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“Oh.” I blink at him, that feeling of appreciation all too real—he didn't have to fetch my things. “How do you know what style of fighting I do?”
“You've got wooden dummies... balancing tackle...” a long list of my gym equipment rolls off his tongue in that Latin accent. “You're a beautifully controlled fighter...” He shrugs. “Call it a hunch.”
I realize I've just been staring at him, at his lush mouth, listening to him flannel on about my equipment, so I drop my gaze to focus on my food.
What made him go upstairs in my apartment? It's an open balcony top and anyone at the front door can see that it's a gym up there. Also, I'm sure I left my bedroom doors open the last time I was home, so he would have noticed my room as soon as he walked through the front door. He's not stupid. He knows my clothes would be in my bedroom.
“Your place is incredibly clinical,” he says.
“I bought it like that.” I reach for my glass and have another mouthful of water.
“So,youbought it?” he asks, cocking his head.
I swallow down the water before saying, “Well, yeah.”
He nods, like he's confirming something to himself. “How long have you lived there?”
“Two years.”
I don't think Maksim will mind me saying that—it's hardly a secret. Two years ago, he told me that if I wanted to, I could have my own place. As anyone could imagine, I jumped at the opportunity. Not because I didn't want to be around Maksim. I just wanted my own mental space. I've always suspected his boss Tatiana had something to do with the decision but I have never asked.
“Wow, that young...” Charlie glances away from me, his jaw ticking, and when he looks back at me, his expression goes flat. “What else do you do, Blaire, other than train physically?”
“I study a lot,” I whisper.
“What'd you study?”
I lift my shoulders, trying to avoid the blueness in his eyes. “Whatever Maksim wants me to study, really.” A light goes off in my head. “My last project was Mexico.”
“Mexico?”
I nod, forking some vegetables.
“What about Mexico?”
“The culture and the geography. I came across a newspaper article about the economy and decided to study the country,” I flat out lie.
“So, you studied it off your own accord?”
I nod. I shouldn't say what I'm about to but I want to see Charlie's reaction. “I've learnt a lot about the Los Zetas, amongst other things.”
He sits back then, keeping his hands on the table. “Is that right?”
I nod.
He watches me for a moment in total silence.
“What did you learn about the Los Zetas?”
“Nothing special, really. They're a criminal syndicate much like any other.” I'm trying to mock his organization, to rile him into saying something. Sure I know he’s the leader but I want more Intel.
“What else does Maksim have you study?” he says, unbothered by my mockery. Picking up his cutlery, he cuts up his food.
“This and that.” I slice into the fluffy potatoes. “I tend to focus on technology.”
Charlie turns up his lips and shrugs in agreement. “Makes sense, given your talent.”
I smile with arrogance.Yeah, I'm not just a fuck toy.
