“You really are a caring soul, docha,” he said with a shake of his head.
“What does—” I didn’t get to say anymore as the door swung open and his grandson strode in like he owned the place. Suddenly, the airy, spacious room felt too small. He seemed to take up so much of it. His eyes found mine and narrowed.
“Good morning.” Gathering my wits about me, I flashed him a smile that he didn’t return.
The air in the room turned cold. I didn’t know why, but he didn’t like me. I could tell by the icy way he looked at me.
“Well, I’ll go and get the breakfast tray and give you two a few minutes,” I said in a rush. The trays wouldn’t be ready yet, but I needed out from under Alexei’s piercing gaze. He made me uncomfortable. Now, I could see him being some kind of Russian gangster much more than Nikolai.
Neither one of them looked at me. Instead they spoke in rapid-fire Russian. Both of them glanced at me every two seconds, so it was clear that they were talking about me. And like a fool, I just stood there, unsure of what I should do.
“Don’t leave, docha,” Nikolai said when I stepped towards the door. “My grandson would like to take you out for breakfast.”
I did a double-take. I didn’t know any Russian, but their exchange sounded heated. Alexei wasn’t looking at me like he wanted to take me anywhere. In my chest, my heart sped up a fraction. There was danger here.
“That’s every kind of you, sir, but I have work.”
Alexei rolled his lips together. “My grandfather will clear it with your boss.”
“But—” wildly, I looked between the two of them. Why did Isuddenly feel like a pawn in a game of chess that I didn’t know I was playing? “I’m very sorry, but I need the money from this shift.”
The younger Russian rolled his eyes.
“It will be fine, docha,” Nikolai said softly. “I will make sure you won’t be short of money.”
“I…uh.” Chewing on my lip, I weighed up my options. Not that it looked like I had many. I didn’t want to be rude. “Why do you call me docha?”
One large hand curled around my bicep, and I glanced up nervously to see Alexei’s handsome face towering over me. “It means daughter,” he said gruffly. “Or I guess in your case, granddaughter-in-law.” His eyes flicked down to mine. “He wants us to get married. Let’s go.”
He dragged me away before I could say a word. And even if I could speak, what could I say? No? Alexei didn’t seem like the type of man who took no for an answer.
None of the staff stopped him either. They just looked at me with wide, sympathetic eyes because they knew. Shit, they knew what he was. I’d thought it was just all rumors, but it was all true. They were gangsters.
Shivering, I wrapped one arm around myself. The other one was still held in a death grip in his hand.
“Where are you taking me?” I squeaked. The wind picked up my voice and tossed it away like it was nothing but falling leaves, which was kind of apt because that’s exactly how I felt right now—like I was in free fall.
“My grandfather wants a breakfast burrito. So, we will have breakfast there and discuss this arrangement.”
I swallowed hard. “What arrangement?” I asked, only I knew what he meant because I had heard what he had said upstairs.
Nikolai wanted us to be married. The old man must be senile. It was the only possible explanation.
“Get in the car, Amy.” Loosening his grip, he walked around to the driver’s side of a sleek sports car that was probably worth more than my whole apartment.
Pausing with his door open, he rolled his lips again, a look of pure annoyance tightening his features. “Get in the car now, Amy, or should I drag you in?” he threatened, but it was more promise than threat. He would do it.
I hesitated for a split second and then climbed inside.
The interior was just as lavish as the exterior, but sterile, kind of like Alexei. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him as we pulled into traffic. No one spoke. He didn’t even look like he wanted to.
I didn’t either, but I had questions. “I think we may have to get a specialist in to see your grandfather. This idea of his—” I fell silent, biting my lip as his head snapped around.
“There is nothing wrong with him,” he snapped, and I almost peed myself at the cold anger in his voice. Catching my look, he sighed. “We will discuss the particulars of the engagement when we get to the restaurant, Amy. Until then, I suggest you stay quiet.” Ice blue eyes roved over me. “Where is your coat? You will freeze in this weather.” He reached to turn the heat on.
“You didn’t exactly give me a chance to grab my coat or bag, Alexei,” I retorted.
For a second, his eyes widened. “Are we on a first-name basis already? Well, I suppose we should be.”
