"Convincing?"
"The other hunters caught their prey and claimed their rewards. Most of them are still fucking in the gardens." I start walking back through the forest, her weight comfortable on my shoulder. "If I carry you back empty-handed, people will ask questions."
Understanding dawns in her eyes. "So you need to look like you're taking me somewhere private to—"
"Exactly."
Her jaw sets. "And you're not going to—"
"No." The word comes out harder than I intended. "I told you. I'm taking you to my suite for answers. Nothing else. Not unless you beg for it."
She grunts out a bitter laugh and I slap her ass for good measure.
We emerge from the forest into the gardens. In the distance, I can see other hunters carrying their prizes back toward the hotel wing of the estate. Some of the women are laughing. One is kissing her captor's neck. Another has her dress half-undone already.
My mystery woman lifts her head and mutters her disbelief.
"You really didn't know," I say quietly.
"I knew it was a hunt." Her voice is tight. "I didn't know it was... that."
"Would you have grabbed the mask if you'd known?"
She's quiet for a long moment. Then: "Yes."
The honesty of it strikes something in my chest.
"Because anything was better than staying in that ballroom with me asking questions."
"Yes."
At least she's consistent.
We reach the private entrance to the hotel wing. My suite is on the top floor, a courtesy from Mikhail, who knows I prefer privacy when I'm working. Not that I'm working tonight. Tonight was supposed to be pleasure. A hunt, a willing woman, a release for the violence that always simmers under my skin.
Instead, I'm carrying a would-be poisoner who looks at me like I'm the dangerous one.
The irony isn't lost on me.
The elevator is empty. I set her down just long enough to press the button for my floor, then lift her again before the doors close.
"I can walk," she says.
"Your foot is bleeding."
"It's not that bad."
"And we need to maintain appearances." I glance down at her. "Unless you want rumors spreading that Konstantin Grinevsky caught prey he couldn't handle?"
Her eyes narrow. "Konstantin Grinevsky."
Fuck.
I shouldn't have said my name. But the damage is done.
"You've heard of me." It's not a question.
"Everyone's heard of you." Her voice is carefully neutral. "The Reznikov’s' enforcer. The one they send when they want someone to disappear."
