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“I appreciate that, but I’m going to leave the past where it is. My friend Stasia suggested that kicking the hornet’s nest isn’t a good idea, and I agree. I’d rather be an orphan with a quiet life than someone with problematic relatives.”
“Alright. But if you change your mind, the offer stands.”
“Thank you, Yuri. But I doubt that I will.”
I push myself to my feet. “Let me take you to an early dinner.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely.” I put out my hand. “You can’t refuse a beast and risk his displeasure.”
“I suppose it depends on what the beast does when he’s unhappy.”
“We’ll soon have the answer.” I press a kiss to her hand and have a premonition that our broken pieces could be a perfect fit.
“Alright.” She slides her hand away. “I’m going to grab a sweater; I’ll be right back.”
I watch her walk down the hall. Am I standing in the lost heiress’s home? Striding to the bookcase, I study the photos in the gilded frames. “Are you the one everyone is looking for?”
“What’s that?”
“Nothing.” I take her hand and walk toward the door, wondering how quickly I can discover if Lina is the woman half of Moscow wants to get their hands on.
CHAPTER SIX
Lina
The spring air blows the bottom of my dress around as I step into my favorite pizza place and look around. Stasia waves to me from a booth in the back, and I stride toward her quickly.
“Careful there, Speedy. You almost took out two toddlers.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I check to see if all the children are upright. “All is well.”
“Are you starving or anxious to tell me about your date last night.”
I slide into the booth and let out a long breath. “Both. I missed lunch today since every soldier in the territory decided to bring their suit in for alterations.”
“Must’ve been a successful week for the local criminal population.” She pours a glass of Chianti from the carafe on the table and slides it over. “It was quiet at the bakery today, so I was able to escape early and take a spin class.”
“Ugh, I don’t understand how you can voluntarily put yourself through the torture.” I grab a breadstick out of the basket and take a big bite. “Having someone yell at me while I sit on a hard seat is the last thing I would subject myself to.”
“I can bounce a quarter off my ass, so they can torture me all they want, and all I’ll do is beg for more.”
“Which tells me things about your sex life that I don’t want to know.”
Laughing, she leans back when the owner’s son places the pizza on a stand. “Thanks, Bobby.”
“Any time, doll.” He throws us a wink and saunters off.
“If I was nineteen and twenty-nine, I would ask that kid for his dough recipe.”
“Ask him now if you dare.” I slide a piece of pizza onto my plate. “I’m sure he’d be thrilled to discuss which yeast gets the best rise.”
“No doubt.” She takes a piece of pizza and eats the tip. “Tell me about your date with Yuri. Did he live up to any of the fantasies you carry around?”
“I told you it wasn’t a date. We just ran into each other.”
“And then spent several hours together.” She pops a piece of pepperoni into her mouth. “Which is a big deal for someone with such a busy schedule.”
