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“No kidding. And unlike some of us, I doubt I’d get his black AmEx as a reward for challenging him.”
“Maybe not,” I say with a smug smile. “But it’s obvious he has a soft spot for you. And you know it.”
“Perhaps. But who knows? It’s a brave new world I’m living in right now, where my good friend Nik does wild things like breaking his soldier’s hand over a woman. But don’t worry, Kat. You’re safe with me. When it comes to you, I’m no threat to Nik, and he knows it, too.”
“Well, duh, Captain Obvious. You don’t need to tell me that.”
His grin grows wider. “Oh, I’m telling him you said that.”
I roll my eyes at him for what feels like the millionth time today. Curious, I say, “I’m guessing you’re referring to the mysterious woman you mentioned before.”
Dmitri sighs. “You make it sound so dramatic.”
“Am I wrong?”
“I guess not,” he says noncommittally.
“Don’t get shy now. You seemed eager enough to stick your nose in my business.”
“Your business is my business.”
“Is that right?”
“You bet. As long as my pakhan is your business, I’ll always get up close and personal with you.”
“Lucky me,” I say sarcastically. “Well, turnabout is fair play. So, spill the beans. I’m dying to know all about your secret girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend isn’t the word I’d use,” he says with a sigh, mindlessly fingering a necklace half hidden under his shirt.
I study him for a moment. The always ice-cold Dmitri is restless, his slender fingers—covered in a ton of minor cuts—anxiously fidgeting. It’s so out of character for him that I don’t immediately notice the gorgeous emerald hanging from his delicate gold chain.
Curiosity almost bursting out of my chest, I ask him, “Well, does your not-girlfriend have a name?”
Dmitri gives me a distant look, and I know he won’t answer my question. Still, I’m eager to hear what he says instead, having a feeling that whatever comes out of his mouth will be another piece of the delicious puzzle that is his love life.
I never get to find out for sure, though, as an ear-splitting scream startles us.
7
KAT
The now-familiar sound of shots being fired reverberates through the store.
I gasp, looking around the shop to determine where the bone-chilling noise originated. Dmitri reaches inside his jacket for his gun before swiftly pulling me to the ground.
“It’s just our luck,” I groan. “Our day off, and these fuckers decide to rob this store of all places.”
After frantically scanning our surroundings, Dmitri says, “No chance. It’s the Irish.”
I gasp. “What?! You don’t know that!”
Dmitri’s hand covers my mouth. “Shh. I’m sure of it.”
And God damn him, his suspicions are immediately confirmed as a heavily accented voice shouts, “Where the hell is she? Find her now.”
“I guess Nik was right,” I say.
“You think?” Dmitri asks.
