“Finally!” she squealed, snapping me out of my thoughts as she took out a dress covered in a black garment bag. “Perfect for you, girl!” Standing, I tugged on the zipper, but she slapped my hand lightly. “No, no. Open it tomorrow.”
“Why?” I wondered suspiciously. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her purse and motioned for me to follow her to the coffeemaker. “‘Cause I want you to. You can do that for me, right? After you showed up here on short notice?”
Guilt took root in the pit of my stomach. She was already asleep when I spontaneously called her about my problem when I couldn't stop worrying about it. “Fine.”
She put something inside the round coffee thing, placed two cups under the machine, and it buzzed loudly, making the hot drinks.
“Tea would have been better.”
She wiggled her nose in distaste. “God, no. I’m preparing decaf anyway. I have an important business meeting at noon and need to rest.”
At that moment, I noticed her rather tense stance and the way she kept frowning. “Oh, my God, the deal for the collaboration? Why didn't you tell me before? I would have let you sleep.” She waved my words away, picked up the steaming cups, and sat opposite me.
“The dress is an important part of the look, darling.” She took a sip, moaned, clearly enjoying the taste of caramel and milk in her mouth, then continued, “So… he’s a hunk, huh?” Despite knowing she had no interest in him whatsoever, the green-eyed monster started to grow in me, and I wanted to shout that he was mine. Who was the caveman now? Studying my expression, she grinned so bright I thought her white teeth would blind me. “Jealous, huh? No, seriously though, you like the guy. Why are you making such a big deal of it?”
Resting my chin on my hands, I exhaled heavily. “Because it’s not normal.”
She crooked her neck to the side. “What?”
“This need to be with him and the desire I feel when I’m near him. No other guy ever did it for me. Plus, all his possessive tendencies… normal people don’t do this.”
She was silent for a moment, and then, “Girl, you were never near guys generally. How can you even know what normal is, for that matter? Just enjoy it while it lasts. Explore it, if you heart desires it.”
“He promised to let me go, if I wish.” She raised her brows in surprise, as her lips sipped coffee. “I believe him.”
“Okay, then.” Somehow, I thought she evaded my last comment. “So just buckle up and enjoy the ride, babe.”
“And if it doesn't work out?”
She shrugged. “Then run, because he will hunt you down.” She laughed at her own joke, and although I joined her, I couldn't help but worry her words held truth.
And part of me, the unexplainable part, was thrilled at the idea this man would never let me go.
How freaking confusing was it?
Dominic
“My hands are tied here, Pakhan,” Dima explained, scattering all kinds of paperwork on the bar in my penthouse in New York as I had my morning tea. I purchased the apartment a few years back, on my last visit to New York. It gave me a perfect view of the Empire State Building, and the height gave me a sense of power just gazing at the city. The thing wasn't even fully furnished. A white couch sat on the black marble floor. I had a kitchen and bar, three empty bedrooms, and one—mine—with a mattress, candles, and painting equipment.
What the fuck else did I need here anyway? Once I got together with Rosa, she could decorate it the way she wished. Or buy something else. I didn't give a shit where we lived, as long as she stayed by my side.
“Not good enough. Radmir has to be out of prison by the end of the year. Find a loophole.”
Dima gritted his teeth. “And how do you think I’ll accomplish that, Dom? He fucking killed a man! In this country, there is nothing that can save him from this!”
I restrained myself from hitting him right in his pretty face. As much as the information pissed me off, I couldn't help but agree.
Radmir had no chance back then, and Vasya did nothing to bring him back to Moscow so he could serve his sentence there. We had a fighting chance, but Vasya just wouldn't listen to reason.
“Dima, I don’t care. Fix it.”
He placed his hands on the bar top while he stared at me. “Facts. The whole truth. What the fuck happened back then? I cannot defend him if he doesn't want to cooperate with me.”
“I have no information about it either.”
He cursed, “That fucker is the toughest nut to crack.”
Tapping with case folder on the wood, I ordered once again. “End of the year, Dima.”
