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“Has something happened?”
“No, but I’m not taking any chances. Everything is out of my control today, and it’s making me twitchy.”
I was about to reply when I caught something out of the corner of my eyes. The reporter was way too close to Lennon and getting closer. Her body went completely rigid. Zak saw it too. He threaded his fingers through mine and we made a beeline for her, but before we could get there, Kasimir walked in the kitchen. His light green eyes scanned the scene. He tucked Lennon behind his back, then pointed to the door.
“You need to leave.”
“Mind your business. I wasn’t speaking to you,” the man huffed.
“You are now.” Kasimir took a menacing step. “And I don’t repeat myself. Leave.”
“Call off your guard dog, Ms. Michelson. I only asked you to answer a few questions.”
“And I told you no. Repeatedly,” she voiced.
“Yeah, but I could tell you didn’t mean it.”
I saw red. “No means no, asshole. Stop harassing my friend.”
“Harrassing?” He snorted, like I’d said something funny. “I’m exercising my first amendment rights. Freedom of speech. Ever heard of it?”
Apparently, Kasimir was done listening to the guy spew bullshit. Zak tightened his grip on my hand when his best friend stalked forward, pinning the reporter against the far wall. There was a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the temperature.
“You want to quote amendments? I’ll play along, but personally I’m partial to the second.” He moved his jacket to the side, revealing a silver gun in a shoulder holster. “The right to bear arms.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Sure am.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Just did.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
He grinned, but his smile was less amused and more sinister. “Kasimir Petrova.”
The reporter began stammering nonsensically, his bravado instantly replaced by fear. The cameraman, who’d done nothing to stop his colleague earlier, grabbed the sleeve of the man’s shirt and drug him out of the kitchen without another word. They knew they’d just pissed off the wrong person.
“Thank you for stepping in,” Lennon said to Kasimir.
“Didn’t do it for you.”
“Well, whatever your reason, I still appreciate the save.”
“Save?” He scoffed, “I’m not your hero, babe.”
With that, he picked up a cherry tomato from the open package on the counter, popped it in his mouth, and walked away. Kasimir could be a jerk, especially when he didn’t know someone, but I’d never known him to be downright rude. Lennon had one of the kindest souls I’d ever met. She didn’t deserve the attitude he threw at her.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Absolutely not. He’s, well…Kas.” Zak peered at his watch. “Anyway, it’s almost time for the doors to open. I guess I should head back out front unless you ladies need me in here.”
“We’re good.” I rose up on my toes, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “Can you do me a favor though? See if you can find Daria please. She stepped out to take a call a while ago.”
“Sure thing. I’ll check back in a bit. Remember what I said.”
“Safety in numbers. Got it.”
