Page 34 of Mile High Ruin

“Yes.”

“Then do it.”

“I’m doing it. I’m also wondering how many meetings you intend to destroy because a flight attendant nearly kissed you.”

“She didn’t nearly kiss me.”

Marek’s eyebrows rise.

I messed up. He knows that too.

He leans forward. “So something happened.”

“No.”

“You answered that too quickly.”

Anton opens his phone. “I’m leaving.”

“You’re staying,” I tell him.

“I would prefer gunfire.”

Marek ignores him, but his smile widens. “You liked her.”

“I found her entertaining.”

He rolls his eyes at my flimsy excuse.

My phone vibrates before I decide whether throwing Marek through a window would create unnecessary paperwork. I glance at the screen.

Anya.

Everything in me changes immediately.

Marek sees the name and sits back. “At least one woman is safe from your mood.”

I answer. The screen fills with half of my niece’s forehead.

“Uncle Vadim!”

“Move the phone away from your face.”

There’s rustling. Then one eye.

“Anya.”

“I’m trying.”

Another violent adjustment finally reveals her entire face, along with part of the ceiling and what appears to be a stuffed rabbit hanging upside down beside her. She is six years old and believes video calls are best conducted while constantly moving.

“What happened to Boris?”

She looks at the rabbit. “Nothing.”

“He is upside down.”

“He likes it.”