Viktor listenedintently to both women as they enjoyed the dessert of chocolate cakeand port. When they finished, he pulled up his sleeve to reveal hisPatek Philippe wristwatch. He checked the time, reached inside hisjacket, and produced the folded paper containing the diamond. He slidthe paper into Anya’s hand. “This is for you. As you saw, it isnot a fugazi.”
Anya protested. “Icannot take this. It is too much.”
He folded her fingersaround the envelope and squeezed her hand. “It is yours, but I haveonly one condition. You must come with me tomorrow to the DiamondDistrict, and we will find for you a setting for the stone, yes?”
Anya shot a look towardGwynn, who was bobbing her head up and down. “Yes . . . yes, I willdo this. I will come with you, but you cannot be serious. Surely Icannot keep diamond.”
He gave her handanother firm squeeze. “The diamond is yours, and my number is onthe paper. Call me tomorrow, and I will pick you up. Of course,friend Gwynn is welcome to come along, also.”
They stood, and Volkovkissed each of their hands in turn. He said, “It would be mypleasure to have my driver take you home if you would like.”
Anya laced her armthrough his and looked up at him with affection pouring from everyinch of her face. “We would love that, but we have a driver waitingfor us. It is benefit of Gwynn’s job. I will call you tomorrow.”
To his delight, Anyaraised herself on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his skin, justbeneath his ear. “Thank you for being real Russian man and notterrible American child.”
8
OGLYANIS’NAZAD DVAZHDY
(LOOK BACK TWICE)
Anya and Gwynn foundtheir SUV waiting on the curb, just where the driver promised itwould be. What they didn’t find, however, was the driver who’ddelivered them to the restaurant. Instead, they discovered a woman inher late thirties perched behind the wheel.
As they approached theLexus, Gwynn made eye contact with the female driver, which causedher to shove open the door and leap from the car.
Gwynn raised areassuring hand. “It’s okay. We can get our own door. Noworries.”
The driver sprintedaround the back of the car. “Uh-uh! You don’t get your own doorwhen momma’s drivin’ you.” She held open the door as bothpassengers slid onto the back seat.
The driver hopped backinto her position behind the wheel and pulled the transmission intodrive. Without checking over her shoulder or in the mirror, shecranked the wheel hard and accelerated into traffic to the sounds ofhorns and shouts.
Gwynn gasped. “That’sone way to merge into a traffic lane.”
“It ain’t for you,girl. It’s for blondie back there. I seen what you did to thatfine-ass man. And you walked away, workin’ it! And you listen tomomma when she tells you that man turned and looked back at you notonce, girl, but two times. You hear me? Two times that man lookedback at you. I hauled ass outta there so you could roll down thatwindow and blow that fine man a kiss on the way by.”
Without argument, Anyafollowed momma’s direction, rolled down the window, and puckeredup. Volkov offered the slightest nod and turned the corner.
Back at the apartment,they’d barely gotten through the door before Gwynn said, “Thatwas a master class in how to have a man eating out of your hand. HolyRussian seduction, Batman. How do you do that?”
Anya kicked off herheels and set the teapot on the stove. “All men are cavemen inside.I play with caveman with my eyes, my hands, and sometimes my body.Soon he tells me if he will disobey caveman inside of him. If thishappens, I have ways to break through shell and let the caveman comeout to play. I will teach to you also this after you learn to stayalive when people want to kill you.”
Gwynn kicked out of herheels and leaned against the refrigerator. “Seriously, that wasawesome to watch. I’ve got so much to learn. Maybe I should’vebeen born in Russia, and then . . .”
Anya turned and glaredat her. “Never say this. You do not know what you’re saying. Thethings I was forced to learn and also things I was never permitted todo as child in Soviet Union, I never want these things for you. Iwill teach to you everything you want to learn, but I will never becruel to you because I care for you. Cruelty can never be undone. Youare lucky to be American at birth. Never forget this.”
“You care for me?”Gwynn whispered.
“Yes, I care deeplyfor you. I sometimes let myself pretend you are not doing all of thisbecause it is your job, but because you are my friend.”
Gwynn wrapped Anya inher arms. “Stop it. You’re going to make me cry, and big badfederal agents aren’t supposed to cry. Yes, it’s my job to workwith you, but even if it weren’t, I’d still want to do it. I’mhaving the time of my life, and no matter what happens next, I’dnever take away the time we’ve had together. I just wish itcould’ve been under different circumstances.”
Anya returned Gwynn’shug. “I wish for this, also, but I am afraid my life will always beless than the lives other people get to have.”
The whistling teapotterminated the moment, and minutes later, the two were curled up inopposite corners of the couch.
Gwynn eyed the Russianthrough the steam leaving her mug. “What would you have done ifVolkov didn’t grab Johnny-Mac when he did?”
Anya took a sip. “Iwould have put Johnny-Mac onto floor. Sometimes Russian men likestrong women. I was playing for him damsel in distress, first, but Ihad alternative idea if plan number one did not work.”
Gwynn laughed. “Iwould’ve loved to have seen that, but for Johnny’s sake, I’mglad you didn’t have to do it. What do you think Volkov did to himin the alley?”
Anya shrugged. “Ithink maybe he just frightened him. Volkov’s hands were smooth andsoft with clean nails.”
“What does that haveto do with anything?”
“Men with handswithout scars
