Read Dark Mafia Prince: A Dangerous Royals romance Online
Authors: Annika Martin
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance
Dark Mafia Prince: A Dangerous Royals romance (28 page)
I stare into the clear liquid.
“What is it,
brat
?”
“I can’t drink to that. Getting bloody just to get bloody. Violence and vengeance.”
Viktor looks at me like I just announced I hate vodka and hundred-dollar bills.
“Don’t worry, I’m good for my word,” I say. “I’m committed to taking back what’s ours and destroying the vile parts of it. I’ll do what it takes to get Kiro back if we ever—
when
we get a lead. But violence and vengeance…”
I meet Viktor’s scowl.
“She thought I was worth saving,” I continue. “It did something. It changed something in me…” I’m just as surprised as Viktor appears to be. But it’s true. Things feel different.
“Changed something in you?” Viktor spits out. “More like
ruined
you.”
I think back to that moment in the hotel, staring into Lazarus’s eyes. I could’ve executed him right on the spot. My greatest enemy. “Ruined me for some things.”
He rolls his eyes. “Fine. To
her
, then.”
I eye him suspiciously. He shrugs.
“To her.” I drain the glass.
He pours another.
“To Kiro,” I say. “We’ll never give up. And Yuri. To brothers of all kinds.”
“Brothers with beat-up faces. The best kind.
Skol
.” We throw back the cool-burning alcohol. I hold my glass out for more. He pours.
“Back to taking the empire the smart way,” Yuri says. “More boring. Still effective.” Again we drink.
Viktor catches my eye. He looks concerned.
“I’m fine,” I say. A lie.
That’s when I catch sight of dark hair across the lobby.
Mira.
She’s heading to the elevator banks.
She turns to me as if she feels the weight of my gaze. And then she smiles. Her smile is like the sun.
I think it’s a dream. A mirage, maybe.
I stand, glass cool in my fingertips, as she turns and starts toward me, past the grand stone waterfall, dark hair catching the light from above.
She looks so beautiful, I think it can’t be real. I feel something cool dribbling over my fingers.
“You are spilling it,
brat
.” Viktor takes my glass from my hand. “I would not like you to waste good vodka. Even on a spoiled mafia princess.” A joke, I suppose. I’m barely comprehending. I’m already gone, moving across the gleaming marble floor. I stop in front of her, speechless.
She just grins. She’s happy. The haunted look is gone.
“What’s wrong?” she asks. “I got a bluebird on my shoulder?”
I go to her and yank her in for a kiss. She’s warm and real and everything I love.
She pulls back with a mischievous expression. I think she’s going to give me shit for drinking vodka at two in the afternoon.
She doesn’t.
“You and your fucking English toffee and selfless gestures and you expect me to get on a plane? I love you, Aleksio.”
My heart twists. “You said love wasn’t enough. The whole thing with the sandcastles?”
“Yeah, you’re still kicking down sandcastles, but some of them need kicking down. I want to kick them down with you—like that Valhalla, for starters.” She gets a serious look here. “But then let’s make our own life, our own rules. Build something better than what our families built. Together. What do you think?”
“Yes. Fuck yes.” I brush the hair from her forehead. I love her like this. A rebel and a warrior. I grab her hair and kiss her.
And somewhere out there baby animals are laughing, and it doesn’t have to mean everything is doomed. It can just mean something stupidly normal.
Like happiness.
Like forever.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed your time with the Aleksio and Mira and Viktor and the gang as much as I did!
Viktor’s story is out 7/26/16:
grab Wicked Mafia Prince here.
Kiro’s story is out 9/13/16:
find Savage Mafia Prince here.
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Dangerous Royals
Criminals & Captives
PRISONER (Book #1) by Annika Martin & Skye Warren
Taken Hostage by Kinky Bank Robbers
The Hostage Bargain (Book #1)
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The Wrong Turn (Book #2)
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The Deeper Game (Book #3)
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Kinky Bank Robbers 1-3-book bundle
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The Most Wanted (Book #4)
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Sexy, gritty romantic suspense
Against the Dark (Book #1 of the Associates)
Off the Edge (Book #2 of the Associates)
Into the Shadows (Book #3 of the Associates)
Behind the Mask (Book #4 of the Associates)
Plotty, twisty-turny urban fantasy
Mind Games (Book 1 of the Disillusionists)
Double Cross (Book 2 of the Disillusionists)
Head Rush (Book 3 of the Disillusionists)
Plus assorted shorts and single titles
More about Carolyn’s books:
authorcarolyncrane.com
I am so grateful to be surrounded by such an amazing community of readers, bloggers, and author pals. You’re always there with me in my crazy writer cave, and I want to kiss you all!
Special thanks to author Joanna Chambers, who read this many times and brought so many expansive, creative ideas to it. And to author Carolyn Jewel, who patiently read and helped keep the early draft from seriously going off the rails. Author Katie Reus read it twice and brought her amazing sense of hero goodness. And author Skye Warren was there through early and late drafts with amazing insights and added immense goodness. Editor Deb Nemeth provided brilliant developmental editing and copy editing. Sadye of Fussy Librarian did an incredible job of proofreading and so far beyond. (Any mistakes are my own last minute changes.)
I’m also massively grateful to Heather Roberts of Social Butterfly PR, who came through with great beta-read catches and ideas, not to mention book launch magic and incredible patience with my occasional cluelessness. And thanks to BookBeautiful for the fantabulous cover and BB eBooks for the wonderful formatting, and super gratitude also to Christin Ostheimer who reached out with much-needed Russian help! (Any remaining mistakes are my own). I’m humbled, also, to all of you bloggers and facebook book lovers who got in on this release. You have these amazing communities you have created out of love and passion and friendship, and I’m honored that you’d share them with me.
Last but not least, I want to thank my reader friends in the Annika Martin Fabulous Gang. This is my first year of having a facebook group, and you guys are my bright spot on the web. I’m honored to know you. Seriously!
I love writing dirty stories about dangerous criminals, hanging out with my man and my two cats, and kicking snow clumps off the bottom of cars around Minneapolis. I’ve had tons of jobs: factory worker, waitress at a zillion different places, shop clerk, advertising writer. Animals are a huge passion of mine, especially whales and lost dogs. I like to run and read books in bed, and I spend way too much time in coffee shops. In my spare time I write as the RITA award-winning author Carolyn Crane.
