“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
It was nearlyeleven in the morning when I parked in front of Grisha’s family home. I had already texted Grisha that I had located Mila and was bringing her back to the house, but I hadn’t given them any further details.
My eyes were gritty from lack of sleep, and I still had a full day of work ahead of me.
“Thanks for nothing,” she spat at me before opening the door to get out.
I followed slowly behind her, giving her a respectful amount of space. I needed Grisha to lay eyes on her before I started my day.
Mila climbed up the front steps. At the top, Sergei appeared from behind one of the big pillars.
He grabbed her arm and yanked up on it so hard she was forced onto her tiptoes. “What do you think you were doing?”
It took me three seconds to get there and, in my opinion, that was three seconds too long. I pushed hard on his shoulder, jolting his grip from her arm before stepping between the two of them.
“Back off,” I said, two inches from his face.
His dead stare assessed me. “You’re putting your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
“Right now you’re getting in the way of my delivery.”
He moved his lips into a grimace of a smile. “Watch your back.”
“Get out of my way.”
He lifted his hands in a mocking defense. “Easy, killer.”
I watched as he disappeared from view.
She glared at me, but she was holding her arm where he had grabbed her. “That’s what you’ve brought me back to, but thanks for the suggestion not to get emotional about it. That’s really going to help me.”
I ignored the jab. “Move it.”
Grisha was sittingin his office, talking on his phone, but he hung up without a word when we appeared in the doorway.
“Come sit down, Mila.”
She moved to stand behind the chairs, but she didn’t sit.
“Close the door,” he told me. “I want to talk to you as well.”
I shut the door and moved closer to the desk, but I kept my distance from Mila.
He spoke to me first. “Where did you find her?”
“St. Petersburg.”
Grisha’s smile widened. “I’m impressed. For someone who’s only been working for the family for three years, you’ve really started to prove yourself.”
“I’m ambitious.” I didn’t blink. “I’m focused on furthering my career.”
“I appreciate that in a man. I won’t forget this.” He turned and looked at Mila. “Were you trying to run away?”
She spoke with an eerie calm. “I can’t marry Sergei.”
He frowned slightly. “Didn’t your aunt explain how important this is to my business?”
“I’m in love with someone else, and I refuse to marry Sergei.”
