“I’m going to kill him.”
It was only then that she noted the tension in Aiden’s body. He was holding himself like he was half a second from chasing the Russian down and beating the shit out of him. She stepped in front of him and looped her arms around his neck. To anyone watching, it would appear she just couldn’t get enough of her man. No one was close enough to hear her murmur. “He’s trying to provoke you.”
“It’s working.” His hands on her hips held her tightly enough to bruise, but they relaxed as he took one breath, and then another. “Sorry. That asshole gets under my skin.”
“I understand.”He did it on purpose.She leaned back enough to look at his face.
“I suppose you do.” His slow smile was confirmation enough. “You did pull a gun on me the first time we met.”
“You deserved it.” He’d scared her half to death and chased her through the streets. For all she knew, he’d been sent by Romanov to tie up the loose end she represented.
“I did.” He exhaled, the last of the tension bleeding from his body. “Thank you. I won’t lose control again.”
Wouldn’t he? She didn’t think anyone—least of all Aiden—realized how close to the edge he stood. Words she had no business saying rose to crowd against her lips.You can lean on me. Trust me. Let me help you bear the burdens you carry.She didn’t say any of it. He’d told her to back off earlier, and she’d be a fool not to do exactly that.
Charlie was only an interloper in Aiden’s life—there fora short time and then gone again. She couldn’t try to force him to lean on her just because it bothered her to see him struggling.
So she smiled and took a step back, pausing to adjust his tie. “Don’t worry. I know you won’t.” But she wasn’t going to leave his side for the duration of the night.
Just in case.
***
Keira had tried to sneak out for a smoke break, only to find every exit blocked by O’Malley men. None of them were too thrilled at the idea of her leaving the room. Her constant disappearing acts had created more work for them, which was something she suspected she’d be paying for until she was shipped off to Dmitri.
At leasthismen won’t know to lock me down so tightly.
Wouldn’t they, though? Dmitri was the one who kept finding her, even when she thought she’d done a good job of slipping away unnoticed.
It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore.
Keira walked into the ladies’ room, leaving a frustrated-looking Liam at the door, and hopped onto the counter. She wouldn’t crawl out a window, no matter how much she wanted to. Tonight was too important to her brother. She didn’t like being traded like chattel, but if she left now, Aiden would catch heat for it.
So Keira didn’t run. She just pulled a joint out of her clutch and lit it. The first inhale burned her throat like a hot poker, and she luxuriated in the feeling, even as her thoughts slowed down. One toke wasn’t enough to blitz her out—or even half the damn joint—but she wouldn’t smokethe whole thing. All she wanted was some much-needed distance to get through the night.
The door opened, and she spoke without looking up. “Bathroom is occupied.”
“There are several stalls. Greedy of you to deny them to ladies in need.”
She jerked her head up so fast, she almost fell off the counter. “What are you doing here?”
Dmitri closed the door behind him and flicked the lock. “Your brother and his men are aggravating in their zealous desire to protect you.” He crossed to stand in front of her. “Should I tell them exactly how many times you’ve been in my tender care and walked away unscathed?”
“Three.” She held up the appropriate number of fingers. “You talk like it happens on the regular. It doesn’t.”
He moved closer, and she didn’t realize his intent until his hand flashed out and snagged the joint from her. Keira grabbed for it, but Dmitri was too fast, flipping on the faucet and dousing it. “What the fuck?”
“Nasty habit of yours. Tell me something, Keira—when was the last time you spent an entire day sober?”
How dare he sit there and judge her. She started to hop off the counter, but Dmitri was there, his body between her knees. He braced his hands on either side of her, not quite touching her but leaving her feeling exposed all the same. “Answer the question.”
She froze, torn between the need to fight her way out and the traitorous desire to spread her legs a little more andinvite him in. She already knew how the latter would play out. Dmitri might want her, at least in part, but he had turned her down too many times for her pride to allow her to keep throwing herself at him.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glared. “That’s none of your goddamn business.”
“Maybe not yet. But it will be.” His gaze raked over her, a heat like she’d never seen before kindling in his gray eyes. He seemed to realize he’d given her a glimpse of it, because he took a careful step back. “I got something for you.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
