Chyort!His flirting had been a ploy, and like an idiot, I’d fallen for it. I’d never normally make that kind of mistake.This is why having feelings for someone is a bad idea.“If you hurt her, I willendyou,” I promised.
“Yeah,” drawled Finn. “But she’ll still be dead. Now put your gundown.I’ll count to three.”
There was a rumble of thunder, right overhead, and rain started to lash the windows. I knew I couldn’t put my gun down. If I did, Finn would kill all of us.
“One,” said Finn.
I held my gun rock steady. Finn was behind this whole thing; he had to be. I couldn’t trust him.
“Two,” said Finn.
If I lowered my gun, he’d kill all of us. My finger tensed on the trigger, ready to shoot as soon as he did.I’m sorry, Alison.
“Thr—”
I couldn’t do it. I knew it was useless. I knew Finn would kill us all. But if there was even a tiny chance to save her, I had to take it. My arm dropped to my side. I heard Radimir draw in his breath in shock...and then he, Valentin and Mikhail lowered their guns, too. Mikhail snapped out a command in Russian, and his dogs stopped growling and sat quietly.
And I stared down the barrel of Finn’s gun and waited for whatever came next.
33
GENNADIY
“Jesus,”said Finn. “You reallydocare about her.”
I glowered at him. I could feel my whole family staring at me.
Finn looked at each of us in turn. “All of the Aristovs, lined up in front of me. Do you know how many people would pay me good money to rid the city of you?” He let out a theatrical sigh. “But here’s something not many people know about me. When I go into business with someone...I’m loyal to them.”
He tossed his gun on his desk. Behind us, I heard his men lower theirs. I stared at Alison and my family in shock.
Finn pinned me with a look. “Let me say it again: I don’t know anything about a hit on your friend, or framing you.”
First, I just gaped. Then I felt my face heat, and I looked at the floor.Chyort!
Radimir nudged me and gave me a meaningful look. I grimaced, then lifted my eyes to Finn. “I’m sorry, Finn,” I muttered.
Finn waved it away. “Ah, you Russians, always so serious.” He clapped an arm around my shoulders, pushed a whiskey glass into my hand, and filled it, then did the same with the others. I sighed, and the hatred eased, just a little.
I stole a look at Alison. Her long, athletic legs in those tight blackjeans. That soft black waterfall of hair. And the way she prowled around the room, graceful and sinuous. Finn had been right: the way she walkedwaspure poetry.
Alison looked up and caught me looking, then raised an eyebrow. I could see frustration in her eyes, but also hurt...and hope. She wanted answers. And Radimir was scowling at me from across the room:hewanted to know what the fuck was going on, too.Blyat’.
We talked business with Finn for half an hour, with Finn kicked back in his desk chair and lovingly ruffling Mikhail’s dogs when they came over to curiously sniff at him. Mercifully, when it came time to leave, the rain was still hammering down, and we had to run to our cars, so I dodged having to talk to Radimir...for now.
As soon as we were inside my BMW, though, Alison turned to me expectantly. The anger flared and started to spin: I was mad at myself, and at what I knew I’d have to do. I started the engine, refusing to look at her.
“Gennadiy,” she said, with a softness that hurt my chest, “we need to talk.”
I shook my head, still not looking at her. “Nothing to talk about.” The anger was still building. Wanting her this badly and having to push her away...I wanted to scream and smash and destroy.
I could feel her staring at me. “What happened with Emanuela. With Finn, just now.”
I made the mistake of glancing across at her and, instantly, I was locked into those sapphire-blue eyes. A lifetime of suffering had hardened them, but right now, they looked perilously close to fracturing, full of cautious hope. I could do it, I could make her happyright now.
But she deserved better than a monster, all twisted up inside. To save her, I had to push her away. I had to hurt the woman I wanted to protect.
I took a shaky breath and turned to face her. I let the unfairness ofit whip the anger faster and faster, using it to power me.“Listen!”I snapped. “I saved you because it suited my needs. I need you alive so you can find out who’s behind this.”
