“Don’t fight me,” I speak softly in her ear, and she stops struggling. Her tears dry up, and she slowly looks up at me.
“Why…” She’s shaking her head in disgust. Her pale skin has me dragging her closer to me, and with one hand, I push her head to my shoulder. She doesn’t resist, but her stiff posture tells me she doesn’t want to be here with me.
Why? Why did I just kill two of my own men and Igor’s doctor to keep her safe? Because the thought of handing her over became too much. I tighten my hold on her, not fully understanding the want she stirs in me. Last night when I took her without remorse, I knew I couldn’t let her go, I had marked her, making her mine.
“It will look like the same men who attacked the ship came to the house for you.”
Evie tries to move her head, but I keep my hand on it, keeping her in place. I’m not ready for any more of her questions. This territory I have entered is new to me.
“Igor will think they have taken you.” That thought has me wanting to hold her tighter, but I’m already holding her too tight.
“What do you think he will do when he discovers you betrayed him?” Evie’s angry words have me releasing her head.
She won’t look at me, so I tip her head back. “I told you already, Evie…” I run my finger down her cheek. “I have no fear of Igor.”
Tears refill Evie’s eyes. “What are you going to do with me?”
“Are you not happy that I didn’t allow the doctor to take you? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
The pulse in her neck becomes visible.
Lenny is sitting on the opposite side of Evie. His gaze is focused on the headrest of the passenger seat. His tense posture annoys me. I glance back down at Evie, who’s watching me.
“Isn’t this why you taunted me last night?”
Color leaks slowly into her cheeks, and I like the color. She’s too pale right now.
“Yes.” She blinks, and tears fall. I pull her back into my side as Pavel continues to Nicolai’s house.
We arrive, and I feel relief at seeing Nicolai waiting at the door for us. His own security team fans around the property, but I know I’m safe with him. We kept each other alive in prison.
Evie remained quiet the rest of the journey, but now as she looks out the window and up at Nicolai’s home, she speaks. “Where are we?” More fear fills her voice.
I don’t answer her but look at Lenny. “Go ahead. Tell Nicolai to give me a moment.” Lenny gets out, and I meet Pavel’s gaze in the rear-view mirror. I nod at him. And he turns off the ignition and gets out too, leaving Evie and me alone.
Panic takes over her features, and I have to drag her gaze back to me by holding her chin.
“You have nothing to fear.”
“I know.” The lie from her trembling mouth has my lips twitching.
“You have nothing to fear, Evie,” I repeat, and she frowns.
I want to say more, but she’s not ready to hear any more words from me. I release her chin and get out of the car. Holding the door open, she climbs out.
Nicolai is still at the door; he doesn’t remark on Evie’s bloody appearance. Instead, he smiles at her like we are here for dinner.
The moment I reach him, I pull him into a hug, and he laughs.
“Thanks, brother.” I release him.
“Come in.”
I step into his home and wait for a dazed-looking Evie to move past the threshold.
“I have a room ready for you. Mila left some of her clothes for Evie.”
“Mila’s not here?” I ask. I didn’t exactly care, but for Evie, it could have given her some comfort.
“No, she’s spending the weekend with her father.”
I try not to grin at his words.
“Don’t start.” Nicolai closes the door before leading us to our room. Clothes are lined out on the bed. Evie stands staring at them.
“Do you want to shower?”
She exhales before turning to me. “Yeah, a shower sounds nice.” Her lips still tremble. “Alone.” She adds quickly. Nicolai is at the door, but he hasn’t entered. I didn’t want to leave Evie, but maybe some time to take in what happened would ease some of her shock.
I don’t tell her not to try to run. She wouldn’t get past the front door in Nicolai’s home.
I leave her, and I can see so many questions in Nicolai’s gaze. Once we enter his lounge area, he pours us both a shot of vodka. I sit down and knock mine back before holding up the glass. He refills it, and I drink it down. I decline a third shot.
“I would ask you if she’s worth it, but I understand.” Nicolai sits down across from me. “I was the same with Mila.”
I didn’t believe this was the same thing, but I don’t correct Nicolai.
“I need to find The Torpedo. I need to know for certain if Igor is involved in all this.”
Nicolai takes another shot of Vodka, keeping the bottle beside him. “You do know that Igor is a Boyevik.”
I’m sitting forward. “No, I didn’t know that.”
Nicolai smiles. “Yes, he’s a soldier for the Brigadier.”
I sit back. That wasn’t good. “But no one knows who the Brigadiers are.”
There were two Brigadiers, and they paid tribute to the boss. No one knew who the Brigadiers were or who the boss was.
