Jayden brushed ahead of me, without even checking to see if I was following.
Jayden left us alone in a cavernous library with views of a frosty lake. For a moment, all I could do was stare at the mammoth collection of books lining the shelves. As if in a trance, I ran my fingers across the oak wood shelves that held as many hardcovers as a bookstore.
I felt the heat of Dmitri’s attention and immediately dropped my hand.
“Are you a fan of self-help books?” he asked with a smirk.
I shot him a glare, but an obnoxious flush worked its way up my neck. His eyes darkened, and my pulse skyrocketed in response.
Before he could shoot it up even higher I blurted out, “Are you?”
“I don’t need help with anything,” he said, taking a step forward, and encroaching into my space. “But I’d be happy to show you everything I know.”
I backed up into the hard wooden bookshelf, and he stepped right into my personal space. I lifted my chin to stare up at him, and he laid a large hand over my head, caging me in.
Without meaning to, I bit down on my lip. His eyes tracked the movement, and my traitorous body yearned for him to close the distance.
“All you have to do is beg, kotenok, and I’ll give you everything you’re craving.”
My body was still screaming at me to give in, but my mind reared back into action.
“Never.”
Dmitri stepped back, an amused smile working its way over his face. While I tried to discreetly regain my breath and mind, Dmitri picked up the ledger Jayden had left for us.
Seemingly unaffected by what happened, he silently flicked through the pages while my body was entirely focused on what I’d preferred he was flickinginstead.
“What are you looking for?” I asked, and then mentally kicked myself.
Obviously, Dmitri wasn’t going to tell me. From the irritated looks he’d been spearing my way since we’d entered the house, he thought I was just in the way.
I was so used to that from men in my life, that it barely stung anymore. I’d learned to silently watch and try to glean some knowledge, instead of broadcasting my deficiencies.
Dmitri’s head tilted towards me. His look turned assessing.
“Discrepancies,” he said after a few moments of silence. “But I’d be shocked if he was stupid enough to record them here.”
Dmitri handed me the book and pointed to a number near the bottom of the page. Him actively involving me in the process instead of shooing me away was almost more shocking than if he’d just handed me a gun and dared me to shoot him.
Okay, I shouldn’t be that shocked. The one thing I’d learned about Dmitri was to never try to predict what he’d do next.
“I’m going to check to see if those numbers are significantly higher than last week,” he said, his voice gravelly and warm over my shoulder.
I bit down on my lip, paying rapt attention to the small pieces of knowledge he was giving me.
“If you notice a fluctuation, then we’ll know he’s skimming the books?” I guessed.
Dmitri’s lips curved into a smile, and my stomach jumped into my throat. My mind flashed back to a time when my brother was still alive.
My father had been discussing strategy with my brother for an upcoming mission, something he’d never wasted his energy on with me. I’d listened in at the door, trying to learn something. When my father had mentioned his suspicions about a drug dealer’s encroachment on the Bratva territory, without thinking I’d piped up with a suggestion from the doorway.
I’d never forget the slow turn of my father’s head, and the way I held my breath. My father’s mouth opened, and a laugh burst out of him. His shoulders shook with the force of his laughter.
When his shuddering breaths of mirth had descended back into silence, I knew I’d never be stupid enough to speak up again.
But when Dmitri opened his mouth, he didn’t laugh.
“If only it were that easy,” he said.
