Glancing at the time, I settle back into my seat. I’ll give it an hour, and if she’s not back by then, I’ll go.
McCann returns to the topics we were discussing in the morning, shipments and supply chains, and the things that interfere with them. Callahan and I have worked well together in the past, so there’s a discussion about whether he and I should do an operation farther down the East Coast for C Crue.
The fees I’d earn for taking care of their merchandise would be considerable, so I was set to agree to it during our morning session. Now though, I’m not sure we trust each other enough to be doing sensitive business together.
McCann calls an end to the afternoon meeting more quickly than I expect. He invites me to dinner with all of them later, and I agree, but as I leave I notice Callahan stays behind.
McCann walks out with me, but he doesn’t join me in heading toward the elevator. Instead, he shakes my hand, and the dismissal is clear. The three of them will be continuing the meeting without me.
Fair enough, I think. If the choice is between doing business with C Crue and continuing my private arrangement with Natalia, she’s the thing I want more. I didn’t go back to fight at Bloodsport and lock myself in battle with Egorov just to let some random events upend things with her. I want her. More than ever in fact. That realization hits me hard again, and I wonder what is it about her that makes her so irresistible for me?
I go upstairs and check our room, which is still empty, and then head back downstairs.
My phone buzzes, and there’s a message from her. It’s in Russian, so I can’t read it. I have the phone read it out loud. Then the words make sense. She says she’s on her way back from a shopping trip and will be at the hotel in five minutes. Good enough.
I take a position in a lobby chair near the door. The wait isn’t long. Stroviak and Natalia come inside ahead of McCann’s girl and her bodyguard.
Natalia looks pale and worried, which brings me to my feet in an instant. What the fuck did he say to her on the drive? If he threatened or bullied her, he’s going to learn just how much talent I have at putting men his size down.
“What’s wrong,kiska?” I ask when I reach her.
Her hand catches my forearm and holds tight to it. She whispers, “Please do not be angry with me, Alexei, I—”
“I’m not angry with you,” I say in Russian.
Zoe interjects breezily that she’s going to be having gin cocktails and watching a movie in the suite with some of the other women. She invites Natalia.
The grip of Natalia’s fingers on my arm tightens, like she thinks she needs to hold on or she’ll be swept away. I move my arm to draw her close to me, and she leans in even farther, so her shoulder is touching my chest. Something scared her. My money’s on my brother, and I arrange my face accordingly when I look at him.
“This is very kind offer, Zoe. Thank you, but no,” Natalia says.
“Okay, I’ll see you later then,” Zoe says, before going to the elevator with her bodyguard.
My brother waits a beat, but when neither of us speaks to him, he turns and goes back toward the meeting room. It’s a good decision. One wrong word between us would’ve started something that left a wake of broken furniture lobby-wide.
I take Natalia upstairs, and when we’re in the room, I tell her to pack. I toss my suitcase on the end of the bed and unzip it.
“We are going? Then why do you tell your brother about Egorov, Alexei?”
I pause on my way to the closet. “I didn’t. What did he say?”
She chews on her lip. “Lies. I thought so.” Her gaze darts away and then back to me. “Yes, we go. I will talk later to you and say everything. Let’s hurry.” Natalia gathers up all her clothes and dumps them into her bag. She has to press them down tightly since she’s got more items than she came with. I look over the stains on the pink and gold dress and remove it from her bag. I walk it over to the trash can. Balling it up, I’m about to drop it when she gasps.
“Alexei, no!” She rushes over and takes it from me.
“It’s ruined,kiska. That blood’s not going to come out completely.”
“It will, and if no, well, I don’t care.” She hugs it to herself, turning slightly away as if to protect it.
“I’ll buy you another dress.”
“No, no. This is special gift. I wore to dance with you first time. I keep this,” she says, rolling it up carefully.
Fuck me. Just that little bit of sentiment from her hits me square in the chest.
I stop, and my hand strokes the back of her hair. I want to do a lot more, like take her in my arms and hold her for the next hour or two. My chest tingles, and I shake my head at myself. I told her I’m not weak where she’s concerned, but that might not be strictly true anymore.
“All right,kiska, give it to me. It won’t fit in your tote. I’ll put it in my case.”
