My heart skips a beat. I nod once. “You won't.”
“Promise.”
The word is enough to corrode my resolve, but I don't let it show. “Promise,” I say, even though this is not something I can guarantee. He seems to calm, if only by a degree or two. I lead him back to bed. “Now, let's get some sleep. We have an organized crime syndicate to dismantle in the morning.”
I don't mistake the tiny, grim smile on his lips as I pull up the covers and turn off the light.
* * *
The next day brings hard, early rain. I roll over, reaching, unthinking, for Nik. The sheets are cold and empty.
Maya is drinking coffee downstairs. I listen as she speaks on the phone, the cadence of her voice familiar but the words inscrutable. It takes me half the stairs to realize—she's speaking Russian.
She hangs up as soon as I reach the kitchen. “Privyet, little one.”
“Haven't heard that in a while.” I let her pour me coffee. She's wearing a sleeveless black tee, and I see her once-soft arms are corded with muscle. A few pale scars streak the skin here and there. One, shaped like a starburst above her inner elbow, looks like a gunshot wound. “Was that Daddy Lebedev?”
She grins at me over her coffee. “I've missed you.”
“You too. Was it him?”
“Look at you. So frank and cool. You know? I like the adult Zane. She keeps surprising me.”
"”Maya,” I say mildly, lifting a brow.
“No, it wasn't Yvan. But he'll know I’ve flown the coop soon enough.” Maya hops up onto the counter and looks outside. Down the yard, Nik is returning, rain drenched, from a run. “You trust him?”
The question startles me. “You don't?”
“He may feel sorry for you, but trust me, Z, he's still Daddy's little boy. And I don't trust that if he ends up at the head of this business, he'll drive it into the ground and rebuild from scratch like I would. Like Iwill.”
“Give him time,” I say. “You just introduced the idea of total anarchy yesterday. And we'd be stupid to trust you right off the bat. Speaking of. When did you learn to speak Russian?”
Her smile is ice. “Does it matter?”
“You said Lebedev would know you’re here soon enough.” I let an edge of impatience creep into my voice. “So. What’s your plan?”
“Well, I can’t stop him finding out. But I can spin it. I can lead him on. Tell him that I'm letting you two think you've got me converted back to your side.” She says it with chilling nonchalance.
“All part of your master plan?”
Maya's smile sharpens. “Does that frighten you?”
Nik pushes in from the back. His long-sleeved gray tee is saturated, clinging to every swell of his bicep, to his chest and every ridge of his abs. I don't mean to let myself stare, but I feel my eyes savoring him. Maya straightens beside me.
“Hey.” Nik runs a hand through his wet curls. I hate myself for how attracted I am to him at that moment. “I'm gonna shower. Then we're getting out of here.”
Maya frowns. “What? Why?”
“Because too many people know we're here,” he answers pointedly. “Besides. The situation is tenuous. It won’t keep long. We need to strike Lebedev soon—now. To strike him, we need to get close.”
Maya smirks. “You don’t even know where he is.”
“I don’t?” Nik smiles, his eyes shadowed. He heads for the stairs. “Zane.” He goes up, apparently expecting me to follow.
“Don’t worry. I’ll put in headphones.” Maya hops off the counter, pours herself more coffee, and leaves.
I hope my blush has resolved by the time I get upstairs. Nik is undressing, pulling his shirt over his head. I hover in the bedroom doorway, drinking in the sight of him. Every inch of his skin glistens with rain. Pink touches his cheeks, cold or exertion, and his thick black lashes are dotted with raindrops.
