Mikhail's POV
Romanov Estate – 11:58 p.m.
The estate was too still, the kind of silence that comes right before a storm breaks. I left the Porsche idling on the gravel and took the front steps two at a time. The chandelier was dimmed to a sickly gold, throwing long shadows across the marble.
My father was waiting exactly where I expected: foot of the grand staircase, arms folded, silver hair catching the low light like frost.
"You kept me waiting all day,"I said, shrugging out of my coat.
"You were busy with your fling,"he answered without heat. "Andrei is back."
The name hit like a blade between the ribs.
"Since when?"
"Two weeks. He asked me not to tell you until he was ready."My father's mouth twisted. "He's always been dramatic."
I laughed once, s
