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“Okay, maybe try this. Do you love him? Is he hot? Do you want me to help you escape? In that order,” she suggests.
I glance in the direction of the entrance of the house. Nikolai’s at work and asked his bodyguard to keep an eye on me for the day. Ivan is barely thirty, a handsome devil who barely speaks a handful of words to me. His eyes were very loud when they first landed on Mila, who, as usual, was dressed in a flattering and very tight dress.
“No,” I say. “I don’t think I love him. But he’s hot. I’m having loads of fun. The sex is mind-blowing, and he’s . . . quite generous.”
“I can only imagine,” Mila comments with a wicked grin. “Thanks for that visual, sister.”
“Very funny,” I remark, rolling my eyes at her. “Look, sometimes, I’m still furious with him for forcing me into this engagement, but I now understand where he’s coming from.”
“He’s growing on you,” Mila muses, furrowing her brow slightly. “How’s that even possible?”
“It was inevitable,” I admit. “I mean, there’s no point denying that I’m attracted to him. He’s very charming when he wants to be. I guess he managed to wear me down and put me under his spell.”
“Which is why you’re not looking to leave anymore,” Mila concludes. “You’re enjoying playing house, aren’t you?”
I try and fail to suppress a grin. “I am.”
“I’m so glad,” she says. “I was worried about you when you disappeared. I thought about going to the police, but Igor explained everything to me. I’m so sorry, Kata. I wasn’t a good friend. I should’ve been there for you. That DJ wasn’t worth my time, it turns out.”
“That’s a bummer,” I say with a wide smile. “I can’t decide which one of us had it worse that night.”
“Definitely you, though my experience brings me in second,” she insists. “It doesn’t matter anymore, because we’re going to have lots of fun now that you’re back.”
“Not necessarily,” I respond. “I won’t be leaving the house until Nikolai manages to sort out a couple of things.”
Mila frowns. “What things?”
“He needs to find his attackers and make sure there won’t be any attempts on either one of our lives,” I explain. “Though he thought it was my father’s doing, it became clear that my family can’t be blamed for everything that happened to him.”
“Yakov Gargarin isn’t his mess either,” Mila comments. “That one came to bite you in the ass thanks to your man-whore of a brother.”
“Exactly,” I confirm. “He’s on it, though. In a week or two, he’ll have it sorted out, and I’ll be free to walk down Columbus Avenue without the need to look over my shoulder.”
Mila sighs. “I wish I knew everything that was going on. I want to help, but I don’t know how.”
“Just be my friend,” I tell her, and squeeze her hand. “That’s all I need from you.”
“I can do that.” She squeezes me back as a knock on the door gets our attention.
“Excuse the interruption,” Olga says. “I thought you and your guest would like a snack.”
“Thank you, Olga,” I tell her, and then point at Mila. “This is my best friend, Mila.”
Olga smiles and waves at her. “You’ll have to forgive me. I had a lot of work, so I couldn’t come and greet you personally.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mila says, giving Olga an affectionate grin. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve been looking after my girl quite well.”
“That’s kind of you to say,” Olga replies. “I hope the drinks and the food are to your liking.”
“Everything’s wonderful,” I assure her.
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone then,” she says. “I’ll start dinner now. I’m happy to see you’re having people over, Katarina.”
When Olga leaves, Mila turns to me. “She’s nice.”
“She is,” I confirm, and glance at the variety of finger foods Olga put together.
But my stomach turns violently when the smell hits me.
