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A.J. remains silent on the other side of the line for so long that I start to worry the call has dropped. But then, she sighs. “I’m not making you any promises, understand me? Let’s make that very clear,” she finally says under her breath.
“Got it. No promises.”
“I’ll see what I can find out. Again, I can’t guarantee anything. But I don’t want to have to save your ass if you decide to do this by yourself, so I’ll try to get you some intel. But no promises, Kat.”
“Of course not. And thank you so much. I owe you big time.”
“Yes, but I owe you, too. So don’t get killed over a freaking rock, and we’ll be even, okay?”
I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “After all these years, who’s keeping track, A.J.? Not me.”
She chuckles halfheartedly. “Fair enough. I’ll call you once I have an update. Stay out of trouble until then.”
A.J. and I say our goodbyes, and, too soon, I’m left alone with my conflicting emotions.
On one hand, I’m a little closer to making amends to Nik for taking the Flame of Mir. I’m closer to leveling the playing field between us and putting this problem behind us. On the other hand, A.J. has a point. My plan could backfire horribly.
Still, I can’t very well sit down and expect all my problems to be miraculously fixed. I can’t just accept things as they are, either.
Dmitri is right. This magical thing Nik and I were lucky enough to stumble upon is too precious and rare to be thrown away. Unfortunately, there are some issues the two of us have to overcome. I have no intention of letting any easily fixable problems from our tumultuous past stand in the way of our future.
Just thinking about everything we have already faced together and all we must still overcome makes me crave Nik’s presence even more than usual. I need his strong arms around me, his raspy voice against my ear… My Russian is just what I need right now to chase the blues away.
After setting my phone down, I leave our bedroom to search for him. Unsurprisingly, I locate Nik in his office. Funny enough, he’s on the phone, too. He paces behind his desk, grunting indiscernible Russian words while running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
While standing just outside the room, I sigh, inadvertently announcing my presence to Nik. His dark brown eyes land on me, and his entire countenance changes in an instant. I smile at him, and his frantic pacing comes to a stop.
Nik quietly mutters something before ending the call, never breaking eye contact with me. The next thing I know, his arms are around me, pulling me close to him as his mouth lands on mine. Nik’s kiss is unabashedly needy and hungry. The frantic way his lips devour mine leaves no doubts—his usual cool, calm, and collected act isn’t coming to him as naturally today. Just as abruptly as it started, it ends. Without warning, he breaks the kiss, leaning his forehead against mine as his eyes remain closed.
“Tough day, huh?” I ask, rising on my toes to brush my lips against his gorgeous face.
“You have no idea,” he says, his voice barely more than a murmur.
“I warned you this morning that getting out of bed was a mistake.”
Nik laughs, opening his eyes to glance at me. “You did. And you were right.”
“I usually am. A lesson you’d do well to learn, miliy.”
“I’d be crazy not to, even as it pains me to deprive you of the satisfaction of reminding me of it whenever you can. But enough about me. Tell me—to what do I owe the pleasure of this impromptu visit?”
I shrug. “I just missed you.”
Nik groans against the top of my head, tightening his hold on me. “Kiska… I swear, you’ll be the death of me.”
I laugh against his chest. “Unlikely. But your line of work just might. You’re always a bundle of nerves, Nik. What’s stressing you out today?”
Nik raises a dark eyebrow at me, even as his eyes glint mischievously. “Believe it or not, my life usually isn’t this exciting. Most days, the only real danger I face is possibly dying of boredom. But then you come along, and now I don’t have a moment of peace.”
“And you love every second of it. Don’t bother denying it.” Nik chuckles and I nip his earlobe. “But for the record, I don’t believe that for a second. I can’t be that exciting—or dangerous—to the pakhan of the freaking bratva. And don’t avoid my question. Will you tell me what’s going on, or do I have to make you?”
Nik’s brown eyes burn hot, and his hands drop to my hips, pulling me closer. “I’d love to see you try. Believe that.” The bulging pressure I feel against my stomach doesn’t leave room for any doubts.
Still struggling to keep my poker face on, I fake an exasperated sigh, trying not to let him distract me. “Come on, Nik. Talk to me.”
It’s Nik’s turn to sigh, amusement still twisting the corners of his tempting mouth. “There’s nothing you need to worry about, Kat. I’m handling it. It’s just frustrating that no one seems to know where McGuire is hiding. We’ve searched every single place even remotely connected to him—anywhere we could think of—and nothing.” Exasperation drips from his every word, and his body tenses against mine.
“Well, I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. You’ll find him soon enough. He can’t run from you forever.”
