volkov.

Me: Danil Popov?

Alexei: I’m guessing. Know him?

Me: Know of him.

I dialed up my brother, the ringing on the other end of the line the longest I’d ever heard, but it wasn’t my brother’s voice that picked up. It was my sister-in-law’s.

“Hello, Kingston.”

“Billie.” I didn’t waste any time getting to business. “I need Winston.”

“Ummm, he’s talking to Danil right now.”

Surprise, surprise. Winston had made an unlikely friend in Danil, not that I understood it. Personally, I’d have gutted the man and then pulled out all his teeth.

“On the phone?” I asked.

“No, face-to-face.” My jaw clenched. Winston would have already given me the entire fucking story by now, but instead, I was having to drag it out of Billie. I knew I made her nervous, so I tried to be considerate, but there were times—like now—where it’d be easier to just have her step aside.

“Where and why?” I needed to know whether the lead on Sofia was reliable. “Actually, tell him it’s urgent, and it concerns Danil too.”

“Huh?”

“Billie, put. Winston. On. The. Fucking. Phone.”

Fuck, Winston was going to be pissed off when he learned about this. To Billie’s credit, she just huffed, and I could hear her faint voice through the headset as she spoke to Winston.

“Kingston wants to talk to you. And he’s being a cranky bitch.”

I let out an exasperated breath. Time to stop handling my sister-in-law with delicate gloves. It turned out she’d grown a set of balls sometime over the last year.

“Kingston,” Winston greeted me.

“Watch Danil’s expression,” I instructed. “And put me on speakerphone.”

He didn’t hesitate. “You’re on speakerphone, Kingston.”

I got straight to business. “Danil, are you meeting or have you already met with Sofia Volkov?”

His response was immediate. “Fuck no. That bitch is crazy.”

Just as I suspected. “Why am I hearing rumors that you’re meeting with her in Montenegro?”

Two heartbeats passed before he flung out a string of curses. “I’m going to kill that motherfucker when I get my hands on him.”

“Care to elaborate?” I demanded.

“My father’s in Montenegro.” Clearly he wasn’t happy. “Don’t worry, that meeting won’t happen, because I’m going to murder them both.”

I considered his words for a second before saying, “This could be our chance to set Sofia up.”

“Are you saying let it happen?” Winston chimed in just as Danil’s phone sounded, signaling a sent message.

“Yes.”

“I don’t know if I can let it happen. My father’s dabbled in human trafficking in the past, and I’m certain it’s the reason behind this meeting. I can’t have that connected to the Popov family name.”

Fuck!

“How long has he been involved?” I asked, debating whether it’d be wise to fly to Montenegro and try to corner Sofia myself.

“I’m not sure. I’ve only learned about it in the recent years,” Danil admitted. “It’s the reason I had him removed. He was doing it behind everyone’s back.”

Just as I ended the call, my phone buzzed again and I glanced at the screen.

Alexei: You in?

A reflection of golden locks caught the corner of my eye and my decision was made.