“You know what?” she says. “I could really use some ice cream right about now.”
I chuckle. “Ice cream. Really?”
“Yes, really. We do have some, don’t we?”
“I believe so, yes.” I sit up and swing my legs over the side. “I’ll be right back.”
I note my robe lying on the floor and grab it, wrapping myself up in it. She watches me, her eyes lingering on my chest as I cover it up. “Don’t take too long,” she says.
I leave the room, and I swear that it’s a little brighter in this hallway. Is this the effect she has on me? I know that a Bratvawould never go skipping around in the sunshine like some lovesick fool, but I can’t say I’m not tempted.
I walk down the stairs and casually glance out of the living room window as I pass by. Usually, around this time, I’d see Vincent or one of the others patrolling the property but at this moment, there’s no one there. I glance at my watch. If I don’t see them on my way back, I’ll have to call them to see what’s going on.
Spending my entire morning having sex is something that will set my entire day back… but it’s all right. Maybe I’ll just turn my phone off and close myself up here until tomorrow. What better way to spend time than between my lover’s legs?
I walk into the kitchen and open the freezer… and the hairs on the back of my neck raise.
Something’s wrong. I glance over at the counter at the knife block sitting by the sink. There’s a knife missing.
I hear his feet before I see him, coming up fast behind me in a collection of shuffles. He yells at the last second, but I’ve already ducked and moved out of his line of fire. The knife in his hand slips past me and clanks against the refrigerator door as it closes. He almost loses his grip on it as he collides headfirst right after it.
My attacker is about a foot shorter than me and at least half my size… and he’s holding one of my butcher knives. The tattoo on his left arm suggests prison time, but I don’t recognize the ink. He snarls at me with yellowing teeth then lunges, swinging the knife.
I dodge him easily, stepping back and to the left of him. Then I grab his arm, tuck it under mine, and kneel sharply, breaking his elbow over my knee. The knife clangs to the floor behind meas the vibration of his bone breaking sounds against my inner bicep. He bellows out in agonizing pain.
I leave him on the floor as I pick up the knife. He rolls onto his back, cradling an arm that’s bent the wrong way and braying like a sick donkey. I reach down and pull him up by his hair, then I drag the knife across his throat. He thrashes for a few seconds as blood pours from his neck, down the front of his shirt, then he goes limp.
I hear the sound of fighting in the parlor, so I rush out of the kitchen. I’m standing in the hallway as Mikki tumbles out the door, his fists balled up against the shirt of another attacker. They hit the wood floors hard with Mikki on top, his hands now around this guy’s neck.
“Mikki, catch!” I toss him the knife as he looks up at me. He releases his attacker just to pluck the knife out of the air, twirl it around in his hand, and bring it down into his chest. His attacker gags in pain, his mouth open and making a strangled noise before he goes limp.
I help Mikki to his feet. “Are you all right?”
Mikki nods, rubbing his sore shoulder. I hope the stitches haven’t ripped open. “I’m fine. Son of a bitch came out of nowhere.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Just checking in on you. You haven’t answered your phone all morning. I came by and the door was open.” He glanced down at the body of the man who just jumped him. “I thought the war was done?”
“So did I.”
I hear a short scream from upstairs and hard shoes thumping against the floor.Natalya!
I’m running for the stairs before I even have time to think.
25
NATALYA
So. Kat tried to fake a pregnancy to keep Anton. That is… valuable information.
With Anton downstairs, I’m left alone with my thoughts. I can’t help but consider how things must have happened with Kat. Did he believe her at first? Was he happy about it? Were they planning their future when one of her friends let him in on her lie?
Or did he disbelieve her all along? He’d made it clear that her lie wasn’t the first nor the only thing that led to their breakup. Did he hear that she was pregnant and immediately send his spies to find out if it was true or not?
And the most important question to all of that is will he do that to me once I tell him about this pregnancy?
Why do I torture myself like this? We just had great sex. I was just dozing in his arms and feeling like all was right with the world and with us. I think I feel real, actual love for the first time… and here I am doubting everything once again.
